It wasn't forward though. It was knocked back.
If it was back, then the ref has made an error UNLESS the ball was knocked out/dead. In that case: book 'im.
Knocked out dead is a funny rule, In a recent Reds game Hegarty was ruled to have knocked the ball dead on purpose (he was trying to force the ball) and it was a penalty, but you can kick the ball dead on purpose without a penalty.
I have never found the rules of rugby that complex, it is the inconsistencies that annoy me, like why can you baulk a quick lineout but not a formed lineout without being penalised?
The Hegarty situation was a Penalty Try and YC. IMO it is hard to say that he was trying to ground it. Conversely it is not clear that he deliberately made it dead. This is where it sucks to be a referee. Tough decision with no easy middle ground.
That situation falls under two laws:
Law 9.7 A player must not:
b. Intentionally knock, place, push or throw the ball with arm or hand from the playing area.
Law 8.3 A penalty try is awarded between the goal posts if foul play by the opposing team prevents a probable try from being scored, or scored in a more advantageous position. A player guilty of this must be cautioned and temporarily suspended or sent off. No conversion is attempted.
So the could have ruled that Hegarty did intentionally knock the ball into touch but that it was not probable that Laumape would have scored.
Penalty to Hurricanes only.
More likely PK and YC if that was your assessment as you might argue that a try was not probable but it was definitely a possible try scoring situation.
Hooper is behind the ball when he picks it up so certainly within his rights. He starts pivoting around while he has his hands on the ball and it's still on the ground.
I think everything he did is legal.
His timing is such that it was pretty much impossible to stop. If they'd tried to tackle him earlier they would have been offside because the ball wasn't out of the ruck.
What about the no-try ruling against Banks off the kick?
Referee couldn’t throw it to the TMO because he already blew his whistle before it was grounded, but IMO that should have been a try and the referee made a mistake by blowing the whistle early?
Where is the offside line for the attacking team in a ruck? Players like Koroibete, Naisarani & Savea enjoy the quick bolt out of a ruck which makes easy metres. If they’re securing the ruck, why are they not offside?
For MK's little runs up the middle he just keeps going when no ruck forms.Where is the offside line for the attacking team in a ruck? Players like Koroibete, Naisarani & Savea enjoy the quick bolt out of a ruck which makes easy metres. If they’re securing the ruck, why are they not offside?