Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Rocky takes on Tuilagi and Leicester

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Rocky takes on Tuilagi and Leicester

Wallaby Rocky Elsom is expected to make a decision about his near future within the next week, as he contemplates returning to an international career with Australia. Elsom had a cracking game for Leinster on the weekend, earning him man of the match and much deserved praise from all corners.

The rugged flanker has had a superb season with Leinster, but has made his desire to play for Australia once again clear. To do that, he will need to return home and play for a franchise there.

The Brumbies, Queensland, and NSW have all shown interest, but the ARU are apparently not keen on bending the rules for Elsom, as the NZRU did for Dan Carter.

Brian O’Driscoll couldn’t say enough about Elsom’s contribution this season.

"I would say the best player I have ever played with and I have played with many good players," O'Driscoll said.

"Lets put it this way, we wouldn't have won the Heineken Cup without Rocky Elsom. He doesn't make many errors and his ball carrying is frightening.

"Irrespective of what happened today Rocky Elsom is the player of the Heineken Cup and you saw the display he produced today, he is just a remarkable player."

Elsom was all over the park on Saturday, sidestepping and handing off opponents with ease. His charge over the top of the powerful Alesana Tuilagi, giving the big Samoan some of his own medicine, was awesome.

Any side in the world would be blessed to have Elsom in their ranks. His destination remains to be seen, but you can be sure that he’ll give 110% wherever ends up.

Time: 01:23

1st comment yeeeesssssss!!!!

Elsom pure power sad to see him leave Leinster.
Thanks for everything Rocky and good luck in the future

By Kenny, at May 26, 2009 2:17 pm
Cult hero!!
He had another run in the second half, about on Leicester's 22, handed off about 7 people just to make 4 or 5 yards, ultimate commitment, sad to see him go.

By Brick Shithouse, at May 26, 2009 2:26 pm
the kind of guy u want on ur side when a fight in a bar breaks out, absolutly sublime

http://www.olympic-rugby.org/

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 2:31 pm
did you hear the Leinster fans chanting: "Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!" I think this guy could handoff Ivan Drago!

By Swissvinch, at May 26, 2009 2:46 pm
It's great to see Elsom getting the recognition he deserves.
He's been playing this way for three or four seasons.

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 2:46 pm
The guy is immense!

By theboss, at May 26, 2009 2:56 pm
I spent have the match chanting Rocky! What a hero of a man. I hope he stays. And if he leaves, I hope he'll come back sometime.

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 3:03 pm
bad technique from tuilagi, who in fairness was running back wards any way

you learnt it in pre-school - take the guy LOW!!!

By jimmymc, at May 26, 2009 3:09 pm
I liked the Tuilagi hit on Horgan better, but then again, I'm a Tigers fan...

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 3:25 pm
Rocky Elsom what a pro, has been immense for the magners league this year... and leinster have been awesome this year too, well done leinster! and well done Rocky

By Abs7, at May 26, 2009 3:34 pm
Rocky is a fantastic player, has been for some time.

But to be fair on Tuilagi he was reversing while getting the bump off.

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 3:35 pm
This guy and Spies. The future of rugby players.

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 3:49 pm
jimmymc said...

"bad technique from tuilagi, who in fairness was running back wards any way"

Stop making excuses for Tuilagi, the fact is he got dominated by Elsom. Instead of making excuses for Tuilagi, you should be applauding Elsom. Great display of power from Elsom

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 4:05 pm
Elsom was involved in a car accident earlier this week.

Rocky actually was killed in the wreck and when the devil showed up to take his soul, Elsom stuck a huge paw in the devil's face went over the top of him and made it to practice on time anyway.

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 4:13 pm
Chabal style!

will good to see these 2 froggy and ozzy monsters in june tests

By Flooz, at May 26, 2009 4:19 pm
one of the greatest players of the year so far! and a pure legend!

for those guys complaining about tuilagi's technique, go to the RD forum and check out the two vids postet about elsome. there you'll se much more of rocky dominating not only tuilagi but every player that's getting in his way, no matter how and in what position they tackle him!

