This is a common occurrence whereby the holding defenders attempt to get a turnover by preventing a Tackle and (hopefully) preventing the ball carrier from recycling the ball into a Maul.
Typically the ball carrier tries to drop a knee in order to trigger the Tackle law; however, as we all know, if this is triggered, then the Ball-carrier plus Tackler have to immediately release the ball, each-other and immediately move away from the ball.
None of which tends to happen when you have a held ball carrier dropping a knee to the ground.
It would be very helpful to have a World Rugby clarification for this situation so we can be consistent.
My current preference, where it appears the ball-carrier is definitely held, is to call Maul as soon as possible.
This removes the issue of sorting out when the ball-carrier & tackler should release each other. Plus it means the other attacking players have to act quickly to avoid a failed Maul & turnover scrum.
Typically the ball carrier tries to drop a knee in order to trigger the Tackle law; however, as we all know, if this is triggered, then the Ball-carrier plus Tackler have to immediately release the ball, each-other and immediately move away from the ball.
None of which tends to happen when you have a held ball carrier dropping a knee to the ground.
It would be very helpful to have a World Rugby clarification for this situation so we can be consistent.
My current preference, where it appears the ball-carrier is definitely held, is to call Maul as soon as possible.
This removes the issue of sorting out when the ball-carrier & tackler should release each other. Plus it means the other attacking players have to act quickly to avoid a failed Maul & turnover scrum.
