THERE IS MUCH debate about tackling in rugby at the moment and the degree to which it should be punished.
In yesterday’s Wales-Ireland game, Bradley Davies was sin-binned for what looked a dangerous tackle on Donnacha Ryan.
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Many people have compared it to a similar tackle for which Sam Warburton was sent off during Wales’ World Cup semi-final with France.
In addition, Stephen Ferris was sin-binned for what seemed a far more innocuous tackle in the dying seconds of the game (you can view both incidents below).
So what do you think? Are rugby officials being too harsh? Or are they being overly lenient? Or perhaps they need to develop a greater consistency in their decision-making?
Let us know what you think in the comment section below.
If Bradley Davies’ was only a yellow then there is no way that Ferris’ should even have been a penalty. Davies deserved red for what was a deliberate attempt to hurt another player. You can see from Warren Gatland’s reaction that it was a dirty stroke which has no place in the game. Ferris can feel a bit hard done by. He was in control of the man the whole time and the tackled player had a foot on the ground however the other leg being lifted is what swung the ref into reaching for the pocket after having balked out of making the decision earlier. Have been on the receiving end of similar tackles on the field in the past and don’t see any harm in it. Ferris hit him hard but fair and was in control of the situation throughout. Intention should have much more of a bearing in these decisions. As it stands, the result of the decisions on the day meant that in effect, the referee deem both incidents to be the same as each other. It’s clear from the video above that this could not be further from the truth.
I thought Wayne Barnes choked and forced the call on his touch judge. Of course it should have been a straight red, if Sam Warburtons red in New Zealand was anything to go by. But as usual another refereeing blunder and career ending tackle that will be ignored by the powers that be.
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If Bradley Davies’ was only a yellow then there is no way that Ferris’ should even have been a penalty. Davies deserved red for what was a deliberate attempt to hurt another player. You can see from Warren Gatland’s reaction that it was a dirty stroke which has no place in the game. Ferris can feel a bit hard done by. He was in control of the man the whole time and the tackled player had a foot on the ground however the other leg being lifted is what swung the ref into reaching for the pocket after having balked out of making the decision earlier. Have been on the receiving end of similar tackles on the field in the past and don’t see any harm in it. Ferris hit him hard but fair and was in control of the situation throughout. Intention should have much more of a bearing in these decisions. As it stands, the result of the decisions on the day meant that in effect, the referee deem both incidents to be the same as each other. It’s clear from the video above that this could not be further from the truth.
I thought Wayne Barnes choked and forced the call on his touch judge. Of course it should have been a straight red, if Sam Warburtons red in New Zealand was anything to go by. But as usual another refereeing blunder and career ending tackle that will be ignored by the powers that be.