Martin Castrogiovanni arrives on the right of the heap, as he looks at it. He is beyond the last feet and manoeuvres himself towards the left-hand side, well on the Welsh side. He in fact stands between the Welsh scrumhalf, Dwayne Peel, and the forwards. Castrogiovanni has his broad back to Peel.

Castrogiovanni pushes Owen.Owen pushes Castrogiovanni.Peel pushes Castrogiovanni.Castrogiovanni pushes Peel.Peel charges into Castrogiovanni.Castrogiovanni gives Peel a petulant push.

These are adult rugby players, professionals at the top of the professional ladder.

We had been assured that pillars/sentinels would not be allowed.

If the situation was a tackle, players had to enter from behind. If it was a ruck there was a no-man’s land from back foot to back foot.

8. Post and ground

From a shabby line-out Wales tidied up, Haldane Luscombe broke strongly through Andrea Masi and gave to Martyn Williams who drove at the goal-posts as Roland de Marigny grabbed him. Falling and turning Williams managed to press the ball against the base of the posts. The ball did not reach the goal-line but it made a dent in the padding at the base while it was in contact with the ground.

The TMO advised that it was a try. The referee awarded the try. The crowd growled loudly in Italian.

But the TMO and thereferee were right. The ball did not have to reach the line. Simultaneous contact with ground and padding, however thick the padding, was enough for a try.

Law 22.5 (c) Grounded against the goal post. The goal posts and the padding surrounding them are part of the goal-line. If an attacking player is first to ground the ball against a goal post or padding, a try is scored.

9. Truck-’n-trailer

Ireland win the ball in a line-out and form a maul which plods ahead. The maul fragments going right. There are three Irish players in the van - Shane Byrne, John Hayes and Malcolm O’ Kelly. Behind them is Paul O’Connell who has the ball. The vanguard advances into the three Scots - Gordon Bulloch, Allister Hogg and Scott Murray.

The referee penalises the Irish.

Right?

Yes.

The trio in the van are running obstruction.

10 Kicked or not

Reader: Can you comment on a incident in the match just before the half-time whistle?

This was a penalty kick taken by Charlie Hodgson just before half-time. What happens is that he drops the ball onto his boot, onto the ground. The referee then indicates he Charlie is going for the posts.

In my opinion he took the tap kick and everybody should have played on. Is that correct? Should the ref not have noticed that?