DAVID sole

HARD HITTING VIEW

THIS week the 6 Nations has had to play second fiddle to a group of parents and doctors who insist tackling should be banned from rugby in schools because of the danger of serious injury.

In an open letter, their call for a ban has attracted both widespread criticism and support in almost equal measure.

The critics have damned the attempt to ‘dumb down’ the game arguing that contact and tackling, in particular, is absolutely integral to the game and without it, you might as well not bother.

On the other side of the argument, increasing concerns about the long-term damage of concussions are adding serious weight to the argument that something should be done to prevent a serious injury.

Yet where do you draw the line – not just in rugby but in all sports?

Should young cricketers play with a soft ball? The death of Phil Hughes, the Australian test cricketer, remains vivid in many memories.

All sports, and particularly rugby, carry risks. Poor technique is often to blame, yet even in the professional game there are serious injuries.

Removing one aspect of the game will not stop players from getting injured and in many respects, it increases the risk of serious injury later in life if players progress to the senior game, given that rudimentary technique is learned while young and finessed when older.

What is certain is that this issue is not going to go away and that World Rugby has to take charge.

Playing by weight rather than age would be a major step forward in reducing risk, but sadly there will always be serious injuries in rugby – as there will be when people decide to walk across a busy road.

Meanwhile, next week Scotland await the visit of France to Murrayfield, fresh off the back of an impressive victory in Rome.

France are in disarray. A new coach was appointed following a poor World Cup campaign and not much has changed.

They have lost the flair that is their hallmark and seem bereft of ideas. It is an ideal opportunity for Scotland to get backto-back wins in the Championship.

Yet consistency, or inconsistency, has been Scotland’s Achilles heel. It is time to set things right and the foundation is there in the team.

The scrum is solid and the lineout should not be troubled by the French. Scotland’s work at the breakdown is improving and last week in Rome we saw what the Scottish backs were capable of.

Scotland have improved in each game they have played in this tournament.

If they can continue on that trajectory, then they should beat France and beat them comfortably.

There is no reason not to.

Removing one aspect of the game will not stop injuries