is it that fc very rarely take the legs in a tackle? After watching some of the wire game fc made no attempt in taking the legs in any of the tackles which gave wire the chance to make some metres up field.

Tackling the legs gives them a quick play the ball. But if you wrestle him to the ground what Wigan do and most others try to do it slows the play the ball down giving you a breather and a chance to set your line.

1 up, 1 down

Takes the legs and stops the offload. Unfortunately many players, not just ours, see tackling as a trial of upper body strength.

Wigan tackle 2 up top with a 3rd coming in to take the legs, they are masters of the tackle this year. Cheating feckers for stepping off the mark though.

I agree with you there mate and the annoying part is they get away with it!

I asked this question before, it seems tackling is all about a trial of upper body strength these days. How many times after the collision do we see players making extra metres until they are finally wrestled to the ground. As DDD used to say, "He can't run without his legs"

Whilst the wrestle is going on, although they may gain 3 or 4 metres it allows you defensive line to be set and ready.

A 1 on 1 tackle may stop the play but could allow for a quick PTB, which is often scooted from. Or even an offload

Another expert

have you ever played before wutchie

I don't know whether he's played before or not but his answer is spot on. This is exactly why players hit high and if you watch the NRL it's exactly the same.

Also this is one of many areas where referees can be conned into giving/not giving penalties. This is why I feel that all professional referees should be ex players. If somebody has never played the game themselves it's impossible to be able to read the technical aspects of what is happening in all kinds of situations. To players and ex players it stands out a mile.

Yes and i was always respectful to referees

the topic title is why ..... so

why do ppl have to try undermine, ridicule someones response just cos they don't agree with them. maybe if they listened or read other points of view they might actually learn something. but you dont learn if you are only interested in your own point of view and how many ppl you can find to back up your views.

I think this board is great, but you're right there are a number of posters who don't seem to appreciate that someone holding an opinion different to their own is allowed. Unfortunately tolerance is a trait which diminishes in correlation with lack of intelligence. By all means say you disagree and offer reasons, but please don't revert to the playground and start name calling.

Hutchie has shown how the game is played nowadays, but I'm sure he remembers, as lots do, how the fantastic legs tackle that Swain used along with team members who also made sure that the opposition didn't get many offloads etc. made for a much more exciting game for the spectator.
I think of the years Swain was at the club and wonder why, oh why wasn't this method taught to our youngsters, or is this something that was just ignored by the coaches as something not required? ....grannyfan Cindy

Tackles around the legs are often made when chasing back once the line has been broken. Tickle's sin binning is a good example and illustrates that the tackled player can get up quickly or it's easy for the ref to spot interference. The wrestle stops momentum as does the third man in at the back of the knee which is dangerous as well as making the game slower and often less entertaining.

Swains tackling technique was so perfect even when though he took the ball carrier around the waist/legs he managed to get a twist on them so they ended on their back and he had good body position on top of them.