It’s lesson learned for Wallabies winger Reece Hodge, whose return from suspension could be a timely one at the Rugby World Cup.
Hodge has had three games off to think about his tackle technique after becoming the first of 11 players at the tournament so far to be be banned for high contact.
He could also be the first to return, if selected for the quarter-final in Oita on Saturday, most probably against England.
The 25-year-old’s availability may be invaluable given the head knock suffered by Kurtley Beale against Georgia that threatens to sideline the fullback. An independent doctor will make a mid-week assessment of Beale before he can be cleared.
Dane Haylett-Petty is the logical fullback if a vacancy opens up, leaving Cheika to choose between the proven Hodge, teenage rookie Jordan Petaia or, at a pinch, veteran Adam Ashley-Cooper for the right wing berth.
Hodge was a first-choice winger through the first four Tests this year and won the nod for the opener against Fiji last month in Sapporo, where his tackle on Peceli Yato was deemed high by a judiciary.
That contentious ruling riled the Wallabies and Hodge conceded he found it “pretty tough” to immediately cope before harnessing a sense of worth through a support role.
“I had 30 of my good mates around me and great support staff around to really help me through that time,” Hodge said on Sunday.
“The way I kind of saw it was after the first couple of days, there was no point trying to fret about the decision.
“I really tried to help the guys out wherever I could and also to take the opportunity to … improve little bits of my own game to be in the best possible shape for this week.”
However, Hodge accepts he is no certainty to return, something coach Michael Cheika has already publicly stated.
If selected, the Melbourne Rebels utility back has vowed to go lower when lining up tackles.
“My kind of tackling in the wide channels is always in the low knee-to-hip kind of region,” he said.
“I learned my lesson that it is going to be quite harsh if you stray from that kind of goal so I’ll definitely be trying to tackle low this weekend for sure.”