Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Denis Leamy's bunny hopping-madness at the back of the scrum

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Denis Leamy's bunny hopping-madness at the back of the scrum

The Munster fire is alive and well. After a close defeat to the Wasps, they redeemed themselves with a five-try killing spree of Clermont Auvergne.

Veteran full-back Shaun Payne and centre Rua Tipoki both touched down for the second week running, while second half tries from winger Brian Carney, flanker Alan Quinlan and prop Marcus Horan sealed the result.

The focus of this video though is Dennis Leamy's unique way of controlling the ball at the back of the scrum when trying to score a pushover try. Sure, some players often make mistakes when trying to drag it with their feet towards the line, normally kicking it back into the scrum and losing the ball.

But this new method begs the question, is he really contributing the eight man shove? Another thing, is it legal? According to some it's not.

Apparently earlier in the season Anthony Foley did the same thing and was blown up for it. It does have it's merits though, simply because you're in control of the ball at all times, even if you're completely off balance and get pumped as soon as you break away from the scrum.

Luckily for Leamy he had Rua Tipoki to offload to when it happened to him.

Labels: Heineken Cup 2007

Does Leamy's actions violate law 20.9b

20.9 SCRUM - GENERAL RESTRICTIONS

(b) All players: Handling in the scrum. Players must not handle
the ball in the scrum or pick it up with their legs.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

By Anonymous, at November 20, 2007 7:15 pm
He'd basically come unbound, so the ball was out, but it looked as thought the ref was playing offside advantage pretty early...guessing he just decided it would be easier to blow it up there.

By Tank, at November 20, 2007 8:02 pm
this clip is also reviewed at http://www.sareferees.co.za/laws/laws_explained/story_191107160755.php.

Picking up the ball is not picking up with the feet..

By Unknown, at November 20, 2007 8:12 pm
wtf is this crap?

why dont you quit rugby and play some football

By Anonymous, at November 20, 2007 8:21 pm
Joa u gay puff puff puff puff puff puff puff puff puff puff puff puff puff puff! What r u doin on this site.
Leamys technique is erm... individual!!!

By Anonymous, at November 20, 2007 8:46 pm
Chris u joker thats good that you have such a good knowledge of rugby, but it makes u sound like anerd or an Ireland hater or maybe both.

By Anonymous, at November 20, 2007 8:47 pm
Chris u joker thats good that you have such a good knowledge of rugby, but it makes u sound like anerd or an Ireland hater or maybe both.

By Anonymous, at November 20, 2007 8:47 pm
I think players will get away with it for a while because i doubt the referee will be looking to see how the no.8 is controlling the ball. also the body movement of bouncing up and down isnt uncommon with the legal way of tapping the ball along with the foot. i doubt all referees will specifically know this law anyway

By Anonymous, at November 20, 2007 10:53 pm
I think he should be penalised on principle, "bringing the game into disrepute" just looks stupid!!!!

By Anonymous, at November 21, 2007 12:24 am
whats the use of this risky technique? its harder for no 8 to pick it up and its certainly harder for scrum half to play it. the only positive would be better ball control but that is also questionable

By Anonymous, at November 21, 2007 12:58 am
i think it wld benifite from a scrum V

cause if the ball crosses the try line isnt it a try cause he has controll of the ball and already touchin it?

By Anonymous, at November 21, 2007 1:02 am
"Chris u joker thats good that you have such a good knowledge of rugby, but it makes u sound like anerd or an Ireland hater or maybe both."

I think that you're the joker here mate. Could you be any less constructive?

When presented with the law in question, I'm sure the ref will be slightly embarassed. Hopefully this little number will do the rounds and the refs will start pinging the wise guys for it.

By Anonymous, at November 21, 2007 1:47 pm
I once did a Pele heel-flick with the ball in a scrum from the loose-head prop position.

The ball flipped up into the air to about head-height of the scrum-half who promptly swung it out the line and ultimately resulted in a score in the corner.

The backrow were in stitches.

By Anonymous, at November 21, 2007 11:46 pm
"I once did a Pele heel-flick with the ball in a scrum from the loose-head prop position.

The ball flipped up into the air to about head-height of the scrum-half who promptly swung it out the line and ultimately resulted in a score in the corner.

The backrow were in stitches."

So in other words you kicked be ball out of the scrum without it going between the second rows? As far as I know that's illegal too.

By Anonymous, at December 24, 2007 4:57 pm
not just illegal but also pretty unlikely surely?

By Anonymous, at December 29, 2007 5:46 pm
So what if he adds something different to the game, Just because he used his "head" to control the ball. If everybody stuck to the strict code of conduct the game would never progress.

By Anonymous, at June 21, 2008 1:52 pm