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'Wow': Crusaders lock red carded for 'dipless' high shot on Michael Hooper
By Sam Smith
Crusaders lock Hamish Dalzell was red carded for an awkward high shot on Wallaby captain Michael Hooper at a pivotal moment in the 24-21 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney.
With the Waratahs deep on attack inside the Crusaders' 22, Dalzell clattered into the Waratahs openside as he peeled off the back of a lineout leading to a head clash between the two forwards.
Dalzell was the second man in the contact after Sam Whitelock took Hooper around the waist, who was falling to the ground as the Crusaders reserve lock went to wrap.
The Leichhardt Oval crowd was up in arms immediately over the hit, with boos clearly ringing around the ground. On replay, Stan Sport's commentator could only claim 'Wow' about the 'dipless' tackle after Dalzell had got away with a similar attempt moments earlier on flyhalf Tane Edmed.
By leading with the head, both players were sent reeling by the tackle which head coach Scott Robertson labelled as 'technically poor' although he reiterated there was no malice in it.
The red card came in 67th minute with the Crusaders back in the game at 17-14, and the loss of Dalzell was felt moments later as the Waratahs mauled over for a penalty try. Compounding matters, blindside Pablo Matera was sent from the field for collapsing the maul.
Head coach Scott Robertson said there was no doubt that Dalzell had to work on his tackle technique, but that every incident is different and it is hard to judge every tackle.
"It's hard to know. The second one was red. You look at it, it's such an interesting and difficult one to judge on," he said.
"Every one is so different. There is no sort of clear line.
"So look, obviously Dalzy's [Hamish Dalzell] tackle technique needs to get better, I know that. He's a big man and could have done better around it.
"It's a bit disappointing for Hoops [Michael Hooper] to take that head knock. There was no malice in it but it was definitely technically poor."
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Latest Comments
Agreed. Borthwick will have to write a new excuse book soon .
I have looked at the two world cup final teams from 2003 and 2020.
2003 team scored 187 tries between them in 389 caps
2020 team scored 113 tries between them in 473 caps. As you can see a huge disparity in scoring rate. Only Johnny May with 36 tries in 78 caps scored a higher amount of tries. Elliot Daly comes close but the rest are frankly very poor.
Farrell and Ford scored a pathetic 20 tries between them in a combined 210 caps.
There again , the 2003 team did have Wilko and Greenwood etc whereas 2020 team had Ford and Farrell .
So much people saying that Fords strength is of bringing others into the game .
Really. The figures totally disprove that notion .
It has been mentioned elsewhere that we have accepted mediocrity far too often and the figures would indicate that players are or have been picked far too often without performing .
Go to commentsNot disputing that NZ are ahead of Eng. Also not saying Eng are unlucky (though clearly the tone of the article is not that the ABs were unlucky but that they 'should have' won). Your team are looking great and are on the up. I just felt that Pundits have argued Eng 'should have' won the first test against the ABs, when it's more nuanced than that, and very fine margins determine results that Eng didn't get right. Same applies, therefore, to NZ and other nations. Ben Smith though doesn't seem to see it that way. To be clear: I'm not saying I agree with the 'should haves', but more that I take issue with the phrasing.
Good to see your respect for other nations is so strong! Proper rugby fan you are!!!
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