By opfazonk, at May 26, 2009 5:12 pm
I hope he gets back in the Oz squad for the tri nations, if he continues his form internationally then i have no doubt he'll get player of the year.

By LocalOsprey, at May 26, 2009 5:23 pm
theres no doubt that guy left a hole the size of a crater in the Australian no.6 shirt.

australia pay him bucks to come back i reckon

By bD, at May 26, 2009 5:38 pm
thats impressive, any centre would love his attacking skills. I hate tuilagi, this clip has made me love Elsom

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 6:27 pm
"tuilagi, psychologically knocked backwards"
actually he was physically knocked backwards!!!!

bad commentating!
congrats to leinster.

By 7drunkennights, at May 26, 2009 8:18 pm
yeah, well he prob was both psychologically and physically knocked backwards to be honest mate...bit embarressed I'd guess. I know how touchy the big man gets lol.

While we are being silly..its says about Elsom ... "His destination remains to be seen, but you can be sure that he’ll give 110% wherever ends up" ...However , by definition it is impossible to "give" more than 100% as that is all that one can give, being that 100% is everything.

By lol, at May 26, 2009 8:49 pm
great to see rocky finally get cred he deserves. first saw him/heard of him when baa baas beat newly crowned world champs boks at twickers. he scored a try that day. i have rated him V highly ever since :)

to be fair tho him running over tuilagi probably did have something to do with tuilagi running back and going high

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 9:06 pm
Tuilagi was back peddling. It's not like he was bumped off while on the front foot.

Elsom Vs Tuilagi colliding in full flight would be quite a fucking sight to see. Probably cause minor earthquakes throughout the British Isles.

Elsom needs to come to Sale. Forget playing for Australia lol

By Jennifer, at May 26, 2009 9:22 pm
great player. get him back to australia.

btw check out and sign:

http://www.olympic-rugby.org

By olympic-rugby.org, at May 26, 2009 9:28 pm
Elsom absolutely immense for leinster this season in every game he has played. Rightfully this video and this thread applauds how great Elsom has been that game and this season, although the performances of whitaker, nacewa, elsom, hamilton and craig newby once again highlights how dominant the south are, in producing the best player for both the heineken cup and the super 14 final.

By Richard, at May 26, 2009 10:09 pm
rocky dont leave pleaseee

By Anonymous, at May 26, 2009 10:43 pm
He had a LEGENDARY final

By Barney, at May 27, 2009 12:15 am
Best 6 in the world by a mile at the minute, that run at Tuilagi would have gave him a seriously bruised ego. The Aussies really cant do without him in the backrow surely?

By Anonymous, at May 27, 2009 12:38 am
Harrison and Barnes are awful commentators. Barnes for a former internaitonal doesnt have a clue half the time! Oh how i miss bill:(

By Anonymous, at May 27, 2009 12:40 am
Australia has many great backrowers in addition to Elsom, like Waugh, Smith, Palu, Mumm, Brown and Pocock.
The S14 has many, like Bruger, Spies, Kanowski, Lauaki and Soi'alioa (I can't remember how to spell his name).
Australia would have a big hole to fill if Elsom didn't come back, but it would be filled.
The S14 produces players like this regularly.
Having said that, I blieve he will come back, he has to if he wants to go to the World Cup. He can chase the money after 2011 and go back to Leinster.
It's interesting to see more and more top southern players going up north at the prime of their careers, rather than at the end, and the impression it is making on the northern club comps. Because Elsom was an excellent S14 player, but not the best, and if his equals (see above) were to go north right now, they would make a similar impression.
Great to see an Australian player getting the recognition he deserves up north after several seasons of this kind of rugby, pity he has to go up there and knock a few heads together to get the respect he has deserved for the last three or four seasons.

