This archive report was first published on 21 September 2019.
Published on September 21, 2019, by AFP
South African sports scientist Ross Tucker, who helped write World Rugby's 'pathway' checklist for referees, expressed surprise at the lack of on-field action against Australia wing Reece Hodge during the Rugby World Cup.
Hodge blocked Fiji's Peceli Yato with a shoulder-led, no-arms challenge to the head in the 26th minute of Australia's 39-21 win over Fiji at the Sapporo Dome on September 21, 2019.
Despite the high tackle, Hodge avoided a red card, and Fiji's Peceli Yato failed a head injury assessment (HIA) after being hurt in the challenge, forcing him to miss Fiji's match against Uruguay in Kamaishi on September 25, 2019.
World Rugby consultant Tucker took to Twitter to express his surprise at the lack of on-field action against Hodge, stating that the tackle should have been an automatic red under current protocols.
"Two pathway 2s so far in the tournament, two ball carrier HIAs. Not good," Tucker tweeted, referencing a challenge by Japan's James Moore on Russia's Vasily Dorofeev in the hosts' opening 30-10 win in Tokyo on September 20, 2019.
Fiji captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu said he asked New Zealand referee Ben O'Keeffe to refer the incident to English television match official Rowan Kitt, but the tackle was deemed legitimate.
As recently as Monday, World Cup referees chief Alain Rolland warned competing teams that high tackles would be punished severely, even if that meant the outcome of matches being determined by red cards.
