"SET PIECE" THEME

Have a go! Support your answers with relevant Law Reference and Sanction. Answers will be listed in next week's Law Questions.

Thanks to Graeme Meyrick for compiling. Want to get in touch to discuss law? Contact meyrick@xtra.co.nz

1. Where is a scrum formed?

2. What does the referee make the mark for?

3. How long have teams got to form a scrum after the mark has been made?

4. When both teams have 15 players, how many players must be in the scrum?

5. When a team is reduced to fewer than 15 players for any reason, can the number of players in each team in the scrum be similarly reduced?

6. When should the referee call “crouch” and how should the front rows crouch?

7. When should the referee call “bind” and how should the front rows bind?

8. When should the referee call “set”?

9. How does the scrum half throw the ball into the scrum?

10. When does a scrum begin?

11. When may teams push?

12. How may players push in the scrum?

ANSWERS - WEEK 13

How is the mark of touch and who throws in determined in the following circumstances?

A. General

• Ball carrier goes into touch or kicks the ball indirectly into touch – where the player or the ball touches the touchline or the ground beyond it – opposition throw in

• A player unintentionally knocks, passes or throws the ball into touch – where the ball reaches the touch-line – opposition throw in

• The ball hits a player and goes directly into touch – where the ball reaches the touchline or at the point on the touchline closest to where the ball hit the player, whichever is nearer that player’s goal line – opposition throw in

• The ball hits a player and it bounces into touch – where the ball reaches the touchline – opposition throw in

• A player who is in touch catches or picks up a ball which has reached the plane of touch – where the ball reached the plane of touch – the team of the player who caught or picked up the ball throws in

• A player who is in touch catches or picks up a ball which has not reached the plane of touch – where the player is standing – opposition throw in

B. Ball is kicked directly into touch from a kick-off or restart kick

• The ball goes directly into touch from a kick-off or restart kick – if the touch option is taken, the throw in is where the ball reaches the touchline or on the halfway line, whichever is closer to the kicker’s goal-line – non-kicking team throw in

• The ball goes directly into touch from a 22 drop out – if the touch option is taken, the throw is where the ball reaches the touchline or on the 22m line, whichever is nearer the kicker’s goal-line – non kicking team throw in

C. Ball is kicked from a penalty

• A player kicks the ball into touch (either directly or first bouncing in the field of play or hitting an opponent or the referee) – where the ball reaches the touchline – the kicking team

• A player who is in touch catches the ball irrespective of whether the ball has reached the touchline – where the ball reaches the touchline or if the ball hasn’t reached the touchline, where the catcher is standing – the kicking team throw in

• A player who is in touch picks up a ball that has not reached the plane of touch – where the player is standing – the kicking team throw in

D. Ball is kicked directly into touch from within own 22 or in-goal.

No Gain in Ground – the defending team took the ball into their 22, no tackle, ruck or maul occurred, and no opponent touched the ball within the 22. If a player, who is inside their own 22, picks up the ball when it is outside the 22, or catches the ball before it reaches the plane of the 22-metre line, and kicks it directly to touch from within the 22, then that player has taken the ball back into the 22.

• A player kicks the ball directly into touch – where the ball reaches the touchline or on the touchline in line with where the ball was kicked whichever is nearer the kicker’s goal-line – non kicking team throw in

• An opposition player who is in touch catches the ball – where the ball reaches the touchline or on the touchline in line with where the ball was kicked, whichever is nearer to the kicker’s goal-line – non kicking team throw in

Gain Ground – either the defending team did not take the ball into the 22 or a tackle, ruck or maul took place within the 22 or an opponent touched the ball within the 22.

• A player kicks the ball directly into touch – where the ball reaches the touchline – non kicking team throw in

• An opposition player who is in touch catches the ball – where the ball reaches the touchline – non kicking team throw in

• A player kicks the ball from a free kick awarded within the 22 – where the ball reaches the touchline – non-kicking team throw in

E. Ball is kicked directly into touch from outside the 22

• A player kicks the ball directly into touch from open play or from a free kick – where the ball reaches the touchline or on the touchline in line with where the ball was kicked, whichever is nearer to that player’s goal line (no gain in ground) – non kicking team throw in

F. Lineout options

• Following an incorrect throw – where the original lineout took place – opposition throw in • Following a disallowed quick throw – where the formed lineout would have taken place if the quick throw in had not been taken – the same team throw in

• Following an incorrect quick throw – where the incorrect quick throw was taken – opposition throw in

• Following the ball going into touch from a knock on or throw forward – where the ball reached the touchline – opposition throw in

• From a PK or FK awarded for a lineout infringement – where the original lineout took place – opposition throw in

(Law 18.8)

Article added: Friday 9 July 2021