Good on ya Tosh.Video decisions are killing the game.

Agreed. Although why Phil Clarke seemed to agree with you and then insist that Senior had "obstructed" a player in back-play earlier (to the level of getting the Sky Director to cue it up to look at), is proof that some humans are seemingly incapable of applying consistant reasoning to what they are looking at.

Someobody else said that earlier, so although sceptical I accept it.

However, it is still irrelevant, because Clarke was not behind the play the ball, he was level with it.

I posted this reply on the Ian Smith thread -

[iThat is not strictly true but it was clear to me after watching the video replay that he has pinged the Warrington player not for obstruction but for advancing too soon into an offside position... which of course drew Diskin to leave the gap. As such Ben was correct. Of course on Sky when I watched it back Pinky and Perky got it wrong and confused anyone watching by claiming it was disallowed for obstruction.

The rules are reasonably clear -

Retire at play- (g) players of the side not in possession other than
the-ball the player taking part in the play-the-ball and the
acting half back are out of play if they fail to retire
ten (10) metres from the point at which the ball is
played or to their own goal lines. Players of the
side in possession other than the player taking
part in the play-the-ball and the acting halfback
must retire behind their players involved in the
play-the-ball or to their own goal line.
If you watch, when the acting half back clears the ruck the Warrington player was in an offside position.[/i

I think you might be correct Andy, about him continuing his run, but I do think that even if he had he might still have pinged him for it because he drew Diskin over and was then offside when the ball was cleared from the ruck. I suspect if Diskin had not fallen for it and Clarke had carried on then it might have stood. Very clear no try for me if you apply the rules... which in this case BT did.

Wheels - unlike other offside offence the rules state that he must retire behind the player in acting half-back... he was not behind when that ball cleared the ruck and was offside... period!

Does he have to be behind the acting half when the ball clears the ruck, or just when the ball is played? Once it touches the foot of the tackled player isn't the ball back in play and therefore he can go wherever he likes before the acting half releases it?

Well Andy, you have hit a bit of a nail on the head there! You are not supposed to advance, even in defence, until the ball has cleared the ruck! So what does clear the ruck mean exactly?

It is now generally held to be when the ball is played rather than the acting half back picking up the ball and either passing or moving with the ball.

The full rule is here -

10. The play-the-ball shall operate as follows.
Release tackled (a) The tackled player shall be immediately released
player immediately and shall not be touched until the ball is in play.
(b) The tackled player shall without delay regain his
Regain feet feet where he was tackled, lift the ball clear of the
ground, face his opponent’s goal line and drop or
place the ball on the ground in front of his
foremost foot.
Player marking (c) One opponent may take up the position
immediately opposite the tackled player.
(d) The tackled player may not play the ball before
the players effecting the tackle have had time to
clear the ruck.
Play with foot (e) When the ball touches the ground it must be
heeled (i.e. backwards) by the tackled player. The
ball must not be kicked or heeled by the player
marking him.
The ball is in play when it has been played
backward.
Acting halfback (f) A player of each team, to be known as the acting
halfback, may stand immediately and directly
behind his own player taking part in the play-theball
and must remain in this position, until the
play-the-ball movement is complete.

(g) players of the side not in possession other than
the-ball the player taking part in the play-the-ball and the
acting half back are out of play if they fail to retire
ten (10) metres from the point at which the ball is
played or to their own goal lines. Players of the
side in possession other than the player taking
part in the play-the-ball and the acting halfback
must retire behind their players involved in the
play-the-ball or to their own goal line.
(h) having retired the distance prescribed in the
preceding paragraph no player of the team not in
possession may advance until the ball has
cleared the ruck. A player who is out of play may
again take part in the game when the advantage
gained by not retiring has been lost.
NOTES