By Anonymous, at May 27, 2009 1:12 am
To be fair:

He's also playing better 'up here' than he was down there, becuase he has improved as a player.

Go on Rocky, one more year and then head off for a year to prepare for the WC...you'll be grand...!

Then back up after the WC...

By mise, at May 27, 2009 1:55 am
He's playing the same mate, he was doing this for the Wartahs and the Wallabies.
You don't suddenly improve dramatically after 15 games.
Every Asutraian fan knows he has been playing like this for years, it's just that northern supporters don't show enough respect to the S14 and don't keep enough track of southern players until they go up north.

By Anonymous, at May 27, 2009 2:09 am
I was at the match with my friends and we were sitting in the middle of the Leinster fans. Everytime he got the ball made a tackle the chant of 'Rocky, Rocky!' went up. It was brilliant. Fair play to the Tigers fans for staying in the stadium after the match to watch the celebrations. I've seen cup matches where the losing fans clear out straight after the whistle. I also felt that the fact that there was no booing when either side was kicking was brilliant.

By Abbyno7, at May 27, 2009 2:53 am
after the 'failure' of the Aussie teams in S14|09 i wonder if the ARFU would bend the rules for a player of Elsom's class ...

...mind you don't really get the rules in the first place ... shouldn't the Best player get the jersey... no matter what comp they play in ?

By boomshanka, at May 27, 2009 3:29 am
No, because it would be the death of Australian domestic rugby.
There are strong reasons for only allowing Australian based players wear the national team colors.
It would be a slippery slope to not enforce that rule and would be disasterous for Australian rugby in the long term.

By Anonymous, at May 27, 2009 3:57 am
Obviously, it would be impossible for elsom or any other aussie/ kiwi to play in europe and continue playing for their national side. They would have no off season. European domestic, Aug to Jun, tri nations, Jul to Sept. Rocky is young, 26(for a flanker), and could easliy play in next 2 world cups and spend couple seasons inbetween here in Europe.

It might be interesting with the Saracens/Stormers(or Western Province, I don't know) experiment if teams can keep trade open with other franchises in other competitions, especially now that Australia have relaxed their rule on foreign players playing for their S14 teams. Imagine if to keep Elsom, Leinster traded O'Driscoll to Waratahs in 2 years or so. Not the best example, O'Driscoll will be too shagged by then but, you get the point.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at May 27, 2009 5:06 pm
Australia haven't relaxed their rules.
The rules state that you have to play for a S14 team to be eligable to play for Australia.
That's it.
So if Elsom signs for a S14 team he can play, otherwise not.
If that rule were abandonded then many of Australia's best players would leave for more money up north.
This would have a disasterous effect on the Australian S14 squads and the development of further Austrlian talent, ultimatley to the detriment of domestic Australian rugby, the popularity of the game in this country and as an extension the strength of the national team.

By Anonymous, at May 27, 2009 6:51 pm
"Tuilagi was back peddling. It's not like he was bumped off while on the front foot."

For gods sake stop making excuses for him! He got pushed backwards cause Rocky being a great attack runner put Tuilagi in a bad enough position to make the tackle. AND he went high, which people are also using excuses for. Thats just Tuilagi's fault, poor technique, it would of happened if he was on his front foot too. I hope Rocky comes back to the Tah's and Wallabies!

By Anonymous, at May 28, 2009 6:10 am
It's easy to see why Rocky is torn between the Wallabies and Leinster. He has only had a season in the NH and already he does not want to commit to playing S14, I can't blame him with the empty stadiums and lack of atmosphere down here in Oz compared to the fans who set the world record for a club rugby match attendance in Ireland.

