[RWC] Tuilagi suspended for 5wks

[Blue Smartie]

Alesana Tuilagi gets 5wk ban for striking with the knee. If I'm honest I was expecting something quite different when I found the clip

http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/in...ng-japans-harumichi-tatekawa-at-the-world-cup

 

[Gracie]

From that clip it looks an amazingly harsh decision - he looks like he's just running hard and the Japanese player gets himself into an awkward position as Tuilagi makes a change in direction.

 

[Phil E]

I'm amazed too. Piss poor tackling technique is what caused the injury. Head the wrong side. If you put your head in front of a running player like that you are bound to get hurt by a pumping knee.

Are we sure that's the right clip???

 

[Dan_A]

What an unbelievable way to end a World Cup (and probably international) career. Can they appeal.

 

[crossref]

I can't see videos on stuff, but here is it on youtube
https://youtu.be/7tZYtq9ac-0?t=470
(there's some replays a minute or two later at the end of the play)

it's poor tackle, but also you can see a knee being raised

 

[didds]

Phil E beat me to it.

I'll be generous and say Tuilangi's small step put the japanese player's head thw worng side - but that is what that is about.

didds

 

[crossref]

What an unbelievable way to end a World Cup (and probably international) career. Can they appeal.

yes, they have 48 hours to appeal

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/107238

 

[TheBFG]

as the youff say OMG!!!! I bounced many a player using that technique! I'm sorry but that stinks!

 

[Phil E]

it's poor tackle, but also you can see a knee being raised

I don't know about you, but I can't run without raising my knees, and if I want to run faster, I raise them higher.

 

[crossref]

I don't know about you, but I can't run without raising my knees, and if I want to run faster, I raise them higher.

I'd speculate that what the panel were looking at was this angle
https://youtu.be/7tZYtq9ac-0?t=529

where you can see the knee coming up quite sharply....

 

[The Fat]

OK, so I'm obviously going to be in the minority here even though I am surprised at the length of the ban, and say good on WR for taking firm action when a ball carrier raises the leading knee with the specific intention of making dangerous contact with the tackler. It is no different to a ball carrier, who is about to come into contact with a defender who is trying to wrap the ball up with a tackle or grasp and hold around the ball carriers upper torso, and the ball carrier cocks the elbow in a dangerous manner.

 

[The Fat]

I'd speculate that what the panel were looking at was this angle
https://youtu.be/7tZYtq9ac-0?t=529

where you can see the knee coming up quite sharply....

Time reference???

 

[crossref]

Time reference???

the money shot is at 8:54 on the youtube-video clock.

stuff.co.nz have that exact freeze-frame on their report
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ng-japans-harumichi-tatekawa-at-the-world-cup

 

[TheBFG]

where you can see the knee coming up quite sharply....

again, running!

 

[TheBFG]

with the specific intention of making dangerous contact with the tackler.

so nothing to do with poor technique then :shrug:

I have a scar over my right eye where I got my head on the wrong side in the tackle and took a knee to the head, was it the ball carriers fault, after all his knee was coming up "sharply", no of course it bloody wasn't! It was my own fault for putting my head there.

 

[Phil E]

a ball carrier raises the leading knee with the specific intention of making dangerous contact with the tackler.

You have absolutely no proof that this is what happened in this instance.

Yes he raises his knee, but to me it just looks like he was thinking about a sidestep. To say he did it with the express intention of making dangerous contact is pure speculation.

 

[TheBFG]

I'd say he did it to get a step into the contact i.e. setting a wide base, manual 101 for going into contact! Tackler got it wrong :wow:

 

[The Fat]

You have absolutely no proof that this is what happened in this instance.

Yes he raises his knee, but to me it just looks like he was thinking about a sidestep. To say he did it with the express intention of making dangerous contact is pure speculation.

The highlighted bit must also be seen as speculation then.

 

[ChrisR]

I haven't seen the clip yet but any experienced runner will lift the tackle-side knee to keep that leg away from the tackler. The tackler has the responsibility of attempting a safe tackle.

 

[TheBFG]

I haven't seen the clip yet but any experienced runner will lift the tackle-side knee to keep that leg away from the tackler. The tackler has the responsibility of attempting a safe tackle.

Apparently not in this case!