Law 17.6 (h) Scrum after a maul when catcher is held. If a player catches the ball direct from an opponent’s kick, except from a kick-off or a drop-out, and the player is immediately held by an opponent, a maul may form. Then if the maul remains stationary, stops moving forward for longer than 5 seconds, or if the ball becomes unplayable, and a scrum is ordered, the team of the ball catcher throws in the ball.

Delaigue caught. Robinson was the opponent who held. The maul formed. The ball became unplayable.

Now it all depends on the meaning of immediately. In this case it was pretty swift, too swift perhaps for Delaigue to do anything else but get caught. He had no time to evade or pass or kick.

It looks a case for a French ball.

6. Throwing into touch

Poor Pépito Elhorga. He was stranded. Mark Cueto had kicked the ball down into the French 22 on their right. The ball bounced awkwardly but Elhorga got it. Josh Lewsey got Elhorga and so did Cueto with Graham Rowntree approaching menacingly. Elhorga, about four metres in from touch, threw the ball out over the touch-line.

The referee penalised Elhorga.

Right?

Yes.

The place of the penalty?

The referee moved in to 15 metres from touch and gave the penalty, and then took time out to discuss the matter with Elhorga,

Right place?

Yes.

Law 10.2 Throwing into touch. A player must not intentionally knock, place, push or throw the ball with his arm or hand into touch, touch-in-goal, or over the dead ball line. Penalty: Penalty Kick on the 15-metre line if the offence is between the 15-metre line and the touch-line, or, at the place of infringement if the offence occurred elsewhere in the field of play, or, 5 metres from the goal-line and at least 15 metres from the touch-line if the infringement occurred in in-goal.A penalty try must be awarded if the offence prevents a try that would probably otherwise have been scored.

7. Pillars!

a. Michael Owen of Wales runs with the ball. He ends on the ground with other players around about. It is doubtful if there ever was a tackle or a ruck but there certainly is a heap of Welsh jerseys. Marco Bortolami of Italy is on the right side (as he looks at it) of the heap in front of the last feet.

Mefin Davies of Wales arrives and goes to the left side (as he looks at it) of the heap without binding and well ahead of the last feet.

Davies pushes Bortolami.Bortolami pushes Davies over.Davies gets up and pushes Bortolami.Bortolami pushes Davies.Davies pushes Bortolami.

b. Roland de Marigny of Italy is tackled and a heap of players fall around. It was a tackle and may even have been a ruck.