Just reading the beeb and there's a story about Alex Walmsley's knee operation

but this the image that accompanies the story

When was the last time a ball carrier was penalised for high contact? I fully understand the argument that a player who slips and is caught high is still a penalty etc, so why does it not work both ways. surely all players have a duty of care to each other?

Its the same way a ball carrier can lead with a shoulder but not the tackler.

This isn't a whinge about the final by the way, just the image made me think that if this was a tackler on ball carrier we'd be putting up the gallows now

I think there has to be a differentiation between a ball carrier 'getting his bumpers up' to protect himself and what we deem to be a penalty (or more!) for leading with the forearm or elbow. The former happens every game and is bound to lead to some element of contact with the head of the defender on occasion. Just like plenty of legitimate tackles involve a degree of contact with the head but are left alone. The game is played in shades of grey, not black and white. As long as we're getting the stand-outs (ie that McShane one last year) then it's alright. If you go the other way you either get a ton of penalties or the ball carriers start surrendering to avoid getting smashed into next week.

Some of the penalties now being given for a high tackle are anything but a high tackle!

turning into rugby union

...where any incidental contact above the shoulder can result in a yellow card. They seem very relaxed about head injuries in contested scrums and driving mauls, though.

yep, watched england last week after our awesome GF game the man of the match who was a "monster" all game made 7 tackles and 7 carries, Tony Clubb should go to union