Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Andy Powell huge hit on Duane Vermeulen

Monday, June 15, 2009

Andy Powell huge hit on Duane Vermeulen

Cardiff Blues eighthman Andy Powell put in a solid performance on Saturday against Western Province as he looks to cement his place in the Test side by ousting the number one contender Jamie Heaslip.

While he’s only had two appearances on tour, this past weekend he found glimpses of form, despite it being revealed that he’s been playing through the pain barrier with a broken bone in his hand.

"I have a bit of a fracture there and it is a bit painful but these things happen in professional sport," said Powell, who needs to wear a protective bandage to play.

"I have been able to get through it with painkillers. I have had to let it heal and I stayed a bit out of contact last week. Training is quite physical but that is part of the tour."

Physical was the name of the game at Newlands in the 71th minute as he put in this monstrous hit on opposition loose forward Duane Vermeulen. The ref and assistant ref viewed it as illegal though, so a penalty was awarded.

"I have looked back at the video and I feel I put a full arm around him so it was a full contact," he added.

"But these referees make their decisions and their word goes."

Vermeulen is a huge unit himself, who doesn’t often get knocked about, so this collision was immense. Come Test time, Powell may be up against another monster of a player in Sprinbok number eight Pierre Spies.

When asked how he’ll deal with him, the straight talking Powell has no hesitation in answering with a big smile on his face.

"That is an easy answer. Smash him mate."

Time: 02:03

Nice hit and first comment come on the lions!!!!

By Kenny, at June 15, 2009 1:15 pm
You have no idea how much i hate Stuart Barnes.

The man is a f?cking moron. Why doesn't he dive infront of a train and put us out of our misery?

How can he watch that back and still say it was illegal, when it clearly wasn't. The man is a soft c*ck!

When did you need to wrap with both arms for it to be considered legal? It's not a bloody hugging contest!

By Chris, at June 15, 2009 1:26 pm
Fair hit and no penalty should have been given. His arm clearly comes around and it was a legitimate tackle. You can tell the ref wants to sin bin him for it cos he asks penalty and yellow?
It sounds like he wants to get rid of Powell.

By Ben Kirby, at June 15, 2009 1:29 pm
Nothing wrong with that, good hit. Who honestly gives a shit if he wrapped up or not, it's a stupid rule anyway. It's also subjective and ruins good defensive shots like this one. Should have been fine, the south african bloke was fine, no need for the penalty. And I'm definitely not a B&I Lions fan btw.
And I agree about Stuart Barnes, he's the biggest idiot ever, he goes on with some of the most ridiculous rubbish and speaks as though his opinion is gospel, when really his opinion is garbage.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 1:34 pm
looks like Gavin Henson has been teaching him how to tackle.

Stuart Barnes is an absolute bellend. I do not know of a single rugby fan who enjoys listening to him, why do sky still employ him?

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 1:39 pm
How is that not illegal? It was a shoulder charge, and it was only because of the impact that his arms went forward and touched the guy. There was no attempt made to wrap him. You can't wrap your arms around a guy's shoulders. Anyway he's an absolute joke of a player. At least Chabal knows how to tackle.

By Kearney for tests, at June 15, 2009 1:50 pm
There's little difference between a shoudler charge and a technically legal tackle, you lead with the point of the shoulder no matter what.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 1:56 pm
Anyone claiming that hit was legal is having a laugh. That was a textbook shoulder charge. His right arm only jerked forward because of the impact. His first half shoulder charge should also have been penalised (which would have meant yellow for this one). Can't believe the one-eyed NH apologists posting here.

By Unknown, at June 15, 2009 2:00 pm
Anonymous said...
"looks like Gavin Henson has been teaching him how to tackle."

lol exactly what i thought..

I think this tackle was illegal.
It wasn't malicious, but he just forgot to wrap his arms.

The referee took the good decision

By Flooz, at June 15, 2009 2:01 pm
a penalty seemed the right call at the time - and then you watch the replay and both arms come round and it's just the force of the impact that looks bad. The ref doesn't have that luxury - and the touch judge was stood only a few meters away. Don't think you can blame the officials.

Stuart Barnes, as has been pointed out above, did have the luxury of the replay, he's just a pratt. It amazes me how some of the commentators have such a terrible base of knowledge on a game they played at the highest level.

p.s. It'll take more than that for Powell to get himself a Test jersey

By Hackney Griffin, at June 15, 2009 2:02 pm
clearly the right arm wraps round the player, bad call.

Powell has to do a lot to get a test spot, because Geech seem to have a team in mind already even though powell is a solid player at 8. Heaslip did let the kick off bounce last week though, rule *1 for any player esp. no 8.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:03 pm
i don't get the arm wrap rue cause you can still shoulder charge with arms out, and when people do they get a cheer for great tackle,

this one, they just seem to run into each other,

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:06 pm
It's shocking some of the soft comments left.

