Danny Cipriani slams ‘outdated tactic’ after team assault on No10
When two players are carded for making dangerous late tackles on a fly-half, and one other probably should have been, there is definitely a ploy by a team to unsettle a player. That, or they do not know the laws of rugby.
It is hard to deny that the Dragons definitely had a plan against the Ospreys at the weekend in the Welsh derby at the Swansea.com Stadium, with the hosts’ fly-half Jack Walsh being subject to an assault from the visitors.
First it was Wales international Ross Moriarty who was yellow carded by referee Jaco Peyper for a late hit on the 23-year-old following a kick. But his indiscretion paled into insignificance compared to what his teammate Sio Tomkinson did soon after the break. The Kiwi will surely be looking at a lengthy ban for his late tackle to the head of the Ospreys No10. On top of that, prop Lloyd Fairbrother was lucky to avoid seeing a card for a similar challenge. These are three experienced players who turned to thuggery as a tactic.
But former England fly-half Danny Cipriani recently slammed this tactic used by teams, calling it “outdated” and saying that it actually makes the job easier for the No10. He wrote on Twitter: “Actually makes the job easier… Another old school out dated tactic. The limitations the coach must have to encourage this is what should be looked at… Jack Walsh must be good!!”
Take a look at Cipriani’s post and the tackles during the match:
Actually makes the job easier… Another old school out dated tactic. The limitations the coach must have to encourage this is what should be looked at… Jack Walsh must be good!! https://t.co/6sqDJ0J33E
— Danny Cipriani (@DannyCipriani87) March 27, 2023
Whether Walsh agrees that his job was made easier by having 15 players try and decapitate him is unclear, but the result shows that Cipriani had a point. The Ospreys came away 37-18 winners, and on top of the loss will likely lose a player to a ban now as well ahead of the European Challenge Cup round of 16 tie against Glasgow Warriors.
Given the way he played, Cipriani would have been the target of tactics like this during his career, so he is probably worth listening to.
