Yesterday’s encounter between the All Blacks and the Springboks at Eden Park, a clash that ultimately saw the All Blacks extend their impressive unbeaten streak at the venue with a 24-17 victory, presented a moment that invites closer scrutiny under the World Rugby Laws. A specific incident involving referee Karl Dickson and Springbok player Wessels, just two phases before Ardie Savea’s decisive 79th-minute penalty, brings the application of Law 6.10 into sharp focus. This law governs contact between the ball, or ball-carrier, and a match official or other non-player. Let’s be clear, the question isn’t about blame, but rather a dispassionate inquiry into the letter of the law and its potential impact on a pivotal phase of play.

Understanding Law 6.10: The Referee as an Obstacle

World Rugby Law 6.10 states: “If the ball or the ball-carrier touches the referee or other non-player and neither team gains an advantage, play continues. If either team gains an advantage in the field of play, a scrum is awarded to the team that last played the ball“. This law aims to maintain fairness when an incidental interaction with a non-player might influence the game. The referee, along with assistant referees, touch judges, and other authorised personnel, are considered non-players in this context.

The “advantage” mentioned in the law can be understood in two primary ways: territorial advantage, which signifies a gain in ground, or tactical advantage, which refers to the non-offending team’s freedom to play the ball as they wish. The referee, as the sole judge of fact and law during a match, holds wide discretion in determining whether such an advantage has been gained. If no advantage is gained by either side, play simply continues. However, if either team gains an advantage or is disadvantaged, the law specifies that a scrum should be awarded to the team that last played the ball.

The Wessels Incident: A “What If” Scenario

In the specific instance at Eden Park, Springbok player Wessels, carrying the ball, was advancing towards the backline with the apparent intention to pass, positioned approximately eight meters from the in-goal line. During this movement, Wessels collided with referee Karl Dickson [User provided context]. The immediate consequence was that Wessels was taken down by two All Blacks, and subsequently swarmed by four [User provided context].

Let’s consider this through the lens of Law 6.10. Wessels was a ball-carrier who touched the referee in the field of play. The collision, by redirecting his run and causing him to be immediately tackled and swarmed, arguably prevented the Springboks from executing their intended play, such as a 1v1 or 1v2 opportunity at the line. This directly impacts the Springboks’ “freedom to play the ball as they wish,” which aligns with the definition of a tactical disadvantage for them.

Conversely, the All Blacks, through no fault of their own, found Wessels’ attacking momentum stalled, allowing their defenders to quickly converge and gain a superior defensive position. While they didn’t gain territory from the collision itself, they gained a clear tactical advantage in neutralising a potential Springbok scoring opportunity near the try line [User provided context].

Consequences of Application

Had the referee determined that the All Blacks gained an advantage (or the Springboks were disadvantaged) due to the collision, Law 6.10 dictates that play should have stopped, and a scrum awarded to the team that last played the ball – the Springboks.

This would have fundamentally altered the subsequent sequence of play. Instead of the ball turning over and leading to Ardie Savea’s critical game-sealing steal in the 79th minute , the Springboks would have been awarded a scrum deep in All Blacks territory. This would have given them another direct opportunity to attack the try line or to relieve pressure in a crucial late-game moment. The entire momentum and outcome of those final minutes, and perhaps the match itself, could have been dramatically different.

The Referee’s Judgment and the Nuance of Advantage

Refereeing, particularly the application of the advantage law (Law 8), is often described as an art, demanding judgment, concentration, and consistency. The referee’s discretion is paramount. The decision to allow play to continue in the Wessels incident implies that the referee judged that “neither team gained an advantage”. However, as discussions among referees show, judging advantage, especially when a non-player is involved, can be complex. In a forum discussion, a referee advisor noted that if one side does benefit from the ball striking the referee, play must stop, and a scrum is awarded to the side last in possession.

While the available sources discuss referee contact and the broader advantage law extensively, they do not provide specific professional game examples that perfectly mirror this exact collision scenario and its game-deciding implications. The focus in some discussions is on deliberate contact with a referee, which leads to severe bans, rather than accidental collisions influencing play. This makes the Eden Park incident a compelling case study for Law 6.10.

Ultimately, the match continued, and the All Blacks secured their victory. But the incident serves as a stark reminder of how a seemingly innocuous collision, under the precise wording of rugby’s laws, can pose profound questions about the course of a game and its decisive moments.

References

• 6 Match officials – World Rugby Passport.
• Advantage | Rugby365.
• All Blacks outlast Springboks at Eden Park to protect hallowed ground – Rugbypass.com.
• Amateur player banned for 3 years for collision with referee makes compilation video. His incident at the end. Deliberate? : r/rugbyunion – Reddit.”
• Law Clarifications – World Rugby Passport.
• New Referee – Law 8 Advantage Question | RugbyRefs.com.
• Rugby Law Changes and Clarifications for 2024-25 Season.
• Rugby Law Lounge: Advantage, Knock-on/Throw Forward & Match Officials. YouTube, uploaded by Bay of Plenty Rugby Referees.
• What Is Material Advantage In Rugby Rules? – The Rugby Pros. YouTube, uploaded by The Rugby Pros.