Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Ugo Monye lucky to get up after heavy fall against London Irish

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Ugo Monye lucky to get up after heavy fall against London Irish

On Saturday as London Irish put pay to Harleqins ambitions of reaching the Guinness Premiership Final, Quins winger Ugo Monye showed the type of commitment and determination that has earned him his rightful place in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa.

"People asked me if I dreamt of getting selected for the Lions," said Monye. "I'm not sure that dreams can take you that far. It's nuts, it's crazy. I'd got a holiday sorted to America but that can get cancelled.

"Without doubt, it's been my most fulfilling season. The best thing now would be to go away with some success behind me. I don't want to be wrapped in cotton wool. You want to keep your form sharp, and be playing in big games. It's good for your confidence."

Monye proved his worth for England this season in the two Six Nations matches that he took part in, with his tackle on Thom Evans being a stand out example of the mans work rate.

"If there's one thing that's improved this season it's my defence," said Monye. "A lot of wings have got the ability to run fast, beat players and all that. I'm not sure every wing has got a solid defence. So, I've worked hard on that aspect. It's about positioning and awareness."

Monye is lucky to have walked away from this horrific looking fall unscathed on the weekend after he went up for a high ball and was upended by his opposite number Adam Thompstone.

He landed with his full weight on the back of his neck, causing alarm for spectators, players and medical staff. Incredibly, Monye stood up after a few minutes and played on, showing no signs of injury whatsoever.

Look out for the rapid winger on the hard and fast surfaces of South Africa later this month with the British & Irish Lions. He's sure to have a huge impact.

Time: 03:05

why did they get a penalty? it was monye's fault?

By Anonymous, at May 14, 2009 9:20 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at May 14, 2009 9:26 pm
OUCH! Then again, obviously not. Looked terrrrible though. Greenwood and the crowds reaction said it all. Lucky.

By FrankyH, at May 14, 2009 9:34 pm
Christ, what a nasty fall.
Good that he's ok

By Ben, at May 14, 2009 9:36 pm
He was NOT taken out on the air. he jumped and happened to get toppled by someone who had his back to him and was just standing there. No penalty IMHO.

By Anonymous, at May 14, 2009 9:39 pm
Hope he catches better for the lions.

By Anonymous, at May 14, 2009 9:59 pm
ouch! fair play to him for getting up, there nothing malicious in the incident though, but still I think a penalty was fair

By Anonymous, at May 14, 2009 10:10 pm
(unlucky) landing lake a turkish airliner!!

By Cheis, at May 15, 2009 12:29 am
The response to this just underlines the double standard that injury brings. Had he been hurt everyone would be screaming. Yeah the guy turned and had his back to him, but the bottom line is he took a player in the air.

By Boz, at May 15, 2009 12:43 am
How is that a penalty if the bloke who supposedly took him out was there first, didn't move, had eyes on the ball, and his back to the leaper?

By Anonymous, at May 15, 2009 12:58 am
it shouldn't be a penalty rugby is a mans sport if you are willing for tough physical contact then go to some other sport. this is what makes rugby a great sport!

By Anonymous, at May 15, 2009 1:41 am
Yeah it didnt look good at all!!!

By Toners, at May 15, 2009 6:14 am
not sure it was a penalty, but watching him land makes me feel sick - the same way i did when czekaj broke his leg in Oz.

By Niall, at May 15, 2009 11:52 am
absolutely horrible to watch. miracle he got up unscathed, could have easily been a career ender.

no penalty though, just one of those things that can happen in a highly physical game played at pace

By Anonymous, at May 15, 2009 12:21 pm
there was nothing malicious but i think a penalty should have been pretty fair.

By Flooz, at May 15, 2009 12:34 pm
it's not a penalty, but they are nearly always given as well as a yellow.

By Anonymous, at May 15, 2009 12:48 pm
ouch, that looked so bad.
Mind you, impressive he got back up, imagine if that happened to a football player!

By bob, at May 15, 2009 1:01 pm
that fall looked horrible..
i don't think it was malicious, but why did the guy waiting to catch the ball have his back to monye?

