But it's all subjective and when you don't have the camera angles to get in tight there would be no way to tell. I think Cummings stated on the video, that because the tackler was in the tackle too long the ref had no option but to give the penalty. If he can't fully see what has gone on and the ball pops out there is an element of balance of probabilities. If the tackler is leaning in and staying in the tackle too long, without a tight angle to see if his knee has nudged the ball out, you have to assume the action leads to that being the case.

I'd argue some of those balls steals now. So if you and me can't agree, 3 days later after both seeing tight angles and replays, then how can we expect someone to get it right, stood 10m away, whilst also checking offside. Players including tacklers have a responsibility not to stay in the tackle as well as attackers to secure the ball. There is no ruling that would ever get rid of subjectivity.

If we just allowed ball stealing, then is would become a right mess. I know I would get my players to hold him up in the tackle and have 3 or 4 ripping at the arms. Attackers would be diving for the floor rather than looking to offload. It would be 5 drives and a kick spectacular.

I agree with the general frustration with this.

Responsibility should ALWAYS be on the ball carrier. If it comes out there must have been a deliberate play at the ball. Atm, the ref may as well toss a coin and decide that way.

And if that becomes the norm and a penalty is given there will be more "dropped" balls at every tackle than enough.

The problem is that people are trying to get an objective decision made based on a subjective situation. By it's very nature that cannot be consistent. That is sport.

This will be a problem until a second ref is brought in to police the ruck players are willing to risk letting go of the ball knowing that ref being unable to see them drop will give the pen for a steal

At the moment the benefit of the doubt seems to be given to the ball carrier. Just change that. If the ref can see or thinks he can see a steal - penalty to the attacking team. If the ball just comes loose or the ref isn't sure what's happened - scrum with head and feed to the defending team.

I'm torn on this issue. I like the rule on paper. If an attacking player's priority is on ball retention we go back to the old days of stick it up your jumper. It at least promotes an off-loading game. However, the ambiguity in making interference with the ball decisions does lead to frustration and a certain amount of gamesmanship. I'm not sure how you can promote an attacking off-loading style while cutting out the 50/50 calls. Without a solution I say we keep the rule as it is.

exactly, the responsibility being on the ball carrier just means they wont promote the ball, we would have far fewer offloads.

Leave it as it is, accept you will win some and lose some.

Not only that you will have people in gang tackles ripping and applying pressure. I think there was some clear as day light plays at the ball in that game even if they didn't have contact when the ball came out.

I think the issue is knowledge on technique. I'm not sure how much understanding officials have of why defenders are doing what they are doing. With more knowledge, officials could have a better opinion of what is lack of control of the ball and what is a strip.

But then again, the commentators that spout nonsense about the incident's don't help. They should know better than to talk down the officials and their decisions, especially as they have very limited knowledge of modern day RL.