Rugby is going through a massive period of change and not everyone is going to like it.
Right now, with World Rugby issuing a new directive for professional referees to follow, the head is sacrosanct.
Go high on a ball carrier [or someone you assumed would have had the ball… it happens] and you can expect to hear about it. In time, we may even see sanctions for tackling above the chest line.
Debates have been sparked across the rugby world and fissures are fast emerging.
No-one wants to see players getting sparked out by high tackles but many old pros, and current players, are arguing that the game is in danger of losing its identity. Others are preaching that most concussions and jolts can be avoided if players are taught proper tackle technique.
On Friday night, Sean Reidy made a try-saving tackle on Scarlets scrum-half Aled Davies. It was lauded by the BBC Wales commentary team at the time.
Referee Marius Mitrea was then alerted to the possibility of a high tackle. As Jonathan Davies continued to praise Ireland international Reidy for his intervention, it appeared as though Andrew Trimble, who swung is left arm at the diving Scarlets player, might be the man in trouble.
But it was Reidy and there was shock – from the Ulster players, the match commentators and many rugby fans – when he was yellow-carded and a penalty try awarded. Ulster went from 13-9 ahead to 16-13 and so the game finished.
A glut of rugby players, past and present, took to social media to express their abhorrence at the decision, and an earlier one called against Scarlets’ Jake Ball.
While the likes of Simon Shaw, Davies and Ben Kay debated the merits of the call, Ulster back Charles Piutau was in no doubts that a major disservice had been done. Piutau, who was rested from action last night, tweeted:
Penalty try?high tackle?are you serious!hes diving for the tryline. #whatajoke 😡
— Charles Piutau (@CPiutau) January 6, 2017
If there's yellow cards for tackles like that,I don't know if there will be any players left on the field 🤔
— Charles Piutau (@CPiutau) January 6, 2017
With another batch of games set for decision, today and tomorrow, under the new laws, we expect this is not the last of it.
Interesting times ahead.
