Peter Stringer has said that he found Clive Woodward's comments regarding Australian winger Reece Hodge's three-match ban for a tackle on Fiji's Peceli Yato to be "strange".
The former England head coach tweeted on Wednesday evening that it was a "totally wrong decision" and that it "will have huge implications for the tournament - for me this is a yellow card and no more".
He added: "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!"
@fijirugby Flanker Peceli Yato off for a HIA at the 25th minute after a big shoulder from @wallabies Reece Hodge. #RWC19 #ausfiji pic.twitter.com/7NY6KuLwNm
— The Rugby Union Physio (@RugbyWCPhysio) September 21, 2019
Speaking following eir Sport's coverage of England vs USA on Thursday, Stringer said:
"For Clive Woodward to come out and say that is just completely wrong.
"I found it bizarre for him to say that if a guy is strong and powerful, it's not possible to wrap your arms around him, and best of luck to the guy that tries to do that.
"You still can't take the law into your own hands. The laws of the game are set out by World Rugby and you have to stick by that.
"In my mind, there's no arguing that it's a red card. Find a way, no matter what way it is, legally to bring a guy down, you go low, you drop your body height.
"You still have to make an attempt the way we all do as kids and the way you teach people to go at the right body height. You can't say that because a guy is running at you and he's more powerful that it gives you licence to tackle as you want. That just cannot be the way."
The full report from the Hodge disciplinary decision was released on Thursday. Incredibly, Hodge admitted during the hearing that he had no knowledge of World Rugby's new high tackle protocols.
"He conceded that he was not in a good position to affect the tackle he attempted," reads the report.
"He said that his actions were very reactionary; that everything happened so quickly; that he had never had an occurrence like this happen to him before, i.e. trying to tackle in such a situation; and that he had no technique to fall back on.
"The Player conceded that he had no effective knowledge of WR’s “Decision making framework for high tackles”; had not been trained on it; was not across it because the tackles he makes are predominantly in the waist to knees area. (To the Panel, this was of some general concern; and will be commented on later)."
Picture credit: Sportsfile
