Wallaby Simmons cited for tackle

Updated November 12, 2012 10:36:15

Wallabies second-rower Rob Simmons is in danger of missing Australia's second game of the European tour against England after being cited for a lifting tackle on France's Yannick Nyanga.

The incident occurred in the 65th minute of the Wallabies' 33-6 loss to France on Sunday morning (AEDT) when Simmons hit the French flanker with a late, lifting tackle shortly after replacing captain Nathan Sharpe.

Nyanga spilled a bomb before Simmons picked the Frenchman up and drove him into the turf with the flanker landing heavily on his back.

Luckily for Simmons, neither referee Nigel Owens or his two assistants could pick up the number of the tackler with the referee telling acting captain Stephen Moore his side was very lucky they did not see who made the tackle.

The hearing will be held on either Tuesday or Wednesday.

A Simmons ban could create further problems for coach Robbie Deans with starting second-rower Kane Douglas's place in the team in doubt after his mother had a stroke on a flight over to watch her son play in Europe.

She remains in a stable condition in a London hospital with Simmons bedside with his family who have flown in from Australia.

It could mean second-rower Sitaleki Timani makes his return from injury in the run on side for the clash with England at Twickenham in what is shaping as a tour-defining match for Australia.

AAP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, france, australia

First posted November 12, 2012 10:25:32

View the original article here

Sonny Bill wears a tackle

Published:Saturday, June 25, 2011 7:08 AEST

Sonny Bill Williams of the Crusaders is tackled during the Super Rugby qualifier match between the Crusaders and the Sharks at Trafalgar Park on June 25, 2011 in Nelson, New Zealand.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, new-zealand, south-africa

View the original article here

Tag to Tackle: Bridging the Gap Between Tag and Contact

Content: Tackle and Sprint Drill, Offensive Defense Tackle Grid, Ball Presentation Drill, Ball Placement and Support in Tackle, Ball Retention in Close Contact, Extra Man Try Scoring Grid, Tackle Bag Drills, Scrum/Ruck Machine Drills

Price:

Click here to buy from Amazon

The Ruck and the Tackle Ball in Rugby Union and Rugby League

While it may not appear so to the casual observer, there are a number of key differences between the two codes of rugby. Obviously both games use the same type of ball and there are penalty kicks, conversions, tries and scrums. However, for the most part this is where the similarities end. One of the main differences between the two sports is that rugby union has the ruck and rugby league has the tackle ball.

Put simply, rugby league is the simpler sport. One of the key reasons for this is that it does not have 'the ruck'. Rugby league has the tackle ball. When you get tackled you need to retain your grip on the ball, stand up and roll the ball back with your foot to the person standing behind you. That counts as one tackle; your team gets five before they have to hand over the ball for the other team to have their turn at five tackles. Because this handover occurs at the place of the last tackle it is most common for the attacking team to kick on their last tackle. Firstly, it allows for an attacking opportunity and secondly it gets the ball further down the field so the other team has further to come to score a try.

In rugby, you have the 'ruck'. Here the attacker needs to retain the ball, adjust their body position as they hit the ground, place the ball back to their team and release it. The tackler, in turn, has to release the other player and roll away. Meanwhile the other players from each team try to push their way over the ball. Whichever team is able to get over the top of the ball so their halfback can reach it gets to have possession. The halfback clears to another runner and the process continues indefinitely until a team knocks the ball on, kicks or an infringement occurs.

Largely because of these two differences league is the more structured game while rugby union is more contestable and technical.

If you found this information useful, check out my my rugby union website for more information on rugby versus league or my rugby league website for rugby league news, comments and game reviews.