James Lowe says what we’re all thinking about the current state of rugby
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Confusing.
Leinster and Ireland winger James Lowe reckons that rugby is in a “confusing place at the moment,” and it’s hard to disagree with him.
The 33-year-old was speaking following World Rugby’s latest announcement that they will be trialling a lower sternum tackle height for the first time at next year’s World Rugby Under-20 Championships in Georgia.
Lowe reckons that tackle safety should come down to the players and officials on the pitch, not the game’s lawmakers off it.
“As a tackler, you have a duty of care every time you go into contact,” Lowe said.
“I just think that that’s it. You can’t say if you tackle above the hips, it’s going to be a penalty. I don’t think you can do that.
“No matter the situation, there is a level of due diligence that you have to take into your own hands when going into contact.
“The game’s in a confusing place at the moment.
“There are incidents that happen, week in, week out. If you have a different referee, if you have a different camera angle, you can get a completely different result. And I don’t think anyone knows what’s going on.
“There are incidents throughout the week, the whole time. We talk about bringing the tackle height down, but I don’t think anyone goes in trying to put a shoulder into someone’s head.
“I can speak on every single person, no one’s trying to do that, but it’s such a quick and dynamic game that sometimes incidents happen, and if you’re on defence and it’s your shoulder.
“We could all think off the top of our heads, there’s been some questionable ‘how has this come to this decision?’ And everyone can sit here and pick one off the top of their head, and everyone’s probably going to pick a different one, because there’s been some crazy ones.
“I don’t know, I’ll probably get myself in trouble if I keep going here… the game’s in a weird place, isn’t it?”
The new laws regarding kick chase have also been a struggle for the winger.
“It’s an evolution of the game that’s come about, and I don’t know who looks into it. It’s not up to me. I just do what I’m told,” he added.
“I don’t know exactly why they changed. I don’t think it’s a bad thing for the game, but, you know, there’s a lot more high balls going up. There are a lot more contests in the air.
“The one-v-ones in the air, they are so tough.
“As a winger, it sucks. I’m getting six-foot-five guys sprinting down and leaping over my head sort of thing, like, but I guess, contrary to that, we actually had a good day under the high ball against Leicester. In challenging conditions, a lot of that was with our frontline pressure.
“It is here, at least up until the next World Cup. So I think we all have to get used to it.”
