Irish go for skill, but with controversial rugby tackle coach

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Irish go for skill, but with controversial rugby tackle coach

Authored by: domhoban
on Thursday, October 09 2008 @ 08:11 pm ACDT

The Irish -and mainly Sean Boylan - are making a huge mistake again hiring someone with a rugby background to teach tackling.

The Irish tackling last time was woeful. The fact they could not tackle, and that was the primary reason the got thrashed in the second game, after winning the first, has been conveniently forgotten.

Biomechanically, the rugby tackle has many differences to the footy tackle, and hiring a rugby 2nd rower/back row forward to teach tackling is totally wrong. He is used to tackling front on, a player who has recieved the ball a few metres in front of him, and usually is initiating contact. The tackle he is used to is usually also a group tackle.This is obviously different to chasing down a player, or trying to tackle an evasive player one on one.

Boylan is making the same mistakes as last time, and the results will be the same as last time. Then ex-Meath manager Boylan (widely acknowledged as the manager of one of the 'dirtiest' teams ever in Gaelic football) will cry off again, and (possibly) that will be the end of international rules.

Pity really, as when it works it can be a great game to watch, and the players do truely enjoy it.

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