Leicester coach Steve Borthwick blasts rugby’s 20-minute sin-bin plan for a red card

Steve Borthwick has voiced his support for the threatened concept of a red card leading to permanent exclusion – despite Leicester having a player sent off in their last two games.

The Tigers managed to eclipse French giants Clermont Auvergne in the last 16 of the Heineken European Champions Cup, even though Guy Porter was dismissed in the first leg and Ollie Chessum suffered the same fate in the second, last Saturday. 

While the East Midlands club may have had cause to dispute the official handling of the head-contact incidents – Porter’s in particular – it did not stop head coach Borthwick from advocating a traditional use of the ultimate on-field sanction.

Borthwick’s view is despite Ollie Chessum being sent-off for his side on Saturday in Europe 

At a time when World Rugby are trialling a law amendment which allows sent-off players to be replaced after 20 minutes, he said: ‘My view is a red card is a red card. That’s the way I was always brought up. I watched football and if someone was given a red card, they were off the pitch and didn’t return. That’s been my stance.

‘Generally, now, with the ability of the TMO to review the footage, there shouldn’t be too many things missed or too many mistakes made. There are clear protocols set out, therefore if somebody does something that warrants a red card, a sending off, then that should be for the game.’

Over the last European weekend, seven players were sent off amid a continuing crackdown on high tackles, and head contact in general. The zero-tolerance policy has, as yet, failed to eradicate the problem but Borthwick insisted that painstaking work behind the scenes will eventually pay off.

‘It’s not a linear process,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately, collisions happen so fast – whether it’s an accidental collision, a tackle that slips up or the (carrying) player steps in and the distance closes quicker than you expected. Mis-matches of height happen as well. There are all kinds of parameters.

‘We’re trying to make sure we’re coaching players to want to tackle low. That’s definitely something we have an emphasis on. Unfortunately, we’ve had a couple of incidents over the past two weeks. It’s not a common trait with us. We’ll continue to find ways to lower our tackle height.

The Tigers boss insisted that painstaking work on tackling low will eventually pay off

‘We have players who have been playing rugby an awful long time. We are trying to change their habits that are ingrained. We are working hard to lower the tackle height. We are coaching all the young players from the outset about the height at which they need to tackle. That will take time.

‘I think we’d all agree that the process of not wanting head contacts is right. Fundamentally, nobody wants injuries, so you have to address safe tackle technique that makes people good defenders. Over a period of time, I think the game will be played lower and the tackle-height will be lower.’

Asked if rugby needs to accelerate the education process in this key area, in an urgent attempt to reduce head injuries which are blighting the sport, Borthwick added: ‘I think rugby has been pretty quick to address this. I think that the sanctions around tackle-height are pretty steep. I think people can see this issue is being taken pretty seriously.’