NH club rugby

antipodean

@Stargazer https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/118403997/former-all-black-ben-smith-sent-off-on-debut-for-pau-in-french-top-14

Yes, that's a RC. Too many players fending away from their body with a forearm. If you're going to do that above someone's shoulders, you have to accept responsibility.

taniwharugby

it looked part bracing for the hit and part fend...I can see why the red was issued, but reckon YC would have been sufficient.

Snowy

If a defender comes in that high and close to you, it is reflex to raise an arm. It's going to be tough to stop those cards as players aren't doing it deliberately and red cards are unlikely to prevent them doing it. The tackler has to go lower to avoid an impact like that. Yes I know the onus is on Smith to avoid that sort of contact but it is pretty harsh.

mooshld

@Snowy said in NH club rugby:

If a defender comes in that high and close to you, it is reflex to raise an arm. It's going to be tough to stop those cards as players aren't doing it deliberately and red cards are unlikely to prevent them doing it. The tackler has to go lower to avoid an impact like that. Yes I know the onus is on Smith to avoid that sort of contact but it is pretty harsh

It pains me to say it. But I agree with Hooper here. Why is Smith being penalised to compensate for someone's awful tackle technique.

If a player gets injured tackling like that they need to take some responsibility for their own actions

Kirwan

That's the stupidest red card decision I've seen in years. Weak sauce.

MiketheSnow

@Kirwan said in NH club rugby:

That's the stupidest red card decision I've seen in years. Weak sauce.

😂😂😂

mariner4life

@MiketheSnow said in NH club rugby:

@Kirwan said in NH club rugby:

That's the stupidest red card decision I've seen in years. Weak sauce.

😂😂😂

I'm not willing to say stupidest, because that is a packed field, but

It's right up there with the softest.

Snowy

I've just watched that again. Smith is defending his own head from a clash due to the "defender" coming in high. I don't think a player should be held accountable for protecting himself. I guess it would be interesting if he had let it happen, would the other player have been red carded for a dangerous tackle?

taniwharugby

@Snowy and possibly knocked out a player with previous concussion issues...

Steven Harris

@Snowy totally agree, I still feel the official needs to have a feel or some sort of empathy depending on the situation

Snowy

@Steven-Harris said in NH club rugby:

I still feel the official needs to have a feel or some sort of empathy depending on the situation

That was going to be my next comment - the refs are the sole arbiter of the law - which does give them discretionary power to use their own judgement. That can be a drawback at times but can also be beneficial to the game.

antipodean

@Snowy said in NH club rugby:

I've just watched that again. Smith is defending his own head from a clash due to the "defender" coming in high. I don't think a player should be held accountable for protecting himself.

The problem with that line of argument is you get the absurd "I was defending myself" defence at judiciary.

While you're perfectly entitled to brace, the forearm in that case has to be against your body, or stationary and not connecting above the shoulders of the defender, who is perfectly entitled to attempt a legal tackle.