Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Moody sees red over Tuilagi tackle on Cueto in 2005

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Moody sees red over Tuilagi tackle on Cueto in 2005

In 2005 England hosted Samoa at Twickenham in a match that produced a record score, with the visitors taking a 40-3 hiding, but the game was marred by a few ugly incidents in the second half.

Twenty minutes from time prop Justin Va’a was carded for bringing down the scrum, and then six minutes later Mark Cueto got taken dangerously around the neck by Samoan fly-half Tanner Vili, who was sent from the field.

With five minutes left in the game, Cueto was taken out again, this time in the air with a reckless challenge from wing Alesana Tuilagi. Cueto confronted Tuilagi, and a mass brawl ensued, with Lewis Moody running in, unleashing a barrage of punches.

Referee Mark Lawrence had little option but to red-card both Tuilagi and Moody.

"In hindsight, I shouldn't have reacted," Cueto said.

“Maybe Alesana thought I was going to do something, and he reacted in self-defence. My actions seemed to spark it, but it’s difficult to stand off and not get involved when fists are flying.”

Cueto said his reaction could in part be blamed on the fact that the incident occurred so shortly after being clothes-lined by Tanner Vili.

"With the two tackle incidents being so close together, it makes it a lot more difficult. If one had happened in the first minute, and the second had happened in the 80th, then maybe we wouldn't have had the situation we had," Cueto added.

Samoan coach Michael Jones defended his players, claiming Tuilagi was already committed to making the tackle on Cueto, with it being bad timing with no malice intended.

"I think the guys were getting quite frustrated, and they didn't appreciate one of their boys getting hit from behind, which is what I think started it."

Moody became the first England player to be sent off at Twickenham, and only the fourth to be dismissed in international rugby.

Moody was later suspended for nine weeks at a disciplinary hearing, while Tuilagi received six weeks for his part in the incident.

Time: 05:17

to be honest cueto had jumped unnecessarily to catch that ball and tuilangi had already committed himself to the tackle when cueto jumped! so the tackle wasnt deserving of the red card...both reactions were though so refs decision was accurate

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 5:39 pm
I remember watching this, it was quality and i've been looking for it for a while, nice one!

By whys, at March 31, 2009 5:41 pm
i remember watching this! was tuilangi playing with leicester that year??

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 5:58 pm
moody and cueto go absolutely crazy. Jesus

By 212, at March 31, 2009 6:04 pm
LOL that was quality

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 6:06 pm
OMG you found it !

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 6:08 pm
silly stuff...

By opfazonk, at March 31, 2009 6:09 pm
this should be in the next "try savers and rib breakers"

By jacobo, at March 31, 2009 6:11 pm
I totally agree anonymous #1. Cueto jumped to catch a ball that was mid chest and descending. I think he saw Tuilangi coming and got a little nervous. The punches both warranted cards.

By Boz, at March 31, 2009 6:13 pm
yeah agreed the jump was unnecessary, but can you really blame cueto for acting the way he did? as the commentators said, third time something happened to him within a span of 15 minutes, can't really blame him for getting a bit irritated

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 6:17 pm
I think that Cueto and Moody reaction was not because of Tuilangi, but because of 76 minutes of crazy tackle and dirty game from the samoan side.

Several guys from Tonga and Samoa have been playing for my club in the past years, and they tend to do this kind of stuff over and over again.

High tackles, high tackles, spear tackles, dangerous stuff. They go to the sinbin every single game.

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 6:24 pm
Yeah if i rememebr correctly tuilagi was involved in some awful tackles in this game. Moody and him were teammates when this happened !

By Third centre, at March 31, 2009 6:26 pm
And nowadays the Samoans moan about not getting enough games against the big eight. Well, who would want to play against a bunch of guys who constantly ignore any rule this game has?

By Thomas, at March 31, 2009 7:14 pm
"Moody was later suspended for nine weeks at a disciplinary hearing, while Tuilagi received six weeks for his part in the incident."

9 weeks for Moody? Seems a bit bloody excessive.

Considering he didn't initiate the fight. And was merely helping Cueto, who was obviously unfairly matched against Tuilagi in a fist fight lol.

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 7:24 pm
Moody was absolutely justified in coming in the way he did. If someone put a tackle in like that on one of my teammates I'd do exactly the same.

By AJ, at March 31, 2009 7:47 pm
the last anonymous,
moody got nine weeks because he had just got into a fight a week earlier..