This tackle illegal? You're having a f--king laugh, right?

He went for the wrap. The force of the collision sent the guy flying before he had a chance.

I can't believe how cowardly and soft some rugby players are. You girls should be playing tag.

You aren't man enough to play professional rugby. Go play tag ladies.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:10 pm
to be fair he would have wrapped him if the little ponce didnt bounce off him like a tennis ball!! Stuart barnes is the most pesamisitic and shit talking twat fucking hope someone tackles him like that.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:14 pm
If you don't like the laws of rugby union and feel they're too soft, you're welcome to follow Aussie Rules. Shoulder charges are also encouraged in professional "wrestling".

By Unknown, at June 15, 2009 2:16 pm
"If you don't like the laws of rugby union and feel they're too soft, you're welcome to follow Aussie Rules. Shoulder charges are also encouraged in professional "wrestling"."

..............

This tackle is well within the laws of Union. That's the point.

And anyone worth his salt with a head on his shoulders knows that ARMS RULE in Union is a global joke and shouldn't exist.

It serves no purpose. League proves shoulder charges are in no way dangerous.

The wrap rule only exists in Union to protect the upperclass softies.

I love exporting hits on you rich small boys.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:21 pm
I think you'll find upper class softies make up the majority of most proffessional rugby teams mate!!

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:24 pm
"I think you'll find upper class softies make up the majority of most proffessional rugby teams mate!!"

Care to name them mate? Or are you a xenophobic who thinks England is the majority of professional rugby?

Fool lol.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:26 pm
"This tackle is well within the laws of Union. That's the point.

And anyone worth his salt with a head on his shoulders knows that ARMS RULE in Union is a global joke and shouldn't exist."

So which is it then? Is it within the laws, or is the law a joke? Can't be both, and you seem to have confused yourself.

That's what you get for being a thick poor boy.

By Unknown, at June 15, 2009 2:28 pm
"Anyone claiming that hit was legal is having a laugh. That was a textbook shoulder charge. His right arm only jerked forward because of the impact. His first half shoulder charge should also have been penalised (which would have meant yellow for this one). Can't believe the one-eyed NH apologists posting here."
I'm an Aussie and I think it's fine. No penalty IMO. Soft.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:28 pm
its not about being soft,its about the rules of the game.
it was definitely a shoulder charge,and so a penalty.
if the rules were that you are allowed to hit with just the shoulderthen no1 would compain

By Leeners, at June 15, 2009 2:29 pm
yeah with pleasure! I cant be asked getting into a class war however the majority of the all blacks, sprinboks, aussies, irish, french, and ect schooled at public schools. Dan Carter, Matt gitea, jonny wilkinson, Lawrence dallagio, cristian Cullen, tana umaga, brian odriscall. I would mention more but I think my points proven mate. Dont get arsy about it just facts, this aint football dickweed xx

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:31 pm
"I think you'll find upper class softies make up the majority of most proffessional rugby teams mate!!"
Don't know about that. Maybe in England.
Shouldn't have been a penalty, soft.
The wrapping rule is dumb, dumb as hell.
Anyone who plays knows that you lead with the point of your shoulder.
You can't put on a good tackle unless you smash the guy with your shoulder.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:31 pm
"So which is it then? Is it within the laws, or is the law a joke? Can't be both, and you seem to have confused yourself.

That's what you get for being a thick poor boy."

Have you always been mentally slow, or is it something you've worked on?

I was making 2 seperate points. One, that within current Union laws. And two, the wrapping rule is stupid anyway.

When did the slow-farm get internet access?

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:33 pm
"yeah with pleasure! I cant be asked getting into a class war however the majority of the all blacks, sprinboks, aussies, irish, french, and ect schooled at public schools. Dan Carter, Matt gitea, jonny wilkinson, Lawrence dallagio, cristian Cullen, tana umaga, brian odriscall."

FALSE. Please support your claim with evidence. A few token players does not support anything you're saying. The majority of rugby players are from ordinary backgrounds.

Only a select few, are upperclass. The majority of those few are from England.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:35 pm
dude I actually really dont care, but its true!! trust me there is just better coaching at those schools and i think you'll find most rugby academies tend to be public schools!!

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:39 pm
In Australia private schools (public schools are government schools here) produce alot of top rugby players.
However, many of those players go to those schools on scholarships specifically to play rugby, and come from middle class or lower class backgrounds.
There isn't the same class division in Australia as there is in the UK anyway.
So yeah, maybe in England most players are rich boys, but definately not everywhere.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 2:42 pm
Keep attacking eachother, and posting as Anonymous, and your comments will simply be removed.
Please bear that in mind when going off on your rants.

