Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Todd Clever quality try against Wales

Friday, February 15, 2008

Todd Clever quality try against Wales - USA Sevens

USA Eagles hardman Todd Clever was recently featured on RD for his big tackle against the Welsh at the San Diego Sevens. After the tackle, Clever got a bit worked up and lashed out at the Welsh players. None of the punches connected too well, therefore he stayed on the field.

A few comments were made about the USA and about Todd himself, all of which were unwarranted. I personally have seen a lot more of Todd playing than most, and believe me, he's a quality player.

Hard, physical, and with immense talent, Todd is a stand out performer in every game he plays. He also happens to be a helluva nice guy who, along with his teamate Chris Wyles, recently sent me some pics of them at the Wellington Sevens in their new Rugbydump T-Shirts.

I'll say it again, although they have a long way to go, the USA are on the up and deserve the same respect as any other minnow. With the correct structures in place, I have no doubt they'll be genuine competitors in years to come.

Against Wales in the same game as the big tackle, Todd scored this brilliant 80 meter try that set the stadium alight and showed that's he's more than just a physical player.

Fantastic speed, step, and power. The massive 'Don't argue' is becoming somewhat of a trademark of his. That hand-off is lethal, just ask Butch James.

Labels: Sevens

Well worked Sevens try but doesnt excuse him his "moment of madness", Wales still won ;-)

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 9:50 am
pass was perfect, making him run onto it.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 10:15 am
Lovely try and a nice nice step, but the defence was absolutely shocking there. Doesn't excuse the silly behaviour from before, if you want to be up there with the best you need to be able to channel that aggression.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 11:58 am
Great run. That stiff-arm at the end had me grinning.

Oh, and let me say "thank you" to the RD admins for coming to support USA Rugby after all the poo-flinging in the last Clever thread.

By Jeff, at February 15, 2008 2:14 pm
"Don't argue"!?!?! Why do the yanks americanise everything? Why can't they use the same term as every one else in the world? It's a hand-off!
If they want to be taken seriously they should use the proper terminology, otherwise they just sound stupid.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 2:25 pm
clever is a bit of a tank. surely a premiership side should sign him.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 2:38 pm
I tell you what, if America just played rugby instead of American Football they'd wipe the floor with all of us. All you've got to do is watch a bit of NFL and see they've got players who can run with the ball, pass brilliantly, kick briliantly and make enormous tackles. It'll never happen, there's too much money in NFL, but nonetheless, i think they deserve a bit more respect than some people are giving them on this forum.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 2:40 pm
Good clip, I really like that player. He also seems to evoke great commentary, 'Clever play from Todd the flank' and 'a massive 'don't argue' to Richie Pugh'- I think it's quality.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 2:44 pm
Great clip. It seems the USA has a few stars on their team with Z, and Clever. To the guy complaining about the right stiff arm comment. Who cares, in America it's a stiff arm to you it's a hand-off. Every one knows what you mean. GO USA

By Hendrick, at February 15, 2008 3:11 pm
"lets not forget the amount of steroids in the U.S. either" may be true, but I would have to agree with will in the fact that since the us has such a mass population, if we focused primary on rugby, not so much on american football and baseball, we would be one of the worlds super powers in rugby. steroids are primarily in baseball, and to say that american football players are not athletes is quite untrue.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 4:49 pm
Nice try and nice hand-offs..

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 5:38 pm
"Why can't they use the same term as every one else in the world?"

Jeez, get over yourself. The US has just as long a rugby history as everyone else. We used to be a terror. The last two times the Olympics had rugby, the US won the gold. We can use whatever terminology we want. It's usually to help differentiate between other sports played here. What do they call it in France? Italy?

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 6:11 pm
Can you Euros give anyone any credit besides yourselves. Clever had a great try, stop bitching.

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 7:00 pm
Nice try.

I live in America and I follow the rugby over here. Yes it's slower than most of the other "Established" rugby countries like NZ,ENG,RSA and all...but please...dont underestimate the minions. Like every other team that comes up in the world of rugby they'd earn their respect...give them time.

By Don, at February 15, 2008 7:35 pm
@ Bill (comment # 6)

Look, don't you think it's kind of natural that places as far apart and different as the U.S. and G.B. or South Africa or New Zealand or wherever you're from might have different terms for things? Think about it: "Football" is different. "hockey" is different. A whole bunch of terms are different.

In fact, here's a list.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_words_having_different_meanings_in_British_and_American_English

By Jeff, at February 15, 2008 8:47 pm
Nice try but doesn't excuse his stupid behaviour in the earlier clip.

I hope to see him playing in Europe soon !
Third Centre

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 9:11 pm
I'm pretty sure in rugby you have to have your arm straight, when you have the ball, and want to how you say it hand off but in actuality it should be called a stiff arm.

By nikehustler, at February 15, 2008 9:12 pm
50 % luck 50 % skill IMO

By Anonymous, at February 15, 2008 9:19 pm
great try, great player. wish all the bigoted anti-americans could see how stupid they look, that coming from am englishman too.

By owen, at February 15, 2008 10:49 pm
that was aan awsome try fairplay...some dudes on here need to get a life and stop showing off...in fact from now on if u stereotype america or any other country on here again then you smell

By Anonymous, at February 16, 2008 12:09 am
Who knew the Seppos were so sensitive ;-)

By Anonymous, at February 16, 2008 11:22 am
wow thats awesome

hey he even has a rugby dump t-shirt in the picture.

Class Sevens

By Anonymous, at February 16, 2008 8:47 pm
re: "don't argue"
take a chill pill bill - the commentator was an Aussie.

great pace / fend from the big guy

By boomshanka, at February 17, 2008 2:53 am
i think this guy is good. i dunno why everone is sayin wales were bad at defending a team that is winning should have a good defence. he has a great hand off

By Anonymous, at March 16, 2008 1:32 am
He's a great player and steroids are actually easier to obtain in European countries than it is in the USA. Although I'm sure all players are tested.

He did lose his temper in the other clip over seemingly nothing but I've seen a lot worse, so just get over it already fellas.

By Flankaaa, at March 26, 2008 6:00 am
[b] contract for NFL Jerseys. What operate You

compulsion

To have down pat First?[/b]

Football is one of the multifold social sports in America. [url=http://www.nfljerseyguru.com]nfl football jerseys[/url]

The fan corrupt is

barn door, and it sweep through all

girlhood coterie. Sports fans

adulation to expo pleasure in their main

lineup[url=http://www.micnfljerseys.com]cheap nfl jerseys[/url]

maybe you'd like to get a great looking jersey for a bounty.[url=http://www.micnfljerseys.com]nfl replica jerseys[/url]
[url=http://www.nfljerseyguru.com]discount nfl jerseys[/url]

By Anonymous, at January 29, 2010 6:37 am