Thomas,
you're right.. i wish we would control our tackling better.. but don't swing at us because we'll definitely swing back.. lol.. that's funny that moody got a bloody nose when he was throwing five sucker punches to the back of tuilagi's head.. lol

By islandstylin, at March 31, 2009 8:39 pm
"I totally agree anonymous #1. Cueto jumped to catch a ball that was mid chest and descending. I think he saw Tuilangi coming and got a little nervous."

That's the whole point of jumping?! So that they cant touch you in the air, if they do its a penalty. He could have pulled out of the tackle, deserved a yellow.

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 8:54 pm
i wonder who kept yelling aua? aua means don't in samoan.. see we got a cool head on the team.. lol.. albeit only one..

chooo hooo go manu!!!

stop with the high tackling.. don't stop swinging though!!! lol

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 9:25 pm
true, Moody's jump does look awkward, maybe he thought Tuilagi was gonna go for the ball and wanted to secure it. But Tuilagi was definitely committed to the tackle.
But the worst seems to be the second one, this is worse than any spear tackle, that Samoan fucking beheaded Cueto. I would have given him the 9 weeks ban

By piaruskov, at March 31, 2009 9:53 pm
Anonymous #1

=> +1

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 9:56 pm
Bad buzz around the Leicester camp after this!haha

By Anonymous, at March 31, 2009 11:32 pm
So, what's with Moody not having a number on his jersey? A bit odd...

...also, I'm sure that their next practice together for Leicester was awkward as hell.

By Marty McFly, at March 31, 2009 11:40 pm
Anonymous - Players can jump to receive high balls. Not just to avoid getting hit. Should centers start jumping through the line too?

By Boz, at April 01, 2009 12:25 am
woah

By bigox, at April 01, 2009 12:50 am
U can't jump in the air to avoid a tackle, but as fun as it is, u also can't not attempt to wrap and make a guy flip if he does so. you also can't stand by and let your team mate get pummeled and do nothing.

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 1:11 am
All,

You have to remember that the cards were not given because of the tackle, but because of what happened afterward.

Cueto lost his cool, and not many would have kept it after the abuse he'd taken at that point.

But nonetheless, the cards are a result of the brawl, NOT the tackle, so the tackle becomes irrelevant.

By Unknown, at April 01, 2009 2:12 am
HOW COULD I MISS THIS????????????
I thought Cueto was going to kill Tuilagi, he was walking right towards him

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 2:32 am
I'm really glad you put this up again, it's interesting if not at all pretty.

The cards given are justified. Saying Tuilagi is committed makes no sense. Committed to what? Because he was only ever going to hit Cueto in the legs by going at that height, as if he hadn't even noticed Cueto had jumped in the air? (it's perferctly legal to jump in, he was trying to take the ball on the bounce and avoid getting smashed) The time it take for Cueto to run, jump and catch the ball is plenty of time not to crash into him and risk a broken neck.

Moody should have gotten red no question, he only hit Tuilagi after he punched Cueto, so fair enough. Samoa's no.7 in reaction threw just as many punches and got away with it.

By Rockylamontagne, at April 01, 2009 2:40 am
I remember this. Although Moody should have gone, he was there to break it up at first until Tuilagi punched Cueto.

Apparently at training the next day in Leicester the coaches told the guys to have a dust up and get it out their system and shake hands afterwards...or so the rumour goes...

By iceman!, at April 01, 2009 4:12 am
as a die hard manu fan, i had to dissect the video further.. and i have reaffirmed why i despise lome faatau!!! he should've never played rugby.. he's a big p*ssy.. running fast isn't the only element to being a wing or rugby player for that matter.. his defence hasn't improved a bit his entire career.. what a waste of god-given talent.. and then he's placed in front during the siva tau because he has the pe'a.. what a waste of ink

tanner vili shouldn't have clothes lined cueto.. eliota fuimaono-sapolu was there with the cover defence..

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 6:39 am
Apparently when Johnson was at Leicester the tam would have punch-ups at training fairly regularly so I doubt it damaged the playing relationship of Moody and Tuilagi

By Big Kev, at April 01, 2009 8:53 am
Some of those were utter crap comments, especially the first. What the hell is an "unncessary" jump when going to catch an up-and-over?

The game was filthy, due entirely to the Samoans. If Australia or France or England played like that, they'd be appropriately demonised and up in front of the IRB, but somehow some of the island teams are excused. Not good enough, you play by the same rules.

Somehow there's an acceptance of this because of misplaced cultural sensibilities. Utter rubbish.

Cueto and Moody should have been yellow-carded, maybe reds for retaliating, but 9 weeks ban for Moody and 6 for Tuilagi was pathetic and weak.

By Kerivoula, at April 01, 2009 9:38 am
If everyone jumped into the air just before a tackle the way Cueto did we would get hundreds of these. Its nonsense.

