RWC Canada vs. Wales

[Volun-selected]

Around 61 mins on the game clock Wales (White) kick for touch off a penalty. In the lineout, Wales go up and Canada (Red) brace for the maul.

Wales bring their player down but the lifters (to me) bring her behind them - not egregiously, but enough to shield her.

Would others agree this is obstruction or is there enough of a gap for fair contest and I’m overreading this? Where do you draw the line, what is the sight picture you look for? Asking from the viewpoint of someone who usually refs solo with teams providing runners on touch of variable levels of ability and knowledge and would not see a lineout from this angle on the day.

Photos are not great, just a burst showing the general flow with a close up.

 

[Decorily]

If I'm interpreting the images correctly then it certainly looks like obstruction to me.

 

[didds]

id agree withg decorily - but of course in real time that took about 03 seconds and so may just be missed

 

[SimonSmith]

THat has been called already this tournament, in the Wales/Scotland game I think.

 

[Rich_NL]

If I saw this at grassroots I'd blow it as obstruction.

 

[BikingBud]

Yup

Along with dropping out of the line to pre-form the maul, line out offences that are missed so as not to be pernickety.