When rugby finally allowed non-injury subsitutions (after some flagrant breaches of the existing law by South African in particular), a new phrase entered the rugby vocabulary; impact player. And after the Melbourne Rebels' Saturday evening's clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington, we reckon that Mark Gerrad and Lachlan Mitchell will have a new perspective on that phrase.
Motu Matu'u was subbed on late in the match for the 'Canes' fast-improving hooker Dane Coles. And although his side scored nine impressive tries in their best performance of the season, the match will be remembered for two thundering, legal tackles by Matu'u; check this out:
And here's where it gets even more impressive. Check out around the two minute mark of the video; after the hit, Matu'u goes back to the unconscious Mitchell, and places him in the recovery position as the Rebels' trainer runs on to attend his player; an act he credits to his mother.
Rugby may be a tough, uncompromising game, but Motu'u showed that the age of sportsmanship is not dead; that's REALLY making an impact.
4 comments:
An interesting point was raised in a discussion at the Game. When do you place a person in a recovery position? If the player had suffered serious injury in the tackle could have moving him made the situation worse?? Luckily that was not the case, but while it was a great show of sportsmanship, probably better off leaving the situation to the trainers IMHO who are only moments away.
I think they're going to have to look at this type of tackle. I'm dubious about the tackler's use of his head. I don't think we want to see flying 'head butt' type tackles and these could have been close to that.
Many many moons ago, on the footie field, I learnt that hurting your opponent but leaving him on the field was a damned sight more effective than getting him carried off (even if you could do so without being sent off yourself ;-) )
These bullrush-style "big hits" are counter-productive at best, dirty play at worst.
I have no time for them or people who praise and encourage them.
@Tinman - The first hit was doubly effective, because the player who was hit tried to stay on the field, but couldn't manage it, so got taken off later. It isn't dirty play to be stronger and more aggressive than your opponent, thats just the nature of rugby.
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