Coach called for common sense

JOHAN Ackermann chose to bite his tongue after Danny Cipriani’s red card in Munster.

But the Gloucester head coach has been outspoken before about his views on the laws and feels players should not be unfairly punished for tackles if there is no intent.

Ackermann was clearly annoyed at the decision but refrained from being critical when he spoke to the media at the post-match press conference.

He said: “Before the season started I gave a full-out statement to the media back at Gloucester about red cards so I’m not going to get involved.”

The statement Ackermann was referring to was less than two weeks ago ahead of the club’s first game Heineken Champions Cup pool game against Castres when he was specifically asked about warnings from the EPCR’S head of match officials Joel Jutge that referees would be clamping down on tackles where contact is made with the head.

Asked if he had changed the way he trains the tackle technique, Ackermann said: “No, not at all. “We’ve always been a side and I’ve always tried to coach and the assistant coaches as well - to coach in law.

“Who trains a high tackle? Nobody trains a high tackle. I think most sides tackle low.

“But the reality is there are some guys like Nathan Hughes (Wasps and England number eight) or big guys that are just stronger if they are a bit higher.

“You’re going to get one or two of those wrong through either not dipping enough or maybe the guy slipping into the tackle or he steps you or whatever.

“That’s where I just feel if you look at a league game, there’s common sense and a bit of compassion for the player in how it happened.”