A shuddering head-on-head collision in the World Rugby Under-20s Championship has sparked a debate in the game.
Ireland eased past Australia in matchday two, picking up a comfortable 30-10 victory at Paarl Gymnasium in South Africa.
Referee Angus Mabey had just sent Ireland replacement Rory Telfer to the bin for 10 minutes after a head-on-head tackle, when Ruadhan Quinn shaped up for a big carry.
The flanker picked his man and thundered directly at defender Ned Slack-Smith, ducking in to the tackle and dropping his head at the last moment. The pair clashed heads in what was a huge impact.
Mabey immediately stopped play as Quinn lay motionless on the deck. He exclaimed: "Stop, stop, stop. Just take your time, take your time."
Thankfully the back-rower appeared to be conscious.
The referee began to converse with TMO Ian Tempest, declaring: "There's no foul play, both players are bent, so there is no foul play."
The co-commentator believed Quinn was at fault: "That player has ducked. He dips his head doesn't he?"
You can watch footage of the incident below. Is the ball carrier at fault?
A new tackle trial law is being introduced to the community game on July 1st, where dropping your head in to contact will become illegal. However, this will not effect the professional game.
Rugby Union Law 9.11 currently states that:“Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or forearm, or jumping into, or over, a tackler.” As always, a strict approach will be applied to reckless or dangerous play by a ball carrier."
This law is being added to in the community game with Unions across the globe taking up World Rugby's trial to lower the tackle limit. The law addition sees "leading with the head or initiating contact with the head" made illegal.
Fans and some former players are not happy with the current situation on the field.
Ex-France international Olivier Magne said on social media: "What are you waiting for World Rugby? Time to sanction this kind of unacceptable attitude. It is time to act and prohibit direct confrontation when the attacking player has the possibility to chose a free space."
Player safety lobby group, Progressive Rugby replied: "Thank you Olivier, it’s great when respected former players highlight areas where player welfare can and must be improved."
"You really want to tackle head contact, you need to penalise ball-carriers like this, maybe even card them." said one fan.
"Head contact initiated by the ball carrier, running at full tilt into defender, should be carded for that." said another.
Others didn't see what the fuss was about, describing it as "a rugby incident" and "part of the game".
Later on that day, New Zealand winger Macca Springer had a try chalked off for going into a tackle using his elbow, which hit Les Bleus flyer Théo Attisogbe in the neck before dotting down for his try.
