Sigh, Ian - pay attention to this! - 12.1 and 22.7 both deal with the ball knocked INTO to the in-goal, and in that scenario it's perfectly clear that you don't get a 22DO.
The scenario we disagree on is the knock on inside the in-goal.
- Red carry the ball into the in goal
- Red then lose it forewards
- Blue pick it up, assess options and kick the ball TIG
The situation you are talking about is also clearly dealt with in Law
[LAWS]22.7 RESTARTING AFTER A TOUCH DOWN
(a) When an attacking player sends or carries the ball into the opponents’ in-goal and it
becomes dead there, either because a defender grounded it or because it went into touchin-
goal or on or over the dead ball line, a drop-out is awarded.[/LAWS]
No infringement in the in-goal, so DO22 is appropriate, but if there
is an infringement in the in-goal, then these Laws come into play...
[LAWS]12.1 THE OUTCOME OF A KNOCK-ON OR THROW FORWARD
(d) Knock-on or throw forward inside the in-goal. If a player of either team knocks-on or
throws-forward inside the in-goal, a 5-metre scrum is awarded in line with the place of
infringement not closer than 5 metres from the touchline.[/LAWS]
[LAWS]22.13 ATTACKING INFRINGEMENT WITH SCRUM SANCTION
If an attacking player commits an infringement in in-goal, for which the sanction is a scrum,
for example, a knock-on, play is restarted with a 5-metre scrum. The scrum is formed in line
with the place of the infringement and the defending team throws in the ball.
22.14 DEFENDING INFRINGEMENT WITH SCRUM SANCTION
If a defending player infringes in in-goal, for which the sanction is a scrum, for example, a
knock-on, play is restarted with a 5-metre scrum. The scrum is formed in line with the place
of the infringement and the attacking team throws in the ball.[/LAWS]
All three Laws say its a scrum. You may not like it, but I do, and its the Law.
Explain to me why the defending a team should be able to kick the ball into TiG, and in do doing, get a risk-free 22m leg-up, followed by a likely further gain of perhaps 40m, Further explain to me why the attacking team should be punished by 22-60m for a mere knock-forward.
If the defending team want a bigger gain from situation than the 5m gain in ground and the scrum throw in (with and near certain possession) afforded to them by the Law, they need to earn it and take some risk. When the attacking team knock on, the defending team need to play on, get back into the field of play and undertake an exit play to gain their ground. Alternatively, boot the bloody thing as far downfield as they can....