With safety increasingly paramount in the game, referees are taking a hard line on shots to the head – as they should, and perhaps, as they always should have.
It’s not as if this is a new law, the players all know it is a focus, so why do the red cards keep mounting up around the world?
Perhaps even more surprisingly, the excuse brigade is still has a voice in this; “the game’s gone soft” and “what was the player supposed to do?” statements, somehow, still manage to find their way into social and mainstream media unchallenged.
I am sure their volunteerism in the breakdown crash test dummy test would be appreciated if they want to test their thoughts.
In order to assist those of obviously limited ability to either comprehend or follow the laws of the game, here is the Highlanders guide to not getting sent off at cleanout time.
1. Arrive in time
With the new breakdown directives and the five-second law being enforced the game was not only likely to speed up, but the distance from ruck to ruck is widening.
This puts a greater onus on the cleaners for the offensive side to arrive quickly in support of the carrier, and for defenders to get back and through the gate faster than in recent years.
We are already seeing players struggle with this but rather than conceding they are too late to have an impact, in they go, lemming style, often in full launch off the feet mode.
This faster game requires some thinking both about the lines run in support of the ball carrier and which players do we want to have primarily performing those roles.
For the record, the list of the last six reds for headshots, three props, one lock, two back rows (not what I would call traditional flankers)
Arriving too late to make an impact seems to the catalyst for heading for the sheds.
2. Select your target
It surely can’t be that difficult to keep your eyes open all the way into contact at ruck time.
It allows you to adjust, as best you can, should the target move before contact is made, and selecting a particular target to maximise the impact of your arrival is surely a better outcome than just blindly flying into the morass before you.
Oh, and stay on your feet while your eyes are open too.
3. Where you put your hands – this is the coaching point
Leading with the shoulder with your arm trailing or folded chicken wing style across your chest is a good way to collect penalties and yellows.
Do it anywhere near the cranium, and it’s the picture that will get you an early shot at the showers and leave your mates in the lurch.
So, as you enter the contact zone your hand should be even with or in front of your shoulder, and here’s a clue, if there is no logical place for your hand and arm to wrap/fold/go into, it’s time the abort a full scale hit.
Tomas Lavanini (C) of Argentina is shown a red. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
4. Just know when to leave it alone
A couple of years ago on this site I published an article comparing how David Pocock and Sam Cane took different approaches at ruck time.
Pocock would look for ways to make an impact at most rucks he attended, Cane was far more likely to assess if his impact would be suboptimal and move onto his next position.
Players need to accept that there are going to arrive at break-down situations where their exalted arrival is going to have zero impact on the outcome of said breakdown, and yes, this will mean, on occasion, allowing the other team to keep/have the ball. Gut-wrenching isn’t it?
Make a good decision and find the right defensive position to take up for the next phase.
One thing that is rapidly becoming apparent is that this current wave of refereeing focus is not going away. Lawyers and insurers – as well as players’ groups – are not going to allow a backward step.
Time to change the way players are approaching the break-down – and best get it sorted quickly.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
I think he meant himself (as a "skilled international player") who doesn't end up being sent off. Gotta love the internet! Good article Highlander. I still recall with fondness NZ players last year rolling out of the ruck in the direction of the sidelines. Fast clean games. Good times.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Agree on all. Good article.. Very relevant.
Thanks...TBH I do think it was the Reds game so the ref was very inexperienced and looked to be following a tick list rather than getting a feel of the game or going off experience......BUT...You cant become experienced ( players or Refs ) without doing the role for a while...
Hoy
Roar Guru
Also, He was reaching over a ruck in the first place! That is what really staggered me about the situation... there was a Reds player, over the top of the tackled player, arguably sealing off... but then Hardwick reached over, behind the Reds player on his feet to get to the ball... which is hands in the ruck. Pretty clearly, too. If he is reaching over a Reds player, the ruck must have formed... I also agree that the pilfering players who have their head down, immediately over the ball, are the ones getting hit in the head, yet this play is again, also illegal. Having said all that, I think it's time for teams to heed what PeterK says, and learn to play alternate reality that rucks might turn over, and you just deal with it.