By Anonymous, at May 15, 2009 5:41 pm
'it shouldn't be a penalty rugby is a mans sport if you are willing for tough physical contact then go to some other sport. this is what makes rugby a great sport!'
I just hate these faggots that say stuff like this. It's like when Umaga and Mealamu speared O'Driscoll. It's as if there's nothing strange when something like this happens. He fell awkwardly, so that's what makes it a great, man's sport?

By Sick of it, at May 16, 2009 12:53 pm
We hate to see it happen, but it's great to see him get back on his feet and walk away. Tough lad.

By Anonymous, at May 16, 2009 10:52 pm
Ok my predictions! bare with me!
Im a limerick man and a diehard munster supporter. While obviously Paulie was the man to captin the team, he IS the best second row in europe, handsdown. what makes him this? his determination to be the best he can be. anyone who knows about forward play in the game must surely admire him.
The key to beating the springboks is in the front 5. they have the best secondrow partnership in the world and surely paulie must be on top of his game along with jones(i reckon) to get the better of them. to do this, they need a) a good lineout thrower, and b) good lifters. this is where the lions are lacking. the injury to fla is a disaster, no point beating around the bush he was going to start at hooker. his lineouts were like BULLETS. the pace, the precision gave o connel and donnacha for munster and indeed ireland that extra protection. if you look at props, murray and jenkins are the two form props and are odds on to start, while i agree with this, i cannot believe that john hayes hasn been picked to tour. like all props the mature with old age. im not sayin hayes is a good scrummager-far from it- but they are playin a south africa team that reportedly want to recall both van der lind and botha from leinster and ulster. this means their scrum is worrying for them. i do not think hayes would have hindered the scrum. the reason i suggest hayes and he is widely regarded as the BEST one man lifter in europe. at 6"4 and 20 odd stone, being able to FLING o connell into the air would make it easier to disrupt lineout ball.
now onto the backs, the injury to tomas was a disaster, no more for o gara. the feeling around some parts of limerick for last 7/8 months or so, is that o gara hasnt been putting in the same type of performances he has done and i cannot see him being partnered by philips. also is tackling is more than suspect and surely will be targeted.
I am sure people do not agree with the above but its my opinion, but this is where it gets more creative. Hands up who knows keith Earls? people in munster and ireland surely do. but who else? this BOY has been ripping up the heineken cup and magners league all season. now people point out the leinster game in the semi which was terribly disappointing for a munster supporter. what back do you know at 20 years of age can perform well when he doesnt have the ball? he touched the ball less than 5 times such was the measure of performance of the leinster players and he made a few good breaks. you can be rest assured the people of south africa dont know the man from young munster. I would put him up against habana, it wont faze him one bit and i think he could do more damage than bowe or halfpenney.
As you know the second and third tests are being played at altitude and the legend that is rocky elsom says that the altitude does NOT affect your rugby. he says people who are not used to it, will come down with flu like syndroms. it does affext your fitness an hour into the game. this is something the lions should be wary of.
here is my team:
1.Euan murray
2.lee mears
3.gethin jenkins
4.alun-wyn jones
5.paul o Connell
6.Tom Croft
7.David Wallace
8.Jamie Heaslip
9.Mike Philips
10.Stephen Jones
11.Shane Williams
12.Jamie Roberts
13.Brian o Driscoll
14.Keith Earls
15.Lee Byrne

What do you think, i know the majority are irish and welsh but what can i say scotland and england havent done anything in years?

By Paul Gormley, at May 28, 2009 2:48 pm
A true warrior

By Manu, at October 01, 2009 4:49 pm
everyone who thought that it was not a penalty is wrong in my opinion. I play rugby and the ref made the right choice. Also the person who made the lions team sheet (what he thought they could be) monye is the best wing in the UK right now, i have to say it would be a tough choice with armitage, but im english so armitage. Also i did not see a grewcock or danny care, or danny cipriani? But most of the sheet was correct.

By Anonymous, at October 09, 2009 9:59 pm