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Flood facing ban for tip tackle

05th January 2013 17:56

Leicester Tigers fly-half Toby Flood been cited for an alleged tip-tackle on opposite number Andy Goode during Friday's Aviva Premiership win over Worcester.

Flood will face a Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing in London on Tuesday and, if found guilty, is likely to be ruled out of his side's crucial Heineken Cup clashes against the Ospreys and Toulouse over the next fortnight.

The England pivot might also be in danger of missing the Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 2.

In further bad news for Leicester, Matt Smith has been handed a Level One Citing for the use of an elbow on Worcester's Alex Grove during the 19-14 victory over the Warriors. Smith's written warning is treated as a yellow card.

Comments

lawynd says...

@Ybgurrrrr - not that it mitigates the action, but Smith was deliberately blocked in the first place, which was pretty much a culmination of Worcester's dirty play all game. Not legal and certainly cheap, but that's what happens when a referee doesn't take control of a game and punish offences accordingly.

Also, I re-visited the final scrum. The reason Youngs doesn't get the ball in before the scrum is on the move is that the Worcester 6 was attempting 'The Hand Of Back', so little sympathy for Warriors in the referee getting that one wrong. Mind you, a reset scrum wasn't going to save their forwards from getting stuffed again either...

Posted 10:09 08th January 2013

Ybgurrrrr says...

How is Matt Smith's elbow only cited as a yellow? He elbowed a guy in the back of the head!

Flood is not a dirty player, but my understanding is that once you lift a player off the floor you accept responsibility for getting him back on the ground safely, he failed. Intent is irrelevant in his guilt, but should mitigate in the sentencing.

As for Pennell, I'm sure it was only a balance thing, but it did look and sound very nasty for Tait, who I thought had a good game (as did Pennell).

Agree with comments that Farrell and Burns are the form 10s for England at the moment.

Posted 09:55 07th January 2013

TVaddict says...

Farrell and Burns were my choices for 10 this 6 nations so not such a lose as long as they both stay fit.

Posted 21:26 06th January 2013

nabberuk says...

@Warrior7

yeah because you have to look to swing your arm around at someone's head!!

Posted 18:30 06th January 2013

Warrior7 says...

lawynd, Pennell wasn't even looking at Tait whilst using his hand to keep is balance. Please watch it first - also Matt Smith's elbow

Posted 16:31 06th January 2013

kybone says...

Ive seen it and i dont think a ban should be awarded. Goode ends up landing on his on his neck/hshoulders/head but i didn't see any intention or mallice, and that is what bans should be based on imo. Im not worried in any case as Farrell will start at 10 for England and im more than happy with Burns on the bench.

Posted 11:03 06th January 2013

melkdave says...

While it did end up a tip tackle ,and as such a ban is in order.It didnt start as one,it was just a good tackle that pushed him back into annother player ,that unbalanced him and ended up being a tip.Thus i dont really think it should be a big ban 1 possibly 2 weeks max,should suffice imo.

Posted 23:56 05th January 2013

lawynd says...

But nothing for breaking Matthew Tait's nose? I've got no complaints about the citings, but can we please have some consistency!

Posted 19:19 05th January 2013

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