Highlander
Roar Guru
My understanding Jacko In order The player must be able the ball The player must place the ball A defender stopping the first item is the offender. So no more clamping the ball into the ball carrier on the ground and claiming a pen. As we mentioned the other day, refs have muscle memory too, they will take some time to adjust - Did mention the other day that the Aus referees are still the loosest around the breakdown, I too saw a few of these in the weekend when the jackal is on the ball before it is placed.
Highlander in one of the games on the weekend ( maybe reds game ) I saw a defender grab the tackled player rather than the ball and hold him tight to stop him putting the ball back....he earned a penalty from it. I had been under the impression that this season, simply holding the man didnt win "not releasing " penalties and the ball had to be the target. Is my understanding correct or is holding the man still ok ?
Geoff I never played rugby against my older brothers yet somehow they managed to kick me in the head quite a bit!!!
Highlander
Roar Guru
Except for the last 6 in a row
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
I agree with you Olly, Hardwick should've been called off by the ref. If it had been reffed properly the reds prop wouldn't have had to remove Hardwick. I'd say this is the case for a lot of these head hits in rucks, if the refs do their job right there'd be a lot less red cards given.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Also need Tahs winning
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Yeah, the number of times you see players lying on top of the ball as the halfback, with no risk of a jackal, rolling the ball back through the feet of a player leaning on a fallen colleague is ridiculous. The first attacking player must remain up to stop so many dangerous jackal attempts. All of this stuff is in the laws though - some are just never policed - except perhaps if a team is running down the clock when a ref will suddenly find a flopping offence he allowed to pass dozens of time during the match
adam smith
Guest
Pretty sure back in my day, you had to be bound to a fellow teammate in order to enter a ruck. Surely two players bound together would be enough to move or a least limit the opposition “Jackal” from the ruck.
Owen Farrelly
Guest
A lot of chaps like what you have to say here, Highlander. "Leading with the shoulder with the arm like a chicken wing across the chest is a good way to get a red card." Piffle. In my experience on the field of play this does not result in a skilled international player being sent off.
Highlander
Roar Guru
I certainly agree most are not holding their body weight TC
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
The ball carrier try to evade a tackle by bending his knees or ducking into the tackle, excuse is that the tackler should somehow anticipated the move. The same is true where the player jump in the air to catch the ball because he was not in a position to catch it in the first place and then jump into the oncoming player. Very often the ball carrier will drive head first into a tackle. Why is he allowed to initiate contact to his own head without been sanctioned? If the ‘tackler’ then grab that player around the neck some refs blow a high tackle. If someone charge head first into you what is the correct technic to deal with that? A hit to the head is a hit to the head irrespective of who initiate it. It should be treated the same.
TC
Roar Rookie
Poco Loco in my mind he would have his Tail East West, with a leg over the tackled player. So some of those Weapons may create "Friendly Fire" :laughing:
TC
Roar Rookie
Highlander and Poco Loco By past the ball I mean one foot over the tackled player, so they have created some form of Ruck Dominance. The way they Bridge now and the height they are at, 90% of the time they are not even close to holding their own body weight. Would like to see some gym sessions with players in that Bridging Position, to see if it is even possible with 100kgs plus on their upper Shoulders. Just want to make it clear that I am not saying that the Clean out isn't to blame at all.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Jordie Barrett got a red in the Tri Nations for a forearm and there has been for same in the English Prem this year.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
But there is and a player attacks and leads with his forearm or elbow or knees is punished for it
BlouBul
Roar Rookie
The application of the law is onesided. If the tackler initiate contact with the head it is red. If the ball carrier, through his actions initiate contact to his head it is play on or in some cases a penalty to him for his actions. If you want to force player A to look after the wellbeing of player B surely there should also be onus on player B to look after his own wellbeing.