He hit the guy in the head. That's what happened, that's what he did - it's not a question of intent, just of action. It's not a hypothetical, we can see the result.
I don't think that's obtuse at all... simply an observation of what happened.
It's an observation of what happened, it's not an observation of what Soliola did. Slater being struck in the head was a consequence, not an action.
Soliola attempts legal tackle at chest area (action) + Slater slipping (action, albeit accidental) = Soliola's arm striking Slater's head (consequence)
If you are saying that players are culpable for contact with the head that could not have been avoided other than by not making the tackle at all then I fundamentally disagree. Punishing "foul play" where the foul play only exists because of someone else's actions and couldn't realistically have been avoided is just pointless and nonsensical imo. It's an absurd situation if defenders find themselves randomly getting penalised or not penalised for making identical tackles (i.e doing the exact same thing).
Btw I realise this is the way of the world now (it's way worse in Rugby Union) so I'm fighting against the tide. I think we should harshly punish high tackles which are actually HIGH because you're not actually deterring anything by punishing defenders for what the attacker does, just arbitrarily punishing.
Beyond that, the fact that it came from a late hit kind of negates any question RE intent anyway... he didn't need to make contact - and the tackler is always the one responsible for ensuring that they do not put the tackled player in danger.
Disagree but I understand the philosophy. I don't personally agree that someone who makes a late tackle should subsequently become liable for an injury to the tackled player which doesn't relate to the thing that made the tackle illegal.
I was also reading that the clenched fist and stiff arm are seen as markers of intent. If that's so then why is it not against the rules to tackle with a clenched fist and a swinging arm? Start punishing these acts, not waiting for accidental or unavoidable head contact and then retrospectively finding the offence.
If we want to actually punish harmful acts and deter bad tackles then punish cheap, late tackles rather than scapegoating someone the one day the attacking player happens to slip.
