Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Jonny Wilkinson hit knocks out Jonathan Thomas

Monday, February 04, 2008

Jonny Wilkinson hit knocks out Jonathan Thomas

Just twelve minutes into England's clash with Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, Welsh flanker Jonathan Thomas felt the full brunt of Jonny Wilkinsons notoriously brutish defense.

It's not vintage Wilkinson when compared with his cracking tackles on the likes of Justin Bishop or Emilie Ntamack, but highly effective and painful, as I'm sure Jonathan Thomas will testify. Falling to the floor and hitting his head hard, with players' legs bashing him also didn't help of course.

There was no malice involved in the tackle. It was simply a good, solid, hit and it was unfortunate to see Thomas go down like that. Some may say it was a bit of a swinging arm, but I can't see much fault in it.

Once again though, Wilkinson proves that he must be the hardest tackling flyhalf in the game today.

Labels: Six Nations 2008

Seemed high, but certainly not intentional.

By Unknown, at February 04, 2008 11:09 pm
Actually, the man was leaning down into the tackle so you cant really call it high. It was an unfortunate incidence. Nothing intentional.

By Anonymous, at February 04, 2008 11:17 pm
If Wilkinson was to be cited for this it would be disgraceful. If your gonna make a tackle you have to swing your arm and it was just unfortunate that Thomas was leaning into the tackle. Felt sorry for him after that though, getting battered by everyone.

By Anonymous, at February 04, 2008 11:39 pm
Yep, no intent and a citing would of been harsh.
Having said that, as I think Jerry Guscott picked up on, post match, Wilkinson seems to have his eyes closed, I doubt even if he'd had them open this would of been avoided but I suppose from some points of views (not mine) this would call for a citing.

By Anonymous, at February 04, 2008 11:48 pm
most 10's close their eyes when they tackle. its understandable.

By Anonymous, at February 04, 2008 11:55 pm
The commentator got it right, he was out cold before he hit the floor. They showed it again from a different angle later in the game, and you could see him go limp straight after the hit.

By Unknown, at February 05, 2008 12:11 am
Wilko isn't a malicious player and if he is cited for this it would make a mockery of tackling. If you duck head first into a tackle you have to expect something like this may happen sometime.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 12:45 am
nothing malicious there Wilkinson is a great defensive player and such things happen in rugby, even as a very happy welshman i can't see anything worth getting upset over. if we start citing those we are on a downward spiral into wimpy rugby or helmets or other things that just aren't rugby.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 1:07 am
Not a hard hit at all, just a swinging arm that hit him on the jaw. Just unlucky if you ask me, but I have seen some refs send people of for less.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 1:15 am
Thomas carryed the ball in a high stance, when he aproached Wilkinson he leaned forward to charge him, Wilkinson was already making the tackle movement, it was rough, but other then that, only bad luck for the welsh.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 1:36 am
No mallice involved. Was just an unlucky collision.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 1:55 am
i'm a big jonny fan, but that wasnt a "hard hit". the hit was shit. the only thing which really made contact was the swinging arm.and if it hadnt hit him in the chin, jonny would have been lucky to just wrap his legs up.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 3:24 am
The Laws don't care about "intent", only citing commissioners and broadcast commentators.

In terms of a match ban I think Jonny gets the benefit of the doubt, considering he's played clean (to the best of my knowledge).

Perhaps if he were a player of a darker complexion...
perhaps a vowel at the end of his surname...
maybe an apostrophe (circumflex or other diacritical mark) in his name...

he'd probably get a 4-week match ban

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 4:21 am
Didn't seem to be much of an attempt to wrap his arms and complete the tackle after his forearm smashed in JT's face.

By Cossax, at February 05, 2008 4:22 am
Wilkinson was getting down for a tackle but his forearm accidentally hit Thomas on his face...it was purely accidental...but I guess in my lifetime...

Maybe Wilkinson should consider boxing when he's done with rugby...

By Don, at February 05, 2008 6:58 am
aslong as we beat the english we dont care ;)

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 8:46 am
"Perhaps if he were a player of a darker complexion...
perhaps a vowel at the end of his surname...
maybe an apostrophe (circumflex or other diacritical mark) in his name...

he'd probably get a 4-week match ban"

I don't think there's any evidence to support your implication that the citing commissioners are racist. After all Phil Vickery has been cited twice in the last six months, Danny Grewcock seems to get cited a couple of times a week. Pacific Islanders do get cited a lot I know, but then there seems to be a culture of borderline dangerous tackling in Pacific Island rugby - if you want to see eveidence of this there's loads of footage on this very site.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 9:35 am
A bad tackle - not malicious, but bad. Compared to some of johnny's previous hits, calling this hard is a mockery. Thomas goes down cos he was hit in the face - and in my opinion, there is ground to cite, as the law does NOT require intent if the tackle is dangerous (please correct me if I am mistaken, cos then there is no ground to cite).

