Beginning to slide out of control.

All this nonsense surrounding tip tackles is reaching dangerous new heights, as players are being binned, cited, and banned for what most would view as just a solid hit. Here's the latest victim, Digby Ione, who has been banned for 5 weeks now. Now it was a tip tackle, and COULD HAVE been dangerous, but the player landed on his side/arms and never had his neck or head in danger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh-0aPZWowg&feature=player_embedded#!

The important words here are "could have been dangerous". You don't need to cause injury for it to be a serious offence. You only need to be 'unlucky' once to put someone's health and playing career at risk. The penalty needs to be quite high to make it not worth the risk.

For what it's worth I reckon he purposely went to dump the opponent there. It's pretty clear cut in that incident for me.

SafeAsMilk wrote:The important words here are "could have been dangerous". You don't need to cause injury for it to be a serious offence. You only need to be 'unlucky' once to put someone's health and playing career at risk. The penalty needs to be quite high to make it not worth the risk.

For what it's worth I reckon he purposely went to dump the opponent there. It's pretty clear cut in that incident for me.

I agree.. There was more lift than trying to force him backwards.

Sorry that was a nasty one. The point is that hes lifted and driven the player, not that he got lucky and protected himself.
Had he contacted with his head the ban wouldve been longer, that doesnt mean that creating a circumstance where there was a higher than acceptable probability that would happen is OK. There was no attempt to lower the player safely, he was clearly driven.

Quite simply lifting tip tackles should not be used anymore by players who want to stay on the field. The players know this. The coaches teach this. Keep it for the wrestling mats, along with the submission holds.

Again with the AR and " oh yeah thats a yellow". Seriously guys.....grow some nuts

5 weeks, bit harsh imo but that seems to be the general opinion on tip tackles, im no dr so what do i know? the no 8 should definately get at least 2 weeks for that reaction though

Digby has priors, so I think a four game penalty is not too harsh. The frustration rugby judiciary's never seem to manage is that of consistency. A highlander guy made a tackle one week prior on AAC which, while dropping rather than driving, breached the exact same law and received no penalty, card, or suspension, let alone all three. Judiciaries in rugby seem so random in the way they sentence.

Yeah, this is not a great example as this does look a bit dodgy. I do agree though that things are getting a bit out of hand and players are second guessing themselves for fear of being carded or worse.