We don’t have that back to you ref rubbish over here-it is passed to the VR for a decision not to be sent back otherwise the ref would have given it first time

For a very simple reason: camera angles lie (or at best are confusing)

We would have to if we were to start asking the VR to look at forward passes.

The camera angles don't always lie (ok some do) and most are pretty clear cut (like Hicks last try against Hudds on Saturday, clearly forward), if on the other hand it is inconclusive, then fair enough benefit of the doubt should be given as other borderline decisions decided by the VR.

I'd rather some forward passes be caught by the VR than none at all, it's frustrating. The game is too fast sometimes for the refs to catch them in real time, lets trial it and see how many are caught in slow motion!

BOD to who the attacker?

As always



But there was fsk all doubt about Hicks try on Saturday was there

It's simple how do work it out by video. Get the highest shot available, from the pitchside (basically the tele cam), then draw a red line across the screen where the ball was passed from, and another at where it was recieved , then judge from that. (think of how replays show offsides in football). Simple.

Could the same thing not be said about offsides?

Simple but useless. That would only tell you whether the ball went forward relative to the ground. It wouldn't tell you whether it was a forward pass according to the laws of rugby.

No it isn't.







That won't work.



[iThe direction of a pass is relative to the player making it and

not to the actual path relative to the ground. A player running

towards his opponents’ goal line may throw the ball towards

a colleague who is behind him but because of the thrower’s

own momentum the ball travels forward relative to the

ground. This is not a forward pass as the thrower has not

passed the ball forward in relation to himself. This is

particularly noticeable when a running player makes a high,

lobbed pass.[/i



The above text is quoted from the laws of the game.

The one that was passed backwards and then drifted forward in flight? A clear-cut case of a legal and legitimate pass.







The main reason for the controversy around forward passes, imo, is ignorance of the actual rules of the game, by fans and by the Sky commentary team.

Offsides are judged relative to the ground, so, no.