GG got this wrong IMO.
Ashton clearly did move into a position to block Watson and he was as much to blame for what happened as Watson. If Ashton doesn't block, Watson has a chance to adjust. This was as good as a shove IMO; would you still RC Watson if Ashton had shoved Watson into Goode's legs?
Really? If you are talking about Chris Cooke on Michael Rhodes, that was just a dump tackle; Rhodes landed on his arse/back, not his upper back/shoulders as the Law requires.
[LAWS]10.4 (j) Lifting a player from the ground and dropping or driving that player into the ground whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground such that
the player’s head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground is dangerous play.
Sanction: Penalty kick[/LAWS]
...Lifting a player from the ground...
...and dropping or driving that player into the ground...
...whilst that player’s feet are still off the ground...
...such that the player’s head and/or upper body come into contact with the ground
PK only, if that
IMO,
"beyond horizontal" should not include the position of the legs. Its is perfectly possible (and in fact more likely) for a player's legs to be pointing upward while their upper body is still higher than their lower body.
"Shoulders below hips" should be the criteria for beyond horizontal!