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Alan Quinlan poses question to RG Snyman after tackle on Craig Casey
By Josh Raisey
Former Ireland and Munster flanker Alan Quinlan has said that South Africa lock RG Snyman cannot be blamed for the tackle that resulted in scrumhalf Craig Casey being stretchered off on Saturday, but he has nevertheless questioned why the second row followed through with his tackle.
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Casey suffered a concussion in the second half of Ireland’s loss to South Africa after his head hit the floor at Loftus Versfeld following a tackle from his former Munster teammate Snyman.
Speaking on the Off the Ball podcast in the wake of the loss, Quinlan has noted that it was not illegal from the Bok, as he had committed to the tackle of Casey. But with the ball no longer in Casey’s possession, Quinlan has questioned why the World Cup winner followed through with the tackle well after the ball had moved on.
Snyman stands almost half a metre taller than Casey, and has a 55kg weight advantage, so the Irishman has queried why the lock did not use a “little bit of sense” and pull out of the tackle. Moreover, Snyman would be acutely aware of their physical difference having played with Casey for Munster for four years.
Casey’s injury has ruled him out of the second Test against the Springboks, which takes place on Saturday in Durban.
“He follows through with the tackle,” Quinlan said.
“You look back at that again and you review it, the argument is certainly there as to ‘why don’t you stop? You don’t need to keep following through there.’
“It shouldn’t come into it, but it should in one sense, he knows him, he’s played with him and there’s a massive difference in size and physicality. So you’d think he’d have a little bit of sense to say ‘maybe I won’t keep going here.’
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“But look, I can’t blame RG Snyman and say that’s illegal. There is no review of it as regards to foul play. Just a bit unsavoury that he could have pulled back a bit. He doesn’t have to.
“This narrative is driven online that RG Snyman could have pulled back, but he hasn’t done anything there to try and hurt the player. I think he follows through the tackle and I think it’s more awkwardness.
“He did one on Ben Healy in the URC in round 17 or 18 over in Edinburgh where he follows through the tackle. Healy reacted to him and Munster ended up getting a penalty out of it five metres out, which was a big call. So thankfully he’s ok, but he’s not going to be available for the weekend which is another disappointment for Ireland.”
O'Mahony will be coming on at the same time as hard man Snyman. Snyman better hope that the match is not decided one way or the other at that stage. A few Munster lads in that pack owe he mercenary Snyman a serious injury for what he did to Casey.
This contest wasn’t Wimbledon mixed doubles was it?
Fair tackle. It means his technique complied with rugby standards.
Was it late? Yes, marginally, as with millions of other tackles where a player’s momentum sees them drive through a tackle.
Dominant tackles are what we want, and coaches log. They record the stats of dominant tackles. It is, and will always remain a contact sport where we, like every other thug nation aim to dominate collisions.
We can't brag that rugby is for all sorts of boys and men, both fat and tall and moan about the response on the pitch when big boys make small boys cry.
As for the Irish fans. Your POM and BOD and Keith Woods et al are some of the meanest thugs on the field. Don't play the saint card in a contact sport, it makes you look like rugby terrorists and victims of something you endorse by stepping on the field.
Would Quinlan have pulled out of a tackle ?
Selective memory seems to be a big issue up North
Quinlan has always been a whinger
Rugby incident much bigger man tackles smaller man
Started tackle from an offside position! Was never onside at any stage. TMO (BW) had a mare and if he didn't look at it in the 10 mins Casey was being treated he should be stood down and if he did look at it and didn't know see where RG came from then he needs stood down. Wasn't good enough to ref internationals and given TMO position and still very poor!
Dear Alan Quinlan,
It was a test match.
BR
Jan
No more than a mismatch.
In the same phase of play SAs18 commits to tackling Doris who then offloads in the tackle. Unaware of the offload, SAs 18 follows through and completes the tackle, putting Doris to ground. It’s a carbon copy but the two players are of a similar stature and neither gets injured.
It’s arguable that Snyman dislodges the ball in the same act of trying to wrap his arms to tackle, rather than separate acts. I don’t see how anyone can suggest that Snyman follows through with his head when Casey is on the ground. Not least because both players are at the feet of Luke Pearce.
Not pleasant to see Casey injured and was very worrying to see him unresponsive for a time. It shouldn’t be the dominant point from a brilliant test match though.