Punching the ball is not a throw, so if the ball went forward relative to the ground it would be a knock on.

What other action, that might actually happen on a rugby field, is "neither a throw or a knock"? If you can tell us what you're talking about, maybe we can explain it to you.

However it might be easier if you just accept that any unlisted method of punching, poking, tickling, elbowing, slapping, karate-chopping, batting, or other propelling of the ball with hand or arm which is not a PASS, will be a knock-on if the ball goes forward relative to the ground.

If instead of catching the ball I punch it forwards to the ground, this is not a "punch on" or anything else, but a simple knock-on.

If instead of catching the ball I poke it forwards to the ground, this is not a "poke on" or anything else, but a simple knock-on.

If instead of catching the ball I elbow it forwards to the ground, this is not an "elbow on" or anything else, but a simple knock-on.

If instead of catching the ball I karate-chop it forwards to the ground, this is not a "karate-chop on" or anything else, but a simple knock-on.

If instead of catching the ball I propel it forwards to the ground by means of any one of no doubt hundreds of proprietary martial arts blows from any one of the many martial arts disciplines, then while doubtless the blow I used may be an enpi uchi, or a chudan-choku-zuki, or a haito uchi, the fact that the strike does have some technical or proprietary name outside of rugby does not matter, it remains a simple knock-on.

Am I making the point any clearer?

It is a good example, as in that case Tadulala batted the ball behind him and it passed backwards over his head, but still was not deemed to be a "pass". I think the argument there, though was whether he passed the ball or not. I.e. was his action a "throw" or wasn't it? You CAN throw a ball by cupping it in the palm of your hand and propelling it - that's how cricket fielders operate all day long, for example. The VR obviously decided there was no "throw" to make it a pass within the rules. So therefore as it did still move forward relative to the pitch, it had to be a knock on. Which sort of reinforces what a just said, that if it ain't a pass, then it don't matter what else it is, if it goes forward it's a knock on.

No, I wasn't happy with it at all, but if you ask the simple question, "Was what he did a 'throw' of the ball?" - then in the cold light of day, it probably wasn't.

It was completely different to JJB though. JJB just made a slight play at the ball, which struck his arm, whereas Tadulala deliberately and successfully went to bat the ball back infield.

Indeed he did, he batted it, IMO (and the refs) he didnt 'throw' it and either way it went forward, a clear knock on, as was JJB's.

Why is a forward pass not offside - surely the player receiving the ball is in front of the player playing the ball when he receives it?

But not always when the ball is released.

a player can be offside & penalty awarded if he is intentionlly stood in front of the player when it's passed to him. You see these sometimes from acting half back plays. Otherwise it's accidental offside most of the time if he's a little infront of the player passing the ball.

Technically it is offside but because it is deemed to be unintentional then there is just a scrum but no penalty. It does state in the rules that at the referees discretion he can award a penalty. Can`t say I`ve ever seen it happen though.

...no it isn't...not in most cases anyway, as offside is judged at time of pass not the catch.

I like TA`s answer but to me it`s much more simple. whether it was passed, batted, slapped or tipped the initial movement from Tadulala was backwards, yes the ball did what rugby balls have always done and, on hitting the ground, changed direction and bounced forward but the impetus from Tadulala was definitely backwards.

I also believe you can be penalised for a deliberate forward pass??