Stu10
Referees in England
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2020
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I see this similarly to the dangerous clear out defence at a breakdown. That is, the jackler is over the ball, very low and the opposition player can ”only hit him in the had/neck” because of his low position.
I often hear this, but it is nonsense because the player attempting this clear out is too late, he has already lost the ball. He has to leave it. To smash into the hackles is nothing but malice.
Same as the player jumping to catch the ball, if he is already in the air, no-one is going to out-jump or get to the ball first. Let him have it (the ball).
I think this would create a real issue with kicks dropped right on the try line... if the chaser has a run up and jumps to catch, no defender will take step back and allow an uncontested catch and essentially gift the try.