We encourage debate, not disorder.

Thanks.

By GMC, at June 15, 2009 2:50 pm
i think its a penalty anyway though i fought Powells corner when it first happened looking at it there i think that maybe he tried to wrap him but didnt and wether it was the force of it that caused it or not doesnt matter. plus i agree with the rule anyway cus anyone can smack into someone else but it takes a bit more skill to hit hard inside the rules

By con bons, at June 15, 2009 2:52 pm
Not really, I mean, what does that mean really, more skill?
It's the same principle, you run up, drive in with your shoulder and smash the other bloke. It's not rocket science, there's technique, but putting on a good shoulder charge takes alot of technique as well.
It's not any more dangerous, it just looks alot more spectacular.
Really, alot of tackles that are deemed legal could be termed as shoulder charges and vice versa. It's a dumb rule, IMO.

By Jon, at June 15, 2009 2:57 pm
Powell ran into him like a freight train!!!! great hit! Thanks RD!!!

By Lucus, at June 15, 2009 3:04 pm
"Upper class" what, like the landed gentry? They all live in castles and have servants?

Middle class is what you mean, very few countries have an upper class.

Pedantry aside, the point made by the anonymous guy that these laws are there to protect 'posh' people is so inane I don't know where to begin. Rugby was invented at 'Rugby' school, a private school entirely filled with posh people. Virtually all of the rules of rugby were created by similarly 'posh' people. If you have a point to make about class you are following the wrong game mate.

Anyway, in my opinion this tackle is very like the fateful one that Tim Rodber made in the England/Wales gradslam game (in 99?) that gave away the penalty that Gibbs then scored his try from. The motion to wrap was made but the player bounced off. A shoulder charge as far as I'm concerned means crossing your arms across you chest and running into someone with your shoulder.

By Ted, at June 15, 2009 3:05 pm
Lighten up lads!!!

Andy Powell is Techno Viking!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpZBOH6cLQY&feature=fvw

By Connachtfan, at June 15, 2009 3:08 pm
Yeah, it was a penalty...but it was not dangerous and it is a stupid rule. There is nothing inherently dangerous about not wrapping the arms......You could hit him just as hard while wrapping your arms.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 3:14 pm
^agreed

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 3:14 pm
Penelty was a fair call ....

It makess no difference whether he tried to wrap his arms or not the fact of the matter is he didnt wrap them.....If I didnt mean to knock on a pass but I do any way that still means its an opposition scrum....Same rule applies in tackling...

I would ratehr these kinds of htis were allowed but they're not so right decision made now move on..

By themull, at June 15, 2009 3:15 pm
I agree with 3.14pm

If a law is in place there has to be a reason for it. We all know that it is illegal to take a player out in the air because he could land on his neck and break it. It is dangerous.

Quite why hits like this are illegal in union is beyond me. As long as the hit is below the shoulders who cares?

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 3:36 pm
hard to wrap with the arms when the player simply bounces off. Bad decision

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 3:42 pm
I myself think it was no illegal hit. He (for the less) tried to put a whole arm around him.

Problem here: the touchjudje was on the other side, so he couldnt see the wrapping arm.

In general I think that this rule makes sence. Why? This is no league, shoulder charges are not allowed - and thats good! Hard sport but safety first!
(same with high tackles btw...)

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 3:43 pm
Yep.
It's been legal in League for decades without any problems.
I've played plenty of league, gotten shoulder charged, and it was fine. Alot of the time it's the defender who ends up on his arse anyway.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 3:44 pm
3.44pm

Funny you should say that because the rule is supposed to protect the ball carrier from injury.

However, I am a club rugby referee and whenever someone has been injured from a shoulder charge it has been the player delivering the hit....not the ball carrier!

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 3:50 pm
Yeah, that's the thing, you've gotta be brave (and either big, or traveling at very high speed) to pull off a good shoulder charge.
Alot of the time it is the defender who ends up looking the fool.
And I've never seen a serious injury from a shoulder charge. I've seen blokes get winded, maybe a few busted ribs or knocked out cold for a bit.
Nothing that you don't see from normal tackling anyway.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 4:04 pm
Coming from a person that thinks NH rugby is vastly inferior in every way to the south,

I thought the hit was great. If I got hit like that I would be the first to get up and tell the guy it was a good hit mate.

Much as i doubt he will play great comment on spies. Comments and plays like this vastly boost the North's pathetic reputation as compared to empty talk after almost never winning against the south.

