Borthwick denies Leicester tackle issues a result of poor training
Steve Borthwick, the Leicester Tigers head coach, insists his squad are being coached to try and avoid dangerous head contacts and is adamant he does not want the introduction of a 20 minute red card despite losing two players in successive Heineken Champions Cup matches against Clermont Auvergne.
The 20 minute red card idea is being trialled by Super Rugby and considered for wider introduction by World Rugby and would mean a player who is sent off can be replaced 20 minutes later by a substitute.
Borthwick’s view is particularly relevant as Guy Porter, in the first game in France, and Ollie Chessum on Saturday were dismissed for making contact with an opponent’s head in the two victories that put Leicester into a Cup quarter final at home to Leinster.
The latest European matches saw a blizzard for red and yellow cards and the issue is going to remain a major talking point for the rest of the season. However, Borthwick has made his stance very clear saying: “My view is a red card is a red card. That’s the way I was always brought up. If someone was given a red card they were off the pitch and did not return.
“That’s been my stance. Generally now with the ability of the TMO to review the footage, to go through a process, there shouldn’t be too many things mixed or too many mistakes made. There are clear protocols set out, therefore if somebody does something that warrants a red card, a sending off, then that should be for the game.”
Borthwick is adamant Leicester are working hard in training to lower the height of the tackler in a bid to avoid more red cards but accepts it may take time for it to become second nature.
2022 is on track to be the season where the most red cards EVER have been dealt out.
Red card for Leicester ? pic.twitter.com/HouWyuSJB0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 16, 2022
He added: “We work each week on our tackle height. We work on practicing that as much as we can without doing more tackling than we already do. We measure our contact in training. You always find different ways to do it and we have still had a couple of incidents. One wasn’t a tackle. It was still a head collision that led to a red card. We are working hard at it and I am sure every other club is working hard at it.
“We need to make sure we have got good habits in every player who enters the system. The most important thing in this area is that we are coaching all the young players right from the outset the height with which they need to tackle. That will take time to filter through but by ingraining good habits at a young age as quickly as we can so that if we get the right habits at a young age then it will filter through. I am an advocate of coach development and helping coaches as much as we can and investing in coaching to help young players.
“We have players who have been playing rugby an awful long time. We are trying to change their habits that are ingrained. We are working hard to lower the tackle height.
“I think rugby has made some substantial changes and has been pretty clear on the protocols that need to be followed. I think that the sanctions around tackle height are pretty steep. By the nature of the red cards, I think people can see this issue taken pretty seriously. So I’d say rugby is taking a pretty progressive stance in getting on to it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
51 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
51 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
51 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
51 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
51 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
51 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
51 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments