By Graham Thomas
Dan Lydiate is considering giving his trademark tackle the chop as referees clamp down on outlawed hits.
The Wales flanker – recalled to the team to face France in the Six Nations on Friday night – is renowned for his low, ankle-grabbing challenges.
Like a lumberjack felling a tree with an axe, Lydiate’s “chop tackle” normally means the ball-carrier falls directly onto his own shadow.
But after being sin-binned playing for the Ospreys against Edinburgh last week, the powerful No.6 has admitted he needs to re-examine his technique.
Despite Lydiate’s protests and pleas to view the big screen, Italian referee Marius Mitrea told him he had made a no-arms tackle and produced a yellow card.
“If it’s something I’m going to get picked up on, then it’s something I will have to change,” he said.
“But I’ve looked at it quite a few times. I didn’t really get the chance to speak to the ref after the match but if I get the chance again I will quiz him.
“If it’s something that’s going to cost me 10 minutes in the bin then I’m definitely going to have to change things up. I just need to get to the bottom of it.”
“I work on my tackling a lot, not just on chop tackles but on timing tackles. There’s a massive emphasis whenever I practise chop tackles to wrap my arm around.
“I never lead shoulder first. If you are going to get picked up on that, you obviously have to change things. But I don’t know if it was the right call.
“I was quite surprised, but the ref made a call and it’s just one of those things you have to deal with.
“I asked him to have a look at it straightaway, as he’d said: ‘No arms’. I obviously attempted to make contact with my arms. It’s just the guy was trying to avoid the tackle and as I hit him with my shoulder he fell. I don’t go out there to try and flip people.
“In other games that would have been a great tackle behind the gain-line. I thought it was a strange call.”
Lydiate’s frustrations may have been amplified by the fact that a niggling shoulder injury has means he has only made two starts since the turn of the year.
Now, though, he has been recalled to the starting line-up for Wales with coach Warren Gatland opting to move skipper Sam Warburton back to openside and stick Justin Tipuric back on the bench.
“With any sort of injury it’s frustrating. With the strength in depth Wales have, you always have to fight for your place.
“I’ve always said I never take my place for granted, so I’ve just been keeping my head down until the time came when I could get back.”
Lydiate, now 28, spent a largely unfulfilling stint playing in France with Racing Metro, until he returned to Wales a year ago. It was enough to give him a clear insight into what he faces against the French tomorrow, despite their poor recent record against Wales.
“They have some big players. Last year’s match in Paris was one of the most physical games I’ve played in, because they were so heavy. Afterwards, I felt exhausted.
“We are expecting more of the same because they pride themselves on their set-piece. It’s going to be a big battle.”