London Welsh v London Irish

[Robert Burns]

Remember this:



Certainly dangerous for Shane Williams, but never a dangerous tackle, just hard and unfortunate timing.

Luckily Shane Williams was fine.

[OB..]

It was not a classic tip tackle because there was no lift. However it did look high, and I am concerned about the position of the tacklers head. It was not a Fred Howard.

[Guyseep]

Certainly dangerous for Shane Williams, but never a dangerous tackle, just hard and unfortunate timing.



Luckily Shane Williams was fine.

Some may argue, that perhaps Polota-Nau charged in with his shoulder only. It's debatable.

[Chogan]

Seems fair to me.

The BC wasn't "lifted" past the horizontal, he was tackled below the shoulders (ie legally) .... but his legs carried on going. A seems harsh to me, and judging by the handshakes from the opponents I assume they thought so too.

His legs carried on going and were assisted with an upward lift from Hala'ufia's left arm tipping the BC passed the horizontal.
The handshakes are probably down to most players, like most supporters feeling that RC's for dangerous tackles of this nature are disproportionate to the rest of the game coupled with the fact that nearly everyone can see that there was no intent to injure.
However, as soon as it happened the Welsh player that arrived to the right of the ruck looked straight at JPD and then pointed to Hala'ufia.

If that had happened in a game I was reffing (and my superhuman ability allowed me to see it in instant slo-mo) I would have whistled for a "safety stop" and restarted with a scrum to London Welsh.

Same, but I'm not going to claim any superhuman abilities. I had to watch the thing nearly 20 times before making a decision.

[Taff]

.... Same, but I'm not going to claim any superhuman abilities. I had to watch the thing nearly 20 times before making a decision.

OK. OK ... I admit I haven't got any superhuman abilities and just watched it 5 times in slo-mo.

It's a luxury JP Doyle didn't have.

[Robert Burns]

I agree his left arm picks the players legs as he drives through, but is that not how players are taught to tackle? I believe the reason he goes over is because his upper body is too high in the hit, had he got his shoulder lower it would have been a cracking tackle.

I still believe cards are harsh here, but I have no issue with the ref making the call, in fact I applaud JP for having the balls to make the decision on such a close call.

It's nice and refreshing to be discussing a decision that is slightly more harsh, than a decision where it appears a referee has clearly avoided giving an obvious red.

[TheBFG]

I have one thing to say about that tackle...................

Player reaction!

[Chogan]

I have one thing to say about that tackle...................

Player reaction!

Which players?

[crossref]

I have one thing to say about that tackle...................

Player reaction!

they didn't react much to the tackle, but then neither did they protest much about the RC.

[TheBFG]

Which players?

that's what i mean, there isn't one, usually a good indicator to any situation