Crusaders hooker won’t whinge
Codie Taylor knows a cold shoulder from the referee is imminent if he spies a swinging arm rattling into an opponent’s chops.
High tackles, and whether refs have become too trigger-happy when issuing yellow cards, became the focal point of last weekend’s Super Rugby round but no-one should have been shocked by the officials’ tough stance says All Blacks and Crusaders hooker Taylor.
Because during the pre-season the game’s administrators carpet bombed the 15 teams with messages about the need to perfect their technique in defence, or suffer the consequences.
‘‘The refs have gone really hard at it, which I think is a good thing,’’ Taylor said.
‘‘Obviously it means that we do have to settle down – as a team we have to make sure our discipline is right in terms of the tackle.
‘‘I think the refs are going to ref it the same throughout the season.’’
During the Crusaders’ 45-23 win over the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday night, three yellow cards were issued; the Crusaders’ Mike Alaalatoa was sin binned for tackling Damian McKenzie too high, as was Chiefs replacement flanker Lachlan Boshier for colliding with Ryan Crotty’s shoulder and neck area when executing a diving tackle in the 71st minute.
The Chiefs’ frustrations intensified when referee Ben O’Keeffe also awarded a penalty try, and afterwards Chiefs coach Colin Cooper said the punishment was too harsh.
In the first spell Crusaders playmaker Richie Mo’unga was yellow carded for playing the ball in a defensive ruck, but it was the tough stance on the high shots that inflamed debate among fans.
But Taylor said no-one should be surprised at what transpired.
‘‘Refs aren’t going to take anything in terms of the way you contact in the tackle. They have interpreted that anything about the shoulder area, and any contact to the head, is deemed a penalty and potentially a card.
‘‘All we can do is abide by rules.’’
Playing with 14 men for 60 minutes is never ideal. The Crusaders retained their defensive structure when Mo’unga was carded, but leaked a try when Alaalatoa was on the sideline.
Crusaders forwards coach Jason Ryan said the team trained for situations where they would have reduced numbers, to the point where if a player goes too high in a tackle in practice they are taken off the field.
‘‘We just do scenarios when we have our live sparring session on the Thursday, if the boys are high they are yellow carded in training,’’ Ryan said. ‘‘So it costs them at training, and it costs them in a game.’’ the