Wales’ Shaun Edwards: choke tackle a blight on the game and should be banned
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Version 0 of 1. The Wales defence coach, Shaun Edwards, has called for the choke tackle – a tactic favoured by Ireland and, more recently, England – to be outlawed on the basis that it is dangerous and adds nothing to the game. Wales struggled to cope with Ireland’s choke tackling in Dublin last year and England employed the manoeuvre profitably in the second half in Cardiff earlier this month as they overcame an interval deficit to defeat Wales. “I think the choke tackle is very dangerous,” said Edwards. “To me it is a blight on the game that encourages high tackling. Everyone is talking about concussion, so let’s start with this. Does anyone think it adds to the game and makes it more exciting? What happens after a choke tackle? A scrum. Referees should let it go for longer.” Ireland pioneered the choke tackle in 2011, where tacklers aim to keep ball-carriers upright in a maul and off the ground knowing that, if the ball fails to emerge, they will be awarded the scrum. Wasps have adopted it and their captain, James Haskell, has been restored to England’s back row this season. “There are elements of safety but where do you stop?” asked the Wales second-row, Alun Wyn Jones. “You could start wearing more pads and helmets but then you are going into a different sport. It is the same with shoulder charges: if you are in a driving maul and make a connection deemed as a charge, you are damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” Wales face France in Paris on Saturday, opponents who look to keep ball-carriers upright, though more to try and strip them of the ball than force a scrum. George North and Samson Lee – who missed the victory over Scotland in the last round because of concussion – are fit for selection, which will be made on Tuesday. “We will be selecting from a healthy squad,” said Edwards. “France have played well in their first two games and I thought they played some magnificent rugby in the final 20 minutes against Ireland in Dublin and could have won. “There is a fallacy going around that they do not play any rugby but they have beaten more defenders and made more off-loads than anyone else in this year’s Six Nations. They are a team we respect. “We know they have a big driving game and have a go-forward game based on big men getting over the gainline, but someone like Mathieu Bastareaud is not given enough credit. He is more skilful than most people credit, a good off-loader and defensively fantastic. We have to meet him as quickly as possible when he gets the ball.” Wales are looking to record a fourth successive championship victory over France, which would be the first time since the 1950s. “We are realistic and appreciate we are not the finished article,” added Jones. “France lies across a little stretch of water but it can feel a world away. You go out there not quite knowing what you are going to get. Things change but the beautiful thing about the French is that they are French. “They have the capacity to turn it on and, if they do, they are dangerous. If you get out of the blocks and stay there you will be in good fettle against them while, if you are in a tussle and they go up a gear, it’s hard to match them. “We are growing into the tournament and know we need to win to remain in contention for the title. We said after our victory against South Africa in the autumn that it had not papered over the cracks and we know we have to start well on Saturday.” |