Bridging and stepping on fingers
Bridging - The definition of "bridging" varies across the world (I am English) so we need to be careful when we talk about it. "Bridging" in my view is the action of a player going over a player on the ground with the purpose of preventing an opponent from getting to the ball. The Laws (not rules) are written so as to allow players "fair competition of the ball" so if "bridging" prevents this, then it is illegal.
"Bridging" in itself is not illegal although the term is often just lumped together, by referes, as an illegal act. If a player stays on his feet over a player (and ball) on the ground and then a ruck forms by an opponent coming into contact then this is still a bridge but a legal one. If the player leans on the player on the ground or has hands on the ground, or any other action that means he is not fully supported on his own feet then this "bridging" is illegal. A more obvious illegal version of this is "wall building" where arriving players just flop on top of players on the ground in order to prevent fair competition.
Standing on fingers - Purposefully going into a ruck and standing on someone's fingers is dangerous play, irrespective of why the fingers are there or if they are there legally or illegally. Such action is also against the "spirt" of the game and, if seen by the referee, will draw a penalty and even a yellow card (maybe red depending on the referee).
Flankers at a scrum often put their hands down on the ground for stability which make inviting targets for a scrum half. Players who have to put hand to ground, as in this case, should be coached to do so with a clenched fist and keep fingers off the ground.
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Quick question unsure..