By Anonymous, at May 28, 2009 6:33 am
The main thing is the money.
SH players can earn alot more in Europe these days than they can in the SH. Which is not to say that they aren't pretty well paid down under, especially the top players, but simply that they can earn alot more by plying their trade in Europe or Japan.
Often it's two or three times what they'd earn in the S14. It'd be very hard to turn down, no matter how much they want to represent their country.
For example, Hugh Mcnemein has just signed for Suntory in Japan, to play substandard rugby in a truncated season, for over $400,000 Aus a year. He would get maybe $150,000 garunteed down under plus maybe another $100,000 to $150,000 for national team duties, assuming he gets selected and doesn't get injured.
So he can get twice as much for much less work, garunteed in Japan, or half as much, not garunteed (if he gets injured for the season it effectivly halves his income) for a punishing schedule of S14 and national team fixtures.

By Anonymous, at May 28, 2009 10:39 am
Fact of the matter is Elsom has improved this season. It makes sense - he's 26 years old, approaching his peak.

Most nh rugby fans would watch the S14, and I can honestly say he's a better player at Leinster than he was with the Waratahs. The longer season and the attritional nature of the game suit him more. Even still, he's improved since his time in the S14.

Brian O'Driscoll said he's the best player he's been on the same pitch with . And he's played with or againt Lomu, McCaw, Carter, Giteua, Habana.

Don't be so arrogant about the S14 - the teams seem kind of uncommitted in defence, disinterested almost. When guys start putting their bodies on the line more and actually tackling regularly, you can brag about it.

By Anonymous, at May 28, 2009 11:24 am
The NH view of substandard defence in the S14 isn't actually based on anything.
Elsom did not suddenly improve. He has been breaking tackles like this for years, making tackles with ferocity for several seasons. When he breaks a tackle in the S14, it's bad defence and when he does it in the NH it's because 'the attritional nature of the game' has made him a better player in the 15 games he's played for Leinster?
What a load of bollocks. Maccaw tackles the same way for Canterbury as he does for NZ, he isn't more interested! These are proffesional athletes who comnpete the same way for their S14 sides as they do for their nations.
The sad thing is that you guys really do believe your own hype about NH club rugby. It must such a shock when European players are beaten internationally by S14 players with such regularity. It must be hard to fit into your twisted view of the S14.
Elsom got alot of his ferocity in attack and defence from his time in the NRL playing for the Buylldogs reserves also, btw, but that wouldn't fit into your insular view of the rugby world either.
This is a guy who was developed over many years playing for NSW and Australia, applying a huge amount of sports science and playing against the best players in the world, not least his constant exposure to the best Kiwi and South African players (the two best sources of rugby talent in the world) in the S14 and Tri-nations.
He goes to Leinster after proving himself Australia's best no6, instantly is a cut above every other Leinster player and pretty much every Eueropean based player he comes up against and in 15 games helps Leinster win the HC, and you lot claim it's somehow because you've made him a better player! IT's ridiculous and insulting to him as a player (you lot are learning off him, not the other way around) and typical of the myopic, insular European view of the rugby world.
Something we have to regularly thrash out of you in our regular domination of your international teams.
I would love to see the Bulls tear apart Leinster, just to show you the difference between the rugby played in the two hemispheres.
The Lions getting trounced will have to do.

By Anonymous, at May 28, 2009 12:27 pm
completely agree with the last post, summed it up excellently

By richard, at May 28, 2009 1:10 pm
serious player

By Paul Gormley, at May 28, 2009 2:07 pm
agree with the post 2 above me..

but most be said NH rugby seems to put in alot more tackles per game down SH

not taking away the fact that when ye do tacle there huge tackles (mortlock on woodcock)

but would love to see the winner of the heineken cup take on the winner of the S14 as a kind of international best club!

would be some good matchs then!!

By Anonymous, at May 28, 2009 2:14 pm
That long comment from Anonymous (about 3 up) was spot on. Very well said, and so true too. Rocky was always good, but was never the stand out player that he appears to be over in Ireland and Europe. That doesnt just happen over night.. players dont just suddenly improve like that lol. I like the guy as a player etc, but when playing for the wallabies and waratahs he was never the superstar he is portrayed as being now. He's just another hard working, quality flanker, which we have in abundance in the SH. Sorry to say it leinster, but you havent improved him - he's simply a step above the rest there.

