'Astonished': Sam Warburton disapproves of Marika Koroibete's big tackle

Former Wales and British & Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton is not a fan of the flying try-saving tackle by Marika Koroibete on Makazole Mapimpi.

The Wallabies wing miraculously tracked from the other side of the field to deliver a crunching tackle which dislodged the ball as the Springbok wing tried to score.

The 79-test openside flanker, who retired from the game at 29-years-old over injury concerns, took issue with Koroibete’s technique which could have led to self-harm.

He took to Twitter to voice his concerns over the positioning of Koroibete’s head which was “on the wrong side.”

“This happens almost every game. Astonished this still hasn’t been coached out of players,” he wrote.

“Plenty of time to assess the tackle. Protect the head?”

Warburton thought the tackle should have been penalised but he didn’t specify exactly why, only to say that ‘we need to tackle correctly’.

“Then we need to tackle correctly. Great player and commitment, but should be a pen.”

Whatever anyone thinks, head on the wrong side…again. This happens almost every game. Astonished this still hasn’t been coached out of players. Plenty of time to assess tackle. Protect the head? Then we need to tackle correctly. Great player and commitment, but should be a pen. https://t.co/kVAY5PyuaG

— Sam Warburton (@samwarburton_) August 28, 2022

Here is better view pic.twitter.com/mhZuDFcPmM

— Champ Strategy (@ChampStrategy) August 28, 2022

Debate raged on in the replies to Warburton’s view with a split view over whether there was enough of a wrap by Koroibete.

Explaining his tackle, the Fijian-born winger said he was just running in cover defence and ‘hoped for the best’.

“The tackle had to be made – we got a man in the bin and I have to cover his side and make that cover (tackle),” he said.

“I was just running and I knew he wasn’t going to step he was going to go for the corner so I put my head there and hoped for the best.”