As for the hardest tackling flyhalf right now, that has got to be Butch James.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 9:45 am
Just so everyone knows, Jonny is not getting cited for this as the deadline was yesterday. In my opinion a good decision, was probably a poor tackle but he would never have meant that to happen.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 11:00 am
Predictable banter here.

If it were a Rabeni or Jerry Collins you'd all be crying foul.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 12:08 pm
No Intent, Wilko is not a dirty player. Go Wales

As long as we beat the english we dont care.

Eire go Brach

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 12:10 pm
Unintentional by Wilkinson and unfortunate for Thomas. Although he was lucky his two team mates put him on his side and checked to see that he hadn't swallowed his tongue. That could've been a lot worse.

Accusing the citing commission of being racist is ridiculous.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 5:18 pm
It's Emile Ntamak, not Emilie... Emilie for girls (like Emily in english)

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 5:24 pm
Didn't really mean to imply racism. My apologizes if it came off that way.

I meant to say that there is "Tier1"-ism, and a favoritism to players from the Home Countries.

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 7:23 pm
"If it were a Rabeni or Jerry Collins you'd all be crying foul."

Yeah but probably because they have a history of stupid tackles whilst going for the big hit.

Everyone can see he's just trying to swing his shoulder into the contact - which is how you should tackle.

The problem is he didn't have his arm bent, so bad technique on wilkos behalf as you are supposed to clench your fist and bend you elbow through a 90 degree bend. swing your shoulder in tot the tackler and then wrap with your arms.

it just means your arm is solid and you elbow and wrist are protected from over extension.

Wilko's lucky he dind't hurt himself with that flapping arm.

butit certainly wasn't inetnt.

also Thomas is leading with his head into a contact situation, it's not the best angle to lead in is it?

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 7:25 pm
'he had his eyes closed'

I challenge anyone to try and go for a big hit and keep their bloody eyes open on impact!!

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 7:55 pm
this was a mistackle by Wilkinson where unfortunately Thomas get his arm in the face, knocking him out.
not intentional but unlucky for the welchman and where the emglishman could have broken his elbow...

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 10:55 pm
What if it was reversed, ie. John Thomas "hitting" Wilko. They would hang drawer and quarter Thomas... Saint Jonny can do no wrong ;-(

By Anonymous, at February 05, 2008 11:33 pm
not a hard tackle, but as someone mentioned, hardest flyhalf in the game at the moment is without a doubt, butch james. not always technically perfect like wilkinson but harder hitter...

By Anonymous, at February 06, 2008 12:42 am
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at February 06, 2008 1:57 am
it didn't look that big but then i remembered how hard Wilkinson can hit

By Anonymous, at February 06, 2008 7:19 am
Anyway, I know it's not anywhere near funny for the guy who got knocked out.. But in the eyes of the viewer, it is ^^

At least a litle bit :)

Especially when his head gets kicked and kneed while on the ground.. The poor lad was so defenceless ! I laugh now, But I sincerily hope it'll never happen to me on the pitch of course..

By Anonymous, at February 06, 2008 12:35 pm
Well i as a viewer didn't find it funny and i don't know anyone else who did, personally when someone gets knocked out i don't really see how that can be funny F.g.

By Anonymous, at February 06, 2008 4:45 pm
hmmm... dunno why you seem to think so highly of that hit... he pretty much missed him. the only hit that wilkinson got on him was a forearm to the face.
typical northern hemisphere. laughable

By Anonymous, at February 08, 2008 12:32 am
i don't think anyone sees it as a hit but as a mis-tackle. I'm pretty sure most southern Hemisphere rugby fans can tell the difference. Why can't you ?

By Anonymous, at February 08, 2008 7:08 pm
This was clearly a swinging arm what game are some of you watching!! If it was any other player there would have been a match ban at least!!

By Anonymous, at February 20, 2008 12:31 am
gooooood-night you welshman!

By Anonymous, at March 04, 2008 10:47 pm
there was no tackle in that action...wilkinson hit the head of the player with his arm and then he almost fainted

By Anonymous, at April 28, 2008 1:06 am
I have to say this is a blatant example of the subjectivity of this website. If jonathan thomas has made this hit on Wilkinson there would be outrage from all and sundry. Furthermore,the belief that a swinging arm to the head somehow entrenches wilkinson as the hardest hitting ten in the game is an axiomatic example of someone who knows very little about the game itself. infuriating!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Anonymous, at May 19, 2008 5:38 pm
Aah man infuriating hey. Who knew words could get someone so wound up. Wow Anonymous, don't get your knickers in a knot mate.

A hit is a hit, and the article even questions whether it was legal or not, so what on earth are you on about pal.

By Anonymous, at May 19, 2008 9:01 pm
hardest tackling fly half my arse it was high and a foul

By Anonymous, at September 12, 2008 3:29 pm
wilko is probz the best tackler in the fly half position, id luv 2 b able to tackle like he does

By Anonymous, at October 22, 2008 9:19 pm