Ratchfords was just a very unfortunate incident. There was only 1 player in the tackle, Mossop, Ratchford was twisting trying to break the tackle and Hansen came in and hit him in the lower back/hip area. Ratchford collapsed down at the same time Mossop fell over him and Hansen slid down causing his left foot to be planted and unable to move.

I have been coaching for a very long time and you can find no reference point for anyone to demonstrate a tackle to be made by anyone taking a player low when held by other players. The current thinking is to have the first mean in clamping the ball and turning the player, the second man in attacking the other under the ball (normally side on under the rib area) and then the third man coming in taken everyone to the ground together. This then means the PTB is controlled and slow as the tacklers peel off, third man, second man, first man.

The only time the legs are taken is in a one man tackle from the side or behind. And this only happens when the line is broken and shape is lost.

These 'cannonball' tackles are designed to injure players often resulting in ligament problems which are easily career ending. End of and no argument.

Re: Robbo
hansen did not use his arms he used his shoulder to attack the legs of a held up player. regardless of whether he was 2nd or 3rd man in it was a dangerous tackle had he put his shoulder into Ratchfords chest he would have been penalised for a shoulder charge. there is now way you can defend that 'tackle'. I watched it twice if you have to watch it 10 times your just trying to convince yourself it was a fair tackle.

Hansens shoulder hit Ratchford in exactly the same place were Monoghan head hit Richards.

Ok, accepted. I haven't watched the reply, but will do once I pluck up whatever it is that I need to pluck up.

No-one is arguing over the legality of the tackle, or the fact the initial contact was thigh / hip area, even the most downheartened Wire fans aren't (well, i'm not), but the problem we all have is this kind of tackle and its potential to cause serious career ending injury. The fact you make reference to Ratchfords legs getting caught awkwardly in the turf is a direct result of the kind of tackle imposed. If that didn't happen, Ratchfords leg doesn't get caught and the guy remains uninjured, end of!

Of course we aren't suggesting that all contact with the legs should be outlawed but there is a difference to one on one (or even two or three on one) head on collision where at least some preparation can be made for the contact and complete vulnerability where, effectively, you are held still while someone takes your legs from clean underneath you at which point it becomes a lottery as to a) where the contact is made and b) exactly how the 'fall' pans out and c) how many bodies and therefore force is applied to any lower legs joints / bones on impact with the ground.

Monoghan obviously deserves a ban too then.

Are you suggesting that Monaghan viciously attacked Richards intentionally with his head?

Can you please clarify where I made reference to Westwood or in any way defended his actions?

I suppose the difference is thought that Green played on, Ratchford didn't. Are we not questioning the potential to cause career threatening injury? A punch to the face, as quickly as it happened in the tackle, was never going to end Greens career, Hansens tackle, on the other hand could easily have had that outcome!

Two wrongs don't make a right, but you're talking about something completely unconnected to distract and take the conversation away from a house tactic.

There's plenty of other threads for you to spill your bile over Westwood's swinging arm, this one isn't about it.

So Ratchford might have 'unfortunately' had his career ended?

It was back to the house tactics that McGuire introduced at Wigan a few seasons ago. It was a deliberate attempt to injure a player who's momentum had stopped. Thank he hit the hip, because if Ratchford had been upright as he was half a second before Hansen would have hit his intended target.

Well Ratchford didn't look too bad on Sunday in the Fox and Goose in Wigan in fancy dress singing on the Karaoke

I think it was his ankle ligaments that were damaged, not his throat.

How do you know where Hansen intended to hit?