Former England Coach Clive Woodard Comes Out With Baffling Tweet Following Reece Hodge Ban
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Concerning.
Former England coach Clive Woodward has come out with a baffling and somewhat concerning tweet after Australia’s Reece Hodge was handed a three-week ban yesterday for a dangerous tackle on Fiji’s Peceli Yato in their World Cup meeting on Saturday.
Hodge was cited at the beginning of the week and subsequently banned yesterday after a World Rugby hearing who deemed his no-arms, high tackle “reckless” with Yato unable to continue following the hit.
But Woodward reckons the tackle should not have been anything more than a yellow card for Hodge, arguing that it’s impossible to stop someone the size of Yato by wrapping your arms around him.
“Totally wrong decision, will have huge implications for the tournament- for me this is a yellow card and no more.” Woodward wrote
“Has any of those making this decision ever tried stopping someone as powerful as Yato by wrapping their arms around him ?- good luck if you try that!”
Totally wrong decision, will have huge implications for the tournament- for me this is a yellow card and no more @ITVRugby . Has any of those making this decision ever tried stopping someone as powerful as Yato by wrapping their arms around him ?- good luck if you try that ! https://t.co/GdI3rXO0Zr
— Sir Clive Woodward (@CliveWoodward) September 25, 2019
Understandably his reaction did not go down well.
Sorry Strings but Clive is clearly right. The admin guys making the decision should see if each of them can tackle Yato legally, if they fail to do so, then Hodge just gets a yellow. It can be very hard to tackle the powerful guys legally.
This is suuuch common sense 🤦♂️— Jerry Flannery (@jerryflannery) September 26, 2019
You might want to check the laws and new directives from @WorldRugby around the tackle @CliveWoodward. The game has changed and everyone, including players and pundits, need to change with it https://t.co/5sE5kEVAuU
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) September 25, 2019
Very surprising and disappointing view from one of the most respected people in our game https://t.co/eNjMaXCn3B
— luke fitzgerald (@lukefitz11) September 25, 2019
With huge respect, this tweet is very concerning. https://t.co/zeAA2GQBFv
— Alastair Eykyn (@alastaireykyn) September 25, 2019
But Woodward has refused to back down.
“Lots of feedback – still think this is a yellow card – happens so quickly players cannot possibly react to every situation- bottom line was is he trying to hurt the player or basically stop the player without hurting himself – this is happening so fast and just not a red card!” he added
Lots of feedback – still think this is a yellow card – happens so quickly players cannot possibly react to every situation- bottom line was is he trying to hurt the player or basically stop the player without hurting himself – this is happening so fast and just not a red card ! https://t.co/gPMFDE4yJY
— Sir Clive Woodward (@CliveWoodward) September 25, 2019
