Force on front foot for Valentine [citing]

[AndyS]

Thought he might be....

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Western Force coach John Mitchell will strongly defend scrum-half Josh Valentine at a Sanzar tribunal, scheduled for Wednesday in Cape Town.

Valentine was cited for a shoulder charge on opposite number Fourie du Preez during Saturday’s 32-29 loss to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

The incident escaped sanction during the game but the citing commissioner made a complaint when he reviewed the match video.

“I don’t know where the commissioner is coming from,” said Mitchell yesterday before the Force boarded a flight to Cape Town. “It wasn’t penalised during the match and I don’t think it deserved anything.

“We’ll take in some examples from the match that were worse than that. It’ll be interesting to see where their calibrations lie.”

Valentine was about to tackle Du Preez when the Bulls player was smashed by Richard Brown into Valentine’s path and the pair collided.

“It came about because of the pace of the ball carrier and the force of the tackle,” said Mitchell. “It wasn’t an intentional no-arms tackle.”

Unlike a week ago when Bulls officials missed the 12-hour deadline for citing Chiefs strongman Sione Lauaki for a head-high tackle, thereby gifting him a tribunal let-off, the complaint against Valentine was lodged early.....

.......Three Force players will be monitored this week to see if they will be fit to be selected for Saturday’s match against the Stormers at Newlands.

Causing most concern is James O’Connor’s shoulder, hurt when he landed awkwardly. The joint between his collarbone and sternum was still giving him pain yesterday.

No. 8 Brown has yet to overcome a sprained ankle and was replaced early by Tamaiti Horua. Winger Cameron Shepherd strained his left knee.

Full article....

[Cookie]

I hope mitchell goes back to the 4 forwards 3 backs split on the bench.Very nervouds watching the backs getting injured on sat.

[lara93]

i think that was nothing

[laura]

Can Valentine even reach high enough to get a spear tackle on him?

[as77221]

Can Valentine even reach high enough to get a spear tackle on him?

It wasnt a spear tackle, just late with no arms

[blueandblack]

Can Valentine even reach high enough to get a spear tackle on him?

you might be thinking of a 'clothesline', normally used in wrestling/sports entertainment. spear tackle starts lower down and involves lift, spin/rotate, drop on head/shoulders.

[jono]

if it's the hit i am thinking of, his shoulder hit pu preez in the cheek after brownie had already tackled him and in all probability pushed him into the path of valentine. who didnt raise his arms because he saw that browne already had him.

[force addict]

yes, that's what it says in the article.

[jono]

then his citing is bollocks.

[laura]

I didn't see it but the article on planetrugby said:

Force scrum-half Josh Valentine was cited for a dangerous tackle in a Super 14 match against the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
The citing related to a spear tackle on Bulls scrum-half Fourie du Preez in the first half of the match.
Valentine will appear before a SANZAR Judicial Officer in Cape Town on Tuesday.

I was just wondering if he was even capable of it being a tad short at one end.

[force addict]

Valentine was about to tackle Du Preez when the Bulls player was smashed by Richard Brown into Valentine’s path and the pair collided.

as above.

[tragic]

I thought he'd get cited, but I saw it as Mitchell described it, particularly after the replay where Valo seems to get knocked about by the contact as much as the other guy.