Manawatu v Counties Manukau | Final | 16 Girls | Youth Nationals | Touch 

Did not see it but take your word and the commentators. Tbh it's a deeper issue: Because the game is based on grind, the rule had to be added to force defenders off the line / favour the offence. But the root cause of that is either too frequent use of subs (so lack of fatigue as factor to open up play as well as incentivize open play across all the pitch instead of grinding/dumping up to 15m of the touch zone) or else the pitch being too small if you allow perpetual rolling subs. Given 15's pitches are not being changed in dimension any time soon (though they need to for the professional level imo) then the root issue is rolling subs that then creates the conditions needed for players to walk off the line and not roll-back before the touch is imminent as you say - which is a fudge type of rule and imo too fuzzy (ie requires too much ref interpretation as well as observation). Never criticize refs. They do a wonderful job making the game flow forwards in time by arbitration of executive decision (whether accurate or sometimes not). Just acknowledge they do a great service for a great game. Albeit imo refs could be helped by analysing the game to make it flow more naturally (good for play and spectactle and officiation!). A drop-off demonstrates some of the most exciting moments in touch because there's more factors of space and fatigue at any moment during the duration of the phase. The same to a degree could be done for the full Touch Regulation Time eg 1 sub per 10 mins or else say 3 subs per 20 minutes only. YMMV.

@@commentarytalk1446 if you did not see it you need to go to spec savers. That ruling at that moment turned the whole outcome of the game. We pay big $ to ensure the kids get to attend all modules & events, even tid camps to learn these intricate details. I'll criticize where its due, and the refs were right with in a meter of the grind, but pressure fell on them, not the athletes. And in a very critical moment...it was a very bad call. Its simple really. Dont try to justify what was clearly wrong with root cause analysis. It was a terrible call. Why the rush?