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Law discussion: The contentious Jordie Barrett play on decision explained
By Online Editors
Law guru Paul Dobson takes a look at a contentious incident involving Jordie Barrett during the Hurricanes win over the Chiefs on Friday.
Just after the Hurricanes scored to draw level with the Chiefs, Wes Goosen of the Hurricanes is penalised for an aerial tackle on Damian McKenzie of the Chiefs.
The penalty is just inside the Chiefs’ half and about five metres from touch. Aaron Cruden of the Chiefs takes the kick and aims to get the ball out into touch close to the Hurricane’s goal-line. It is a long, soaring kick to his left. But waiting for the ball is Barrett, the Hurricanes fullback. He is waiting for the ball about five metres in touch. As the ball drops towards him, Barrett runs forward, leaps and catches the ball. His leap lands him in the field of play.
The referee allows play to go on. He is heard to say that this was a new law.
Later, during an injury break, the incident is replayed and it showed clearly that the ball had flown beyond the line of touch when Barrett caught it.
The commentators spoke of the plane of touch.
LAW DEFINITION
Plane of touch: The vertical space rising immediately above the touchline or touch-in-goal line.
The replay shows that the ball had travelled beyond the plane of touch. One commentator claimed to have been told by a referee that Barrett would have been right if he had caught the ball before it reached the plane of touch, which was clearly not the case here.
So what does the law say?
Law 18.2 The ball is not in touch or touch-in-goal if:
b. A player jumps, from within or outside the playing area, and catches the ball, and then lands in the playing area, regardless of whether the ball reached the plane of touch.
Barrett jumped from outside the playing area, caught the ball and landed in the playing area.
Therefore, according to law, the ball was not in touch.
Therefore, the referee was right to play on.
Therefore, those who were concerned about the plane of touch, need not have been concerned.
This clause was brought into the laws in 2018 as an amendment.
It was clever play by Barrett, who clearly knew the law. What he did was important in the context of the match.
WATCH: Israel Dagg, Ali Williams, Mils Muliaina and Angus Ta'avao join Kirstie Stanway on the couch for another entertaining episode of the Kick Off.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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