Reece Hodge cited for high tackle

Anyone that has ever played rugby knows that wasn't a high tackle. It was a poor tackle attempt from a winger that was out of position and had his body positioned poorly. He should have gone low and taken out his legs. But he didn't. From watching it in real time, it looks like he attempted to make a ball and all tackle, but the Fijian player leans into him to bump him off (which he did quite successfully one might add...Hodge looks like a 5 year old getting thrown off), at which point, he bounces up and makes contact higher before momentum flings him to the ground. You can also see his right arm is trying to wrap around in a tackle as hes thrown off, but hes thrown with such force it never makes contact. If that's a high tackle, rugby, unfortunately, has gotten too regulated...

Jacko et al i hope you guys watched the Russia v Samoa game to see some real head high tackles and the 2 I saw got yellow cards that's it. I think Q.E.D. as I stated "We will see tackles similar to this in other games" but at least they were carded.

Nobody, you have brought a level of logical even-mindedness to the discussion here that I cannot match. So I won’t attempt to.

The Aussies line up in droves to defend their biased bilge, all the while cherry-picking the worst of Kiwi comments to justify it because, although they love to dish it out, they can't take it. Do you see what I did there KCOL? Compare it to Bing's original comment, and if you reply, be sure to be very, very fair indeed.

Nobody, yours is a fair post until your second last sentence. Very fair until then. There are numerous fair NZ comments (like yours). But there are also plenty lining up to condemn Hodge.

Hoops did trip over.

but running flat out, trying to run over a stationary tackler is risky. 'rugby' :stoked:

indeed; my comment wasnt intended as a criticism

Here is a still of the TV footage, clearly showing both arms are wrapped around Yato at one point in the tackle. High velocity and impact knock them free. No questions to be asked here at all. https://www.facebook.com/manlyjnrrugby/posts/2968216663204854

If you pause the TV coverage at the right moment, both of Hodges arms are wrapped around Yato - his left arm around his middle back, and the right arm around Yato's left side at waist level. It's just the impact of the hit that knocks his arms loose. Nothing to see here. (I would post an image of the screen shot here, but images don't seem to be possible).

Ummm, just no, re the whole racist conspiracy thing. I was reading today that even both touch judges were consulted and said they didn't believe there was any issue with the tackle so obviously the conspiracy just gets bigger. I also think Scott Barrett's red card in Perth pretty much refutes that. Plus if you have read through all the comments you will see that there is more than enough photographic evidence to at least support that it was inconclusive as to it being a red card. I hope you manage to find some joy in watching the World Cup.

All fair, Zenn. To be clear, I am not one to argue that what happens on the pitch stays there. (Look at my moniker ????) Player safety is paramount. Yato may play again this tournament. I hope so. The injured Scottish player won’t for sure, from an intended, arguably illegal, act. In another game a large forward intentionally grabbed a player without the ball around the neck to stop him playing. Yet here we are discussing the ‘culpability’ of a bloke who got hit violently by a runaway train, where the train incidentally came off second best. Of all the things that the tribunal could be dealing with this week ......it is this. Not saying that Hodge shouldn’t be ‘tried’. Just that illegal dangerous play is selectively cited. The worst outcome here would be a hefty suspension leading Cheika into lampoon town and a ballistic distraction. Yet here we are. Why friggin why did it take these clowns four days to organise a hearing? Didn’t they think there would be one in this tournament? Or are they pouring over videos seeing if Reece hit the ball below the shoulder which then struck Yato’s head? Or are they freeze framing the muscle twitches in Reece’s shoulder to ascertain ‘intention? Four days is too long. Amateur hour. Try him, punish him if ‘necessary’. Then move on. Thanks Zenn for your considered response.

“because referees see things differently” replace the word “referees” with “match officials – including citing commissioners” Would be interesting to know however the issues you had with incidents out of the Ire/Scot match. Not saying there weren’t issues of course.

Hi KCOL, My understanding was the Jacko was playing devil's advocate when he raised the scenario. Hodge is of course apprehensive about the RWC hearing. I believe that Hodge is not a dirty player. He reacted instinctively and is remorseful over injuring the other player. These points suggest the RWC should exercise some leniency with regard to penalty. The RWC have a responsibility to protect players. It is for better minds than mine to decide whether Hodge breached the rules. They do have more evidence than mine. Fiji is right to complain. Those who argue that what happens on the pitch should stay on the pitch must remember that the player's injury did not stay on the pitch. Cheers. :happy: :rugby:

Agree that the charge against Hodge is debatable, and on that note I don't like to read it described as "Hodge hitting Yato" (or worse, Hodge shoulder-charging Yato) when it could easily be construed as the other way around. Better to describe it as the two players having collided, at least until the judiciary reports back. Agree that comparing it to Barrett's shoulder charge is ridiculous. Think that Read's tackle off the ball was at least a penalty, yellow if deemed to have been a professional foul, red if also deemed to have been around the neck. But I don't care to be told nonsense like we're lining up in droves to condemn Hodge based on our nationality. If that's the level of debate you want, that's what you'll get.

The front man of any company is the most important role - without them there is no business. They're not worker bees and why should they be? Their skill is business development - it's the hardest job there is.

Like I said before, be careful what you wish for!

Can anyone have some fun around here?. :laughing: :unhappy:

You ‘love these scenarios’ Zenn? I’d imagine Hodge would be tickled pink.

Nic White barely touched him let alone had any effect on his trajectory. If this had been reversed (ie. Twas an aussie being tackled) most commenters wouldbe screaming blue murder about Oz being robbed.