Frustrated Reds star Digby Ioane is still shaking his head about judicial inconsistencies as he prepares for his long-awaited Super Rugby return.

Ioane makes his comeback after five weeks on the sidelines for a dangerous tackle suspension following a bone-crunching hit on Sharks flanker Marcell Coetzee in Durban.

Queensland opted for Ioane to plead guilty for the lifting tackle on Coetzee, which not long ago would have been regarded as legitimate.

But what’s under the skin of the Wallabies winger is the inconsistencies in suspension of tip-tackles, particularly after NSW centre Rob Horne received a two-week ban on Sunday.

In the eyes of Ioane and the Reds, Horne’s tackle on Melbourne Rebels fullback Kurtley Beale was more dangerous, as Beale was thrown onto the ground.

At the time on Saturday night, Ioane tweeted that his Wallabies teammate could expect a ban of six-eight weeks while Reds playmaker Quade Cooper responded by saying it was more like 10.

Horne was only suspended for a fortnight as it was deemed a low-level offence while Ioane’s was seen as a mid-range dangerous tackle despite his attempt to lessen the impact by holding onto Coetzee.

Bulls halfback Francois Hougaard also escaped with a one-week ban earlier in the season for a similar lifting tackle.

Ioane did receive an extra week’s suspension due to prior convictions in 2008 and assured he’s been working as much as possible to eradicate tip-tackles from his game.

But he asked for more consistency as he flew out from Brisbane to Auckland for Friday night’s clash with the Blues.

“It’s one of those tackles where things happen but you can’t help it,” Ioane said.

“I’ve been analysing other people’s tackling and looking at myself – just judging other people’s tackling.

“It’s a bit hard, as you can see this year, they are stricter on lifting.

“They don’t want it to be a bad influence, but you have to be consistent on tackles and technique.”

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