Question regarding an infringement

[SixteenSixtySix]

I'll give a situation that I think I saw in one of the super rugby matches a few weeks back.

Ball carrier is tackled. Ruck is formed by attacking side. Attacker scrum-half comes in. A defender contests the ruck and goes over attacker ruck and grabs the attacker scrum-half. The ref gave a penalty against the defender for making an infringement.

My question is what's the name of the said infringement?

 

[dasNdanger]

I think I just watched the same game.

Not sure what the penalty is called when one interfers with the scrum half...perhaps 'Meddling With God'?


das

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I'll give a situation that I think I saw in one of the super rugby matches a few weeks back.

Ball carrier is tackled. Ruck is formed by attacking side. Attacker scrum-half comes in. A defender contests the ruck and goes over attacker ruck and grabs the attacker scrum-half. The ref gave a penalty against the defender for making an infringement.

My question is what's the name of the said infringement?

I don't know what the official ruling is, but it's often referred to as taking out the halfback. I suppose technically it is offside play.

 

[Imagine]

I don't know what the official ruling is, but it's often referred to as taking out the halfback. I suppose technically it is offside play.

Yeah, just can't take out the half back in that situation, anyone else, yeah that would be ok. That was the sole reason for that infringement.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Yeah, just can't take out the half back in that situation, anyone else, yeah that would be ok. That was the sole reason for that infringement.

Well you can't take out anyone who isn't attached the ruck, and obviously the halfback tends to most often be the player closest to the ruck but not attached.

 

[SixteenSixtySix]

Well you can't take out anyone who isn't attached the ruck, and obviously the halfback tends to most often be the player closest to the ruck but not attached.

So what should the ref declare the infringement be?

 

[William18]

So what should the ref declare the infringement be?

Playing an opponent without the ball.

 

[dasNdanger]

"Once the ball has emerged on one side or another the half back will be preparing themselves to start the next phase of play, opposition in the ruck cannot pull the half back into the ruck until they have control of the ball. Until this point a call of 'leave him *colour*' should be enough to let the opposition know that they cannot play the half back yet. Once the half back has the ball and has pulled it clear of the back foot the ruck is over and the half back is free to be grabbed/tackled as per general play."

Wouldn't the infringement thus be called 'playing the halfback'?

das

 

[SixteenSixtySix]

Thanks all for your reply

 

[Jack Reacher]

The 'Halfback' is who ever is unattached and legally allowed to play the ball - doesn't matter whether he has 9 on his back or not. So there would be two likely infringements - playing the man without the ball or playing the man from an offside or illegal position.....IMO.
The act of disrupting the ball or player from the base of the ruck or scrum is the most negative feature of the game - the opposing team shouldn't be able to slap at the ball in the same way you can't knock down a pass (which seems to be a instant yellow card now days)
If the halfback is dithering on the ball that is fine, same as if the No8 is slow to break but only a proper tackle....IMO