If a team commits either a penalty or scrum offence the opposition can be awarded an advantage without the need for a penalty or scrum to be awarded. Assuming the opposition get the ball there are two types of advantage, territorial where a player has taken the opportunity to move the ball up field and tactical advantage where the player sets up a good attacking platform for their team.
If a referee decides that an advantage has been taken they will allow play on and ignore the need for a scrum or penalty. If they decide otherwise, the play is brought back to the original offence position and the scrum or penalty is awarded.