Note that I am not condoning Samoan rough play and have no loyalty to either side.

By AndyMo, at April 01, 2009 11:34 am
Jeez, just watched the slo mo, Cueto comes in with his feet raised. Cueto should be sent off, not the other way round. You can't jump into a tackle, its utterly ridiculous. It was not an up and under, the ball was about a metre off the deck.

By AndyMo, at April 01, 2009 11:37 am
I agree with Andy. It's the equivelant of a voluntary tackle in League.

You can't just concede like that and jump into the air to try and avoid getting hit. Won't stand for that crap.

That's some feminine nonsense of the highest order.

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 12:13 pm
Red card for the combination of tackle and the punch to the head.

Yellow at most for defending your team-mate. For fuck's sake. By the time LM threw his first punch AT had almost put Cueto in hospital and followed it up with a punch to the head.

And how are a few punches in a fair scrap worth nine weeks, while a combination of a very dangerous tackle and punches is only six weeks? What a joke.

Moody is a passionate player but never dirty.

By HamishM, at April 01, 2009 12:39 pm
P.S. How did the Samoan 7 get away with that? Just after it all kicked off there was Cueto and AT face to face, not doing that much, and LM throwing a few.

Cueto got off - fair enough, he didn't do anything wrong. LM and AT both carded - debatable in LM's case.

However, the Samoan 7 is also in there, throwing uppercuts into the defenseless face of Cueto, the only player who, as far as I can see, is entirely innocent.

By HamishM, at April 01, 2009 12:46 pm
I played against an all Islander team. I ran over a guy, then got tackled. The guy I ran over was in the ruck. He started squeezing my junk. So I punched him in the face, and then got jump by his whole team. But he had a balloon under his eye. I felt happy.

By Hendrick, at April 01, 2009 1:08 pm
sorry can't remember my id! But! This game will be remembered for that tackle. Premiership viewers however will know that tuilagi is not a dirty player and in slow mo you can see he committed to the tackle BEFORE cueto jumped.

Samoa are touring this year, Wales, France and Italy, and Fiji play England, Ireland and Scotland, but despite what people say, i think the island teams have cleaned up massively in the last few years.

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 1:25 pm
first of all, hahahah at cueto for getting jammed, then trying to do something about it, then getting jammed again.

secondly, moody you fuckin dog, way to start punching a cunt in the back of the head while hes already in a biff with someone else.

im glad moody got his skull crushed in by the tongans in 2007

By gaga, at April 01, 2009 2:34 pm
I can't believe people are defending Moody when he was punching a guy in the back of the head. What a coward - No place for that on the rugby pitch.

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 2:45 pm
This is just simple things magnified by circumstance.

Cueto is a short man, the ball is bouncing up near his neck, whilst playing for your country at home I think we can justify his jumping to give him any chance against a player the size of Tuilagi in a 1 on 1 situation.

As such, as was commented on it was, accidentally dangerous, e.g Tuilagi had gone for the tackle when his actions were legitimate but ultimatly it ended in a dangerous situation with cueto, having been nearly decapitated several minutes before landing on his face.

Cueto pushes tuilagi, who doesn't get pushed on a rugby pitch on a constant basis!? Tuilagi throws the 1st punch as no doubt he is agreeved cueto jumped into him and far more importantly he is a quality player in a team getting slippered in the country where he ply's his trade.

Moody is looking out for a smaller team mate on what I suspect would be a beating.

Ultimatly if you can't relate to being beaten badly, reacting to decisions going against you, feeling you have been illegally hit all game long etc, then you clearly have only enjoyed your rugby from an arm chair and really need to have some time on a pitch before condeming these blokes for acting under passion whilst representing their nation in their beloved game.

By Lil-Chris, at April 01, 2009 3:53 pm
I'm not defending Moody - he's called 'crazy horse' for a reason, the bloke has no sense.

However, I think Cueto is absolutely right to jump up to the ball, just as he would for an up and under. It's not jumping into the tackle as he doesn't have the ball. If he was carrying the ball then it would be different but he isn't. If the ball is in the air you are entitled to jump up and take it, it's as simple as that.

On another note, were any other English fans a little pissed off in this year's 6N when Geraghty took somebody off their feet and was immediately sinbinned but nobody who did it to English players was? Just a thought.

By Ted, at April 01, 2009 3:58 pm
I would have given a penalty try, in the first situation with samoan #10.

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 4:57 pm
Samoan number 7 was doing exactally the same as moody as the punches started.

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 6:00 pm
One of the first things you learn in rugby is that jumping into the tackle is illegal.

