Taller players need to put in extra effort when tackling
Wallabies flanker David Pocock believes taller players are more likely to be penalised for high tackles under the tight regime at the Rugby World Cup.
Yellow cards and possible suspensions for high shots loom as a critical element that all the big teams will want to avoid ahead of next week’s quarter-finals.
Australia and New Zealand both had two players yellow-carded during their most recent wins over tier two opposition.
It prompted All Blacks coach Steve Hansen to suggest that it is nearly impossible to avoid high contact in certain situations when an attacking player is falling or running low to the ground.
Both Australian offenders against Uruguay – lock Adam Coleman and flanker Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – stand at around the two-metre mark.
They towered over the opponents they were attempting to tackle, something the comparatively compact Pocock could sympathise with.
“As a short bloke on the field, my target zone’s usually a lot lower than the head and shoulders of some of the guys around here,” he said.
“It’s one of those things but World Rugby were very clear before the tournament about contact to the head.
“All you want is consistency and players to know what is and isn’t ok.”
Concern exists that a big knockout game in Japan could swing on an unfortunate high contact and an overzealous match official.
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There is also the uncertainty over what might happen if a defender makes contact with the head of a low-slung player who is driving for the tryline.
Attempting to simply prevent a try could result in a costly card and even a penalty try.
Pocock described that scenario as a “grey area” and had yet to see a defender pinged for such an infraction.
The 31-year-old came off the bench against Uruguay but is considered a strong chance to start in this Friday’s match against Georgia in Shizuoka and potentially take the captaincy from a rested Michael Hooper.
When Rob Penney was announced as the Waratahs’ new head coach, it was assumed CEO Andrew Hore would be remaining in his role to work with the man he had just appointed.https://t.co/WHnJQPrsmx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 7, 2019
After wins over Fiji and Uruguay and a loss to Wales, Pocock said it was important they poured all their focus this week into finishing pool play in style rather than start planning for the knockout phase, which they still aren’t guaranteed of contesting.
“There’s no point really looking beyond Georgia,” Pocock said.
“You’ve got to put in a good performance, give them the respect they deserve, prepare well and then we’ll see what happens after that.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments