Greg Holmes shows us how it's done with this great hit
In the past couple of weeks we've seen some shocking tackling, in the Super 14 particularly. I'm not sure if it's the intensity of the tournament, the physicality of some of the players, or just plain over exuberance.
Whatever the case, there's absolutely no place on the rugby field for a spear tackle, and most of the time, it's landed the guilty party a suspension and somewhat of a bad reputation to go with it.
So in light of that, when I saw this fantastic hit by Greg Holmes last weekend, I figured I'd have to share it with the world. Let's be honest, we love seeing the hard hits but when they're dirty, it leaves a bit of a sour taste.
Reds' prop Holmes, famed on RD for his incredible solo try against Ireland, showed us all exactly how to stick your opponent on their backside the legal way. You'll note that halfway through his smashing of young Stormers flanker Francois Louw, Holmes gets him into the position of a typical spear tackle.
But, by controlling the tackle and driving to ground with him, as opposed to just dropping him, Holmes pulls off a one hundred percent safe, legal, and bone crunching tackle.
Whatever the case, there's absolutely no place on the rugby field for a spear tackle, and most of the time, it's landed the guilty party a suspension and somewhat of a bad reputation to go with it.
So in light of that, when I saw this fantastic hit by Greg Holmes last weekend, I figured I'd have to share it with the world. Let's be honest, we love seeing the hard hits but when they're dirty, it leaves a bit of a sour taste.
Reds' prop Holmes, famed on RD for his incredible solo try against Ireland, showed us all exactly how to stick your opponent on their backside the legal way. You'll note that halfway through his smashing of young Stormers flanker Francois Louw, Holmes gets him into the position of a typical spear tackle.
But, by controlling the tackle and driving to ground with him, as opposed to just dropping him, Holmes pulls off a one hundred percent safe, legal, and bone crunching tackle.
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15 Comments:
That's how you f***ing tackle! Great hit!
By Sander, at March 13, 2008 1:19 pm
very good tackle!!
By Anonymous, at March 13, 2008 1:33 pm
Pardon my french but that's a f@cking good tackle.
By Anonymous, at March 13, 2008 1:55 pm
Holmes did everything perfectly, but you have to say that Louv walked into that one...literally. From 10m out he saw a static prop whose feet were firmly anchored 3ft apart and yet still managed to run into him with unerring accuracy. To top it all his centre of gravity was hovering somewhere above Holmes' shoulder.
Holmes must have thought he was blessed (until he woke up and realised he was playing for the Reds...)
By Kerivoula, at March 13, 2008 2:43 pm
"It wasn't controlled, the flankers leg gets caught in the ground or else he would have been head first"...
I'm sorry, but you are incorrect...look at the vid again.It's all about his upper body position..it's not swung back (like happens in most spear tackles..). Louv's upper body is not even parallel to the ground in the moment the leg gets caught in the ground..he's actually in an upright position....so even if the leg didn't get caught..He wouldn't have speared.
a.k.a THE TACKLE IS CONTROLLED!!!
"kudos" to Greg Holmes...
By Anonymous, at March 13, 2008 3:35 pm
As the regulars here will know, Anonymous comments aren't really appreciated on RD and will be deleted on most occasions.
By GMC, at March 13, 2008 3:41 pm
Now thats how to tackle!!
Nothing like seeing a fellow prop smashing someone lol! Makes a change from seeing those fairy backs take the glory... Sorry guys! lol
By Anonymous, at March 13, 2008 4:08 pm
What gets me is how Louw's leg planted in.
It's almost as if by avoiding picking the player up, there is a trade-off that the tackled player risks blowing out a knee, or breaking a leg.
Then again, might be a better option than a cracked skull.
By Cheyanquí, at March 13, 2008 4:12 pm
hmmm i was thinking along the same lines (as the above comment) i did cringe slightly when i saw that, just because i was expecting a bit of a nasty twinge there......
By Anonymous, at March 13, 2008 5:17 pm
Yum! Delicious tackle!!!
Bring on the weekend! Can't wait to dish some out...
By Anonymous, at March 14, 2008 12:48 am
great tackle...technically legal and damn effective.
By Don, at March 15, 2008 4:04 pm
Jamie Noon did a similar hit this afternoon, sorry can't remember on who, dropping his body so that what could easily be a spear tackle wasn't - great hit.
By mjn, at March 16, 2008 12:03 am
whats the difference between tackling with your eyes open and eyes closed cuz depending on the tackle i tackle eyes open
By rugbyplayer5225, at March 23, 2011 7:26 pm
what a bunch of twats u are, shit tackle saved from a card by the victim
By Anonymous, at March 27, 2011 9:39 pm
I love this tackle. Sadly tho, I don't think we'll be seeing many more of these hits. Refs seem to blow the whistle any time a ball carrier comes off the ground in the tackle. It's a shame that such a safe type of hit is being policed so hard.
By Pete, at May 17, 2011 10:55 pm
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