Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Elsom and Palu gang tackle sends Elhorga packing

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Elsom and Palu gang tackle sends Elhorga packing

French fullback Pepito Elhorga will be missing out on the second test against the Wallabies this coming weekend after damaging his shoulder in a heavy tackle from powerful Australian loose forwards Rocky Elsom and Wycliff Palu.

It's safe to say that Elhorga will be regretting running into arguably the two toughest Wallabies on the field, and two of the harder backrowers in world rugby.

He came off emphatically second best, getting gang tackled and dumped to the ground, bone crushingly so in that his right shoulder was dislocated on impact.

French coach Lievremont will now be forced to make a change at fullback as Elhorga will, understandably, take no further part in the tour after this crunching tackle where we see two huge men flatten a little guy.

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i was waiting for this to come on.

i guess the ref didnt c the knockon and assumed elsom stole/stripped it on the groud?

thanks RD.

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 12:51 am
massive thump

the ref says that Rocky and Co. didn't "roll away" but then if you listen to him explaining it in the background...he's talking about how Rocky played it on the ground

i think the ball landed in rocky's arms and the ref ruled that he had stolen it while lying on the ground...so yeah, what you said chriskq

should have been a wallaby scrum from a knock on though

thanks RD...looking forward to the tri-nations and some classic hits from other places in the rugby world

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 2:43 am
that was a foul right? I mean...an elbow to the face...

By Don, at July 01, 2008 7:19 am
The week-end before the match, Palu and Elsom went to play for their Sydney club...Cronulla Sharks.

!

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 7:37 am
It looked high to me. It could also have been seen as a spear/illegal tackle as the man was taken off his feet and driven into the ground dislocating his shoulder. Pretty cynical stuff.

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 8:11 am
@ randorama, mate the cronulla sharks are a rugby league team, so no they didnt go and play for them

Great hit, just showing every one that Australia has a great back row

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 9:26 am
Ouch!!

Didn't think it was a knock on myself, but hard to say having only seen this clip. Player was heading backwards though (as you do whilst being hit by those two!!) so even though the ball came loose, the ref may have thought it was also travelling backwards.

Hard not to pick the ball in in Elsom's case, but IF there was no knock on, it was definately a penalty. Whether it lands in Elsom's arms or not, he has to get back on his feet before he can play it.

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 10:31 am
Not a spear tackle. The man has 2 be put down beyond 90 degrees to the vertical for it 2 be considered a spear tackle. Maybe a little high, but borderline on that as well.

Id say that was a legal tackle. But Elsom was playing the ball on the ground so penalty anyway.

Unlucky for Elhorga tho...

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 2:56 pm
Not a spear tackle. The man has 2 be put down beyond 90 degrees to the vertical for it 2 be considered a spear tackle. Maybe a little high, but borderline on that as well.

Id say that was a legal tackle. But Elsom was playing the ball on the ground so penalty anyway.

Unlucky for Elhorga tho...

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 2:56 pm
Cant wait for the Boks to trash the arrogant Aussies!!!!

I must say Phil’s commentary was funny and enjoyable when he first started, but f@cking annoying now!!!

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 6:07 pm
Man why does everyone hate the aussies?? wtf we are not arogant yeah maybe our soccer team, but rugby know, plus id like to see any one say that Palu is arrogant to his face

By Anonymous, at July 01, 2008 6:36 pm
Hendrik, you need to simmer down mate. We're a community of rugby lovers here, and if you're not capable of friendly, harmless banter then best you don't comment at all.

Thanks man.

By GMC, at July 02, 2008 1:17 am
Sorry everyone for my drunk comments last night...go Mortlock-hahaha!!

Can we please get the tackle off Mametsa on Luke Watson in the Bull vs Stormers match S14 2008?

By Anonymous, at July 02, 2008 9:10 pm
y wud u give yr fullback an inside ball off the 10
hes always gonna get beat no matter hw big or gd he is

By Anonymous, at July 03, 2008 9:54 pm
^^ so true mate that is pretty much a death wish give your ball to the fullback 2 meters away from the australian back line what idiots

By Anonymous, at July 04, 2008 9:38 am