Cueto was in for a smashing and jumped, knowing well what would happen.

By Anonymous, at April 01, 2009 6:26 pm
third anonymous up,

i know the commentators said it as well but i disagree on a penalty try.. samoa's #12 was there immediately..

everybody

moody got nine weeks because he was involved in a another fight a week or two before.. they saw him has having a bad habit of fighting and had to stop it..

By islandstylin, at April 01, 2009 6:58 pm
the anon comment above me, rubbis, like someone else said above, he isnt jumping into the tackle because he doesnt have possesion.

the ball came from a kick, your entitlted to jump to get the ball the whole point is to jump to get to the ball before your opposite man.

of course its dangerous, but what part of rugby isnt, you put your body on the line and the rules are meant to protect your from unfair harm.

cueto obviously had enough because the samoans kept doing it to him. and i agree as above somewhere that moody was looking out for a team mate, for him to get 9 weeks when tuilagi got 6 for starting the fight and an illegal tackle. horrific decision.

By 00jeppst71, at April 01, 2009 7:09 pm
moody only started punching when tuilagi started hitting cueto..

I certainly can understand cueto's reaction

By Cheis, at April 01, 2009 7:16 pm
Go learn the fucking rules if you don't think you're allowed to jump to field a ball that is in the air, this is NOT the same as jumping into a tackle, how can so many people not distinguish this?

It's above Cueto's head height, by jumping he is able to both keep his momentum and avoid having to open up his ribs up to Tuilagi by stretching out in the air.

A few people have already explained hits but clearly it needs to be posted several times.

By Rockylamontagne, at April 01, 2009 7:41 pm
cueto threw punches too, infact he retaliated first, where was his card...

By Anonymous, at April 02, 2009 12:43 pm
how come when samoa tackle hard they're rugby thugs, but when noon shoulder tackles it is great??? double standards eh?

oh and the ball was chest height when he caught it very late jump, seen this before jumper always comes out with at least a penalty even though the tackler is commited

By Anonymous, at April 02, 2009 12:46 pm
cueto threw punches too, infact he retaliated first, where was his card...

By Anonymous, at April 02, 2009 12:49 pm
I don't understand how people could defend Tuilagi cox he was "committed". If he was committed to contesting the ball, why had he got his heads down? If he was committed to the tackle, Cueto didn't even have the ball. Both were dually punished.
This turned out to be the turning point of Moody's career. After being sent to Switzerland for some pyscho therapy, I hardly even seen him concede penalties. He would have been great if not for all the injuries.

By Anonymous, at April 02, 2009 3:17 pm
In response to someone asking why Noon is not called rugby thug when he tackles hard, that because he actually goes below the shoulder and uses his arm to grab the carrier.
Sometimes, even the legendary Chiropractor, he still simply throws his body around and hits whoever he gets.

By Anonymous, at April 02, 2009 3:19 pm
For all those wondering, I read Moody's confession in the issue of Rugby World about the incident, claiming that seeing the eminent fight, he went it to stop that from happening. Then we all saw what happened next...

By Anonymous, at April 02, 2009 3:27 pm
Gaga
Moody was way out of line.
I'm not defending his actions but if your teammate just got taken out in the air and then took a punch, i think i know what id do...

By jp philips, at April 02, 2009 11:03 pm
"If the ball is in the air you are entitled to jump up and take it, it's as simple as that."

So each pass allow players to jump up taking it, then no one can tackle. Correct ?

By Colin, at April 02, 2009 11:32 pm
"Somehow there's an acceptance of this because of misplaced cultural sensibilities. Utter rubbish."

How do you figure that it's accepted? The lot got binned for each incident.

By Anonymous, at April 03, 2009 2:09 am
Ahahaa, after watching the slomo, Cueto basically jumped up and kneed Tuilagi in the face for no good reason. I mean, maybe he thought he was deft and could hurdle the Samoan, but it was a needless leap for sure.

Yeah, he landed rather dangerously, and I'm sure in his mind he had been wronged by Tuilagi, but it was really Cueto's fault. I'm sure in Tuilagi's mind, he was thinking "Oh, I'm gonna tackle this guy goo...oh, what the SHIT?!!? AArrrrrg!!!"

Mark Lawrence looked to handle the situation well, as the yellow card before it.

By elliot, at April 03, 2009 2:20 am
the somoan openside put in a few punches as well

nice to see forrester though

By Anonymous, at April 03, 2009 9:00 am
Colin, if your team mate threw you a pass that went three metres in the air then yes, you'd be entitled to jump to catch it. I imagine such play would not be particularly effective however as it would take a long time for the ball to reach the wing.