Stick him back in the S14 (which looks like it'll happen soon) and you'll soon see him fade out of the spotlight, because there's so many other players of the same stature.

These type of 'arguments' or discussions are impossible to win, on either side, because theres simply no right or wrong opinion. Thats why they're opinions, but I'm pretty sure that Rocky is still the same player he always was, but now stands out more than before for obvious reasons..

By FrankyH, at May 28, 2009 5:16 pm
Welcome to whine central.

By Anonymous, at May 28, 2009 6:00 pm
Who from Leinster is claiming that they made Elsom a better player? Nobody, thats who. Aussies are so slow witted and immature that they instantly think Leinster are trying to claim Elsom as one of their own. They're not. There is simply a school of thought that believes Elsom has improved as a player over the last 12 - 18 months. Is that so hard to digest? Of course it's hard for imbaciles to digest, they think with their dicks and jump to ridiculous conclusions as a consequence. Aussies have to scream and whine and turn this into a big NH v SH argument that it never was. You could all keep bitching and crying at each other or you could grow up and just accept the plaudits for producing an outstanding flanker.

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2009 1:30 am
So we're immature?
After you said something like, 'you're imbeciles who think with your dicks'? A comment that doesn't evne make sense, let alone represent a mature discussion.
I was simply explaining why Elsom is not the worlds best flanker and has not improved much at all since he's gone up north, that he's the same player he was down south. He's been playing this way for several seasons, he just didn't get the plaudits for it from northern fans, cuz he wasn't playing in their competitions.
I also pointed out that there are many flankers and backrowers in the S14 who are his equal (like Mccaw, George Smith, Spies, Kanowski, Palu, Lauaki, Soi'oilo, Waugh, Juan Smith, Burger and young guys like Richard Brown, Pocock and Chapman coming through).
But yeah, swear and carry on, cuz that's not whining.

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2009 3:52 am
Australian dweebs say my hemisphere is way better than your hemisphere.

Northern Hemisphere dweebs say my hemisphere is way better than your hemisphere.

mine is

No mine is

Why dont you all just go away.
Elsom is a great player full stop.
I dont care where he comes from or who learnt to play Rugby with, it has fuck all to do with him running over Tuiliagi and playing well in the HCup final.

Grow up you little sh*t bags and stop argueing over nothing.
The only point you prove when you argue about your f**king hemispheres is that your little silly twats who need to get out more.

God you get on my nerves, f**king imbeciles.

By Kenny, at May 29, 2009 10:34 am
Btw im Irish but im neither northern or southern hemisphere on RD cause you all turn into total dicks about it every time.

Grow up pppplllllleeeeeeaaassseeeee!!!!

By Kenny, at May 29, 2009 10:38 am
Whatever asshole, you don't want to talk about it, don't.
I don't give a shit if it annoys you.

By Anonymous, at May 29, 2009 11:05 am
Whatever asshole, you don't want to talk about it, don't.
I don't give a shit if it annoys you.

Good, but the thing is you annoy everyone else with this rubbish, not just me. So do us a favour and dissappear, and your previous comment just proves how annoying and immature you really are.

By Kenny, at May 29, 2009 12:03 pm
i wanna see Rocky try to run over his brother Henry Tuilagi...hehehehe that will be rocky last game...="( bahahaha

By senpai, at June 26, 2009 6:37 pm
ROCKY ROCKY ROCKY!!!!

Leinster made him the player he is today. If it wasn't for the Northern Hemisphere and the Heineken Cup he'd be an unknown rubbish aussie plying his trade with some rubbish, unsupported S14 australian shambles.

By Anonymous, at September 25, 2009 8:22 am