Simon Easterby not getting drawn into choke tackle debate

Irish forwards coach Simon Easterby was loath to be drawn into reacting to Shaun Edwards assertion that the choke tackle is "very dangerous" and a "blight on the game."

The Welsh defence coach, Edwards, said that Ireland was the country that began using the technique but that it encourages high tackling and suggested it could lead to a greater number of concussions.

Easterby denied that Ireland was a dangerous team.

“He is entitled to his opinion,” said Easterby of Edwards.

“It’s a type of tackle that teams are using. Just like a hop tackle is. Just like an assist tackle. But I would prefer not to comment on what Shaun Edwards has said. That’s outside of this environment.”

Easterby insisted that Ireland played the game according to the laws and that is all the Irish coaches ever ask of their players

“We’ve got to play within the law and if we play with discipline and within the law then that’s all we can ask of our players and what we will coach time and time again.”

But does Ireland play dangerous rugby, like Edwards said, Easterby was asked.

“I don’t really want to comment on it,” he answered.

Do Ireland play dangerous rugby, he was asked again.

“No,” said the coach.

Easterby added that Cian Healy is coming back strong and is approaching complete match fitness. While he is not entirely match fit, his usefulness off the bench, if that's the way Joe Schmidt decides to use him against England, should be another asset to the Irish side.

"He has already had game time at the weekend for Leinster (38 minutes) and he is building up his metres in terms of getting back to full fitness, so we are lucky that we have him coming back up to speed on what we are doing," said Easterby.

“He has made a really quick recovery from that injury and he has come back in unbelievable shape but we also have a player in Jack (McGrath) whose numbers are high in everything he does and we now have probably two quality looseheads that we can call on.

“It’s a good position to be in and it’s not in every position we have that.”