Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill has defended the tackle which threatens fly-half Toby Flood's participation in this weekend's crucial Heineken Cup clash at the Ospreys.
Flood has been cited for an alleged tip-tackle on Worcester's Andy Goode during Tigers' 19-14 Aviva Premiership win at Sixways on Friday.
He will face an RFU disciplinary hearing in London tomorrow and, if found guilty, is almost certain to miss his side's biggest game of the season.
The incident happened in the second half when Flood tackled Goode near the halfway line. The former Leicester man fell on his shoulder when Tigers hooker Rob Hawkins joined in to finish off the tackle.
Cockerill believed that although Goode fell awkwardly, he insisted there was no malice in the tackle.
"I think it was a genuine attempt at a good-quality tackle," said Cockerill.
"Clearly, Andy Goode ended up in an awkward position. But with Rob Hawkins joining the tackle and pulling Andy to the ground with his collar, it made it look worse than it was.
"If you take the views of the commentators out of the way and look at it in the cold light of day, it was just unfortunate.
"It is not a tip-tackle or a spear tackle. It was just a tackle which left Andy in an awkward position.
"There was no malice. Toby Flood is not that type of player."
