can anyone who is more clued up than me answer the following:

1) when the pay the ball is within 10m of the try line, where do the defending team need to be? in the aus/nz game i noticed a lot of times the defending team had one foot (at best) on the tryline and the rest of their body was well in front of the tryline.

2) when the attacking team kick through and one of their players is offside, does that player actually have to touch the ball or make a tackle for it to be a penalty? or can he be penalised just for getting within ten yards of the ball/defending player?

Thought it was just SL that had the both feet?

if you are offside and within 10m of a kick when it lands or is caught you are interfering with play and a penalty should be awarded.

1) i thought it used to be both feet on the tryline and that it had recently changed to both feet behind the tryline - no?

2) yes, but I meant can you be penalised for getting within ten yards, even if you don't touch the ball or the player? the example i'm thinking of is chasing an up n under. if you are running at a fullback you may put them off, causing a knock on, without actually touching them or the ball.

AFAIK: It's like being offside anywhere else at the field (at the ptb for instance) – the penalty is only given if you get involved in a tackle or touch the ball (although you see players stood with their hands on their heads to indicate that they're offside and not involved in play far less these days)

You can't be seen to be chasing the kick from an offside position as it puts pressure on the defending player and therefore seen as interfering with play, or you can at least chase the kick to within ten yards of them. I [ithink[/i.

Actually I suspect you may right: when a rife shouts "give him 10, you're offside" chasing players tend to stop 10m away from the receiver – though whether that's to avoid being penalised, or to set up a proper defence line …

That's what I meant by "[ior you can at least chase the kick to within ten yards of them[/i" (covered my bases

)

Not quite. If you are offside and within 10m of a opponent who is receiving a kick you should immediately retire 10m from them. If you don't interfere in play you shouldn't be penalised.