For some referees Alain Rolland has done more to promote the un-acceptance of the tip/spear tackle within our game than what the iRB has managed to do in 4 years of memo writing.
In this weeks Heineken Cup match between Cardiff & London Irish Inside Centre Steven Shingler received a red card from French Referee Jerome Garces for his tip/spear tackle on Dafydd Hewitt.
Lets go through the checklist that Ian Cook produced in his article The Dynamics of a Tip-Tackle and see if it was right:
The tackler:
- Comes to a stop? Yes
- Grasps the ball carrier below the hips? Yes
- Lifts him straight upwards? Yes
- Turns him upside-down? Yes
- Lets him go or drives him to the ground? Yes
Well it's fairly clear after Warburton's now infamous red card that this tackle is not acceptable in our game, and so yes, the red card was the right call, well done Jerome Garces.
It's nice to see that commentators are starting to understand that this is a red card, but I still find it amazing that they are actually trying to justify why it shouldn't be, even when admitting this is one of the worst tackles they have seen.
Players & coaches need to understand that this type of tackle is going to lose you a player not just for 10 minutes, should they get away with receiving a yellow card, but for a few weeks after they will certainly be cited and suspended.
Can coaches really afford to lose first choice players in key game? Once again the actions of the player can be directly attributed to the teams loss.
I have no doubt we will see a few more red cards for this type of tackle this season, and I hope the referees stay consistently harsh on them to ensure that it becomes a thing of the past.
Actually, the Laws are made by people who understand the potential consequences. They also understand that grabbing a player below the hips and lifting them up is a CHOICE made by the tackler, and that there are alternative, safer and just as effective ways to put the ball carrier on the deck.
"There is responsibility on the ball carrier as well..."
This comment is so contemptuous, it doesn't even deserve a reply.