Also, crucially, while the laws protect the player whilst he's in the air, once he hits the ground he can of course be tackled. In this regard it's very important to understand the difference between jumping, which lasts a second at most, and flying, which lasts much longer.

You are entitled to jump to catch the ball in the air NO MATTER HOW IT GOT THERE. When you are in the air nobody is allowed to tackle you because it is dangerous.

If you have the ball in hand then you are NOT allowed to jump into the tackle as that is also dangerous.

The ball was in the air. Cueto jumped to take it. Tuilagi lined him up for the tackle BEFORE he had the ball, which is why he was committed and why his play was dangerous.

By Ted, at April 03, 2009 9:06 am
Actually IF Tuilangi was "commited" to the tackle he would have made SOME attempt to use his arms...

The Island teams always get away with thugby - why is that?

By Just a Fans, at April 03, 2009 2:02 pm
CRAZYHORSE!

By thedannyclayton, at April 03, 2009 2:10 pm
How about Tuilangi's punching technique -- grab a guy by the jersey and pull him toward you while you haul off at his temple region -- Moody was should've just smothered Tuilangi, rather than throw ineffective shots to the back of his head. Everybody knows, including the Islanders, that they are trying to do more than tackle on the pitch. It's a completely different culture that has little regard for laws...It's hard to see it any other way, especially when you consider the clock and the scoreline.

By Unknown, at April 04, 2009 4:02 am
didnt they fight in the tunnel after?

By Anonymous, at April 04, 2009 11:34 pm
Cueto was perfectly entitled 2 jump 4 the ball, no different from catching it on the full. jumping only equal the odds, you can't jump high and keep forward momentum so u cud not just jump through the line, cos u wud get smashed. Sititi threw lods of uppercuts but didn't get cited, he was lucky.

By martin-offload, at April 05, 2009 3:16 pm
I have to say that I cant blame cueto for his reaction. Maybe moody reacted to harshly but hes was just trying to defend his team mate. Still Samoa has a tendency of some dirty challenges, its the way they play some say thats the sport i think its just plain dirty and unnecesary

By Anonymous, at April 05, 2009 9:38 pm
How about the Samoan no.7 who got a good few uppercuts in there? Noone seems to have mentioned him in this? His punches were worse than moody's, even if they came after.

By Jonny, at April 06, 2009 8:33 pm
lewis moody = idiot

By OMG, at April 07, 2009 9:29 am
if you look at it though, tuilagi's tackle would have hit cueto high anyway if he hadn't jumped.
by this time though, cueto must have thought the samoans had it out for him considering what had happened.

By Anonymous, at June 10, 2009 12:12 am
tuilagi wasnt already commited
he commited himself wen cueto was in the air
cueto didnt throw any punches either
he ran over to tuilagi hu then punched him which started the whole thing
moody is a bit of an idiot as well

By Anonymous, at June 13, 2009 11:13 am
Cueto was trying to get the ball before Tuilangi so had to jump, T saw this and decided to go in anyway, if cueto hadn't jumped and T had tackled then he would have taken him out off the ball.
Tuilangi deserved his card, Moody shuold have been yellowed along with No.7 and that guy that clothes-lined Cueto should have been red-carded.

By Anonymous, at June 14, 2009 6:10 pm
yeah cueto didnt need to jump and the samoan had already comited to the tackle and i dont blame cueto for reacting beacuase the samoans had hammerd him three times

By Anonymous, at July 11, 2009 7:21 pm
you cant jump from a tackle if your already in possession of the ball, but here he gains posession mid air making it fair. so to those people who think you can just jump through tackles its not actually allowed.

By Anonymous, at July 15, 2009 1:54 am
people this is rugby and rugby means crazy so cueto should not have reacted like that.you see rugby would be boring if there were no huge hits so you should be expecting them.

By Anonymous, at July 16, 2009 2:21 am
This comment has been removed by the author.

By Unknown, at July 18, 2009 7:50 pm
Jumping like Cueto did must surely be illegal. What is Tuilangi supposed to do? Just let him run past or what. The previous high tackle aside, Cueto brought that tackle upon himself by jumping like a fool cause he was scared.

By Unknown, at July 18, 2009 7:54 pm
mate iv been waiting for someone to post this since that day in 2005!! chuffed its up!

By Anonymous, at August 30, 2009 1:57 am
I'm sure most rugby fans would say he is justified to lay into Tuilagi after a challenge like that but I think he was already commited before Cueto jumped so he can claim it is accididental. However, once Cueto confronted him he tried to give him a full on punch to the face so then Moody is justified to do what he wants imo

By Anonymous, at November 17, 2010 2:59 pm