the offside rule can't refer only to 'planted feet' can it? Otherwise all you need to do is run ahead of teh kicker and jump off the ground at the point of the kick?

anyway, i thought smiths 'planted' foot was probably the only bit of his body that was behind the ball so while he looked clearly offside, closer inspection shows that the ref got it right.

It doesn't really matter what the press or teletext say, i saw one article which said saints were robbed because his (Eastmonds disallowed try) foot was above the touchline not on the line - clearly forgetting that he then went on to hit the corner flag well before grounding the ball.......

For me it was offside. However it was that close it could have gone either way. The way I look at it, if there hadn't have been a video ref at the game Ganson would have given it so it would've had the same outcome.

I cant believe all Saints fans are this stupid

You do realise that at a full gallop so to speak both feet will leave the ground at some stage...watch the top class sprinters in Slo Mo

Come on please, you lost and would still have done without the try! if we looked at changing rules and tightening them every time a team feels something went wrong we would be in a mess as a game!

Quote: RhinoNeil "Nothing wrong with it and Jon Wilkin agree's. Get over it.'" He may be saying lets get over it but Jon Wilkin does not agree there was nothing wrong with it www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/ru ... -24906250/ He says he doesn't know.

Quote: RhinoNeil "Nothing wrong with it and Jon Wilkin agree's. Get over it.'" He may be saying lets get over it but Jon Wilkin does not agree there was nothing wrong with it www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/ru ... -24906250/ He says he doesn't know.

every picture tells a different story

nicked from the Bentham thread that was nicked from southstanders

Smith does look offside but the purlple line should be parallel to the white one showing it was much closer than that

forgetting the line, all you have to do is look how far he is, compared to the kicker, away from the line behind them.

looking at those two pictures someone must have photo-shoped Smiths position. Every other player is in the same spot on the pitch with the same body angle except Smith who seems to be quite far back in the second. Also agree on the purple line. Its not a parrallel line and therefore can not be used to judge.

For me it was offside. I was always taught that the back foot was the offside line (on all aspects of the game ) not the kicking foot or the ball. Academic i know but leaves a bitter taste when you think it was the deciding factor

That isn't what cummings is saying who you selectively quote on other threads.

The extract from the laws of the game below suggest that neither Mr Cummins nor Mr Bentham actually understand the laws of the game. The reference is clearly to offside being judged against the position of the players, not wishing to be a gramatical pedant, but the placement of commas is clear, the reference can only be to the position of players.

Interestingly there is no reference whatsoever to feet, planted or otherwise. Mr Cummins & Mr Benthams job is to apply the laws, they have no authority to make them up.

If this was placed before lawyers, Smith was offside, however fortunately matches are not decided in the courts, Leeds won, Saints lost and both sides will get good and bad calls in future.

As for the refs, Mr Cummins will continue to fail to improve refereeing standards as long as he continues to argue up is down, better to say nothing than complete rubbish.

1
THE INTERNATIONAL LAWS OF THE GAME
AND
NOTES ON THE LAWS
Page
SECTION 14 Offside ......................................................................36

SECTION 14
OFF SIDE
When off side 1. A player is off side except when he is in his own ingoal
if the ball touches, is touched, held or kicked, by
one of his own team behind him.
Out of Play 2. An off side player shall not take any part in the game
or attempt in any way to influence the course of the
game. He shall not encroach within ten metres of an
opponent who is waiting for the ball and shall
Retire ten metres immediately retire ten metres from any opponent
who first secures possession of the ball.
Placed onside 3. An off side player is placed onside if:
(a) an opponent moves ten metres or more with the
ball.
(b) an opponent touches the ball without retaining it.
(c) one of his own team in possession of the ball
runs in front of him.
(d) one of his own team kicks or knocks the ball
forward and takes up a position in front of him in
the field of play.
(e) he retires behind the point where the ball was last
touched by one of his own team.
NOTES
Catcher claiming 1. A player who catches the ball near an off side opponent must
off side not go out of his way to make interference in play by the
offside player unavoidable. He should proceed with normal
play and rely on the Referee to penalise the off side player if
the latter interferes with play. If the catcher deliberately and
unnecessarily runs into the off side player then play should
proceed.
Accidental off side Where the Referee is satisfied that interference with play by
an off side player is accidental he should order a scrum.
Interfering with 2. Any off side player who remains within ten metres of an
Catcher opponent who is set to catch a kick up field by an opposing
player shall be deemed to be interfering with or attempting to
interfere with the catcher and shall be penalised unless the
non-offending team gains an immediate advantage.
“Out of Play” as 3. Players who are out of play at a play-the-ball (Section 11), a
opposed to “off side” scrum (Section 12), a kick off or drop-out (Section a
penalty kick (Section 13) or a free kick (Section 13) are not
put “on side” in the manner described in para 3 above. (See
appropriate Sections).
“Down town” Any player who is in front of the kicker in general play is not
permitted to advance beyond the point of the previous playthe-
ball until the ball has gone past the off side players. This
rule delays the movement of the off side players downfield in
an attempt to encircle the ball receiver as he collects the ball.
rugby_laws_book 2002 NEW 11/3/04 1:00 PM Page 36
37
Section 14. Offside (continued)
Example of offside 3. (e)
player retrieving ball
Player A kicks the ball and
opponent B attempts to catch it.
He drops the ball which rolls
behind him. His colleague C
who was originally in front of
him drops back to retrieve the
ball. When he gets to it he is
behind the point at which it was
played by B, indicated by the
line XY, and is not off side.
Player A kicks the ball and
opponent B fails to catch it, the
ball bouncing forward off his
hands. Player C is off side if he
plays the ball unless B advances
in front of the ball before C
reaches it, in which case a scrum
would be ordered for a knock-on.
3(e)
A
B
C
X Y
A
B
C
X Y
rugby_laws_book 2002 NEW 11/3/04 1:00 PM Page 37
38
04 1:00 PM Page 60

that shows me leon pryce coming into contact with ball so onside is the only answer

You do understand how perspective works dont you? your image is incorrect and proves nothing other than you being unable to grasp perspective.