By Richard, at June 15, 2009 4:06 pm
does anyone else agree with me that they are sick of stuart barnes and that myles guy commentating.
They ruin the game with there stupid and random quotes, and it reallypisses me off when they get the wrong names. THERE ARE FAR BETTER COMMENTATORS OUT THERE

!!!!

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 4:48 pm
And by the way, they werent to bad in this game, but in others they are rubbish

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 4:51 pm
imagine waht would have happenend if he ran into him at full speed and not slowed down before contact!

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 4:53 pm
This is stupid. You can see Powell's forearm hit the guy's chest, so he obviously wasn't trying to wrap him. And for those who say the wrap rule is stupid, it's to prevent people being concussed every time they get tackled. And why are people sticking up for this one-trick pony, saying that he's unlucky not to be picked ahead of Heaslip? He's so bad it's unbelievable. I mean he just runs into people, and if it's been going this badly against crap teams, it's obviously going to go a lot worse against SA. Pierre Spies would probably just pick him up and snap him in half.

By Kearney for tests, at June 15, 2009 5:00 pm
jerry collins has been doing this for years, its all about how well you can actually make it look like a legitimate hit! these big lads just want to smash each other, and i want to watch!

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 5:05 pm
Anonymous said...

jerry collins has been doing this for years,_______________________

he's been doing it all his career

By ryebye, at June 15, 2009 6:05 pm
How's that a shoulder charge when he hit the guy full on in front?
Besides, what are you supposed to do when the guy bounces back 4 feet?
I watched with the Super sports commentary, who agreed it was harsh.
Sure this sort of things take place, and it's neither a tackle or a sould charge. It's called a collision

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 6:13 pm
It was illegal. Like a Butch James tackle. A pure shoulder charge. I loved watching it though, and I'm a Western Province supporter. Fair penalty, no card required.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 6:39 pm
Well being an aussie boy myself, i think NH rugby has came along way in the last few years, i still dont tink it is as good as the SH yet but its close..But really all i want say is people Like richard above are jus a minorty down here with a small mind.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 6:57 pm
too high, shit tackle if u ask me i dont even think andy powell should be playing for the lions at all

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 7:01 pm
looked like he hit him with his chest more than his shoulder and made an attempt to wrap his arms. Also he kept his head up, if it had been a shoulder his head would have been down.
Dont see much wrong with the tackle. Think the ref over reacted due to the huge impact and the crowds reaction.

By dr, at June 15, 2009 7:47 pm
Noticed a few comments from SH people bitching about football/soccer.

Interesting information regarding why the Bulls aren't playing the Lions:

“The Bulls are a company and that’s why they decided the Confederations Cup was more important than this and why the team isn’t facing the Lions.”

The Confed cup is a third rate football tournament, and they chose that over a rugby tour that happens once every 12 years.

The day that rugby died.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 7:51 pm
Vermeulen hit Powell with his shoulder, he just wasn't moving as hard as Powell so he lost the contest.

You usually find with illegal and/or dangerous tackles that the players on one or both teams will react to them in some way but quite rightly, everybody just ignored this and carried on doing the job they're paid very well to do.

By Calon Lan, at June 15, 2009 8:03 pm
it certainly wasnt a shoulder charge as he hit him square chested with his sternum. so that isnt a shoulder charge and shouldn't have been a penalty.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 8:57 pm
Perfect decision from the refs not too harsh nor too soft. Although I think if it were a forward he just would've got back up and running. Rules are rules. Andy shoulden't have protested but he probably thought he was being sent off.

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 9:04 pm
First of all it isn't hard to name yourself on this website its pretty easy. It makes it far more enjoyable knowing you are having banter with the same person,

I can see why the ref gave the penalty. Like its been said a few times, we have the luxury of replays.

What would have happened if the fella hadn't have bounced back and carried on forward? My thoughts are that Andy Powell would have wrapped him up and both would have hit the floor. No penalty.
From what I can tell Powell was hardly moving. It was like the fella ran into a brick wall. Didn't have achance to wrap his arms round. Surely a shoulder charge would involve the shoulder. The guy ran into his chest.

It must be said, the way some people are going on about this tackle is a bit OTT. Even the players on the pitch didn't seem to have an issue with it.

By Cheech, at June 15, 2009 9:26 pm
The worst Barnes moment is when he insists on calling Donnacha O' Callaghan "Duncher"....that really grinds my gears

By Lets get barnes off the air, at June 15, 2009 10:24 pm
Sorry but saw much worse tackles committed against French players this season and no penalties whistled against pseudo 'tacklers'. I find the referee quite harsh, especially as it is very often the case when the stadium starts influencing him, a bit harsh maybe...

By Anonymous, at June 15, 2009 10:29 pm
good hit imo.

By goodNumber10, at June 15, 2009 10:35 pm
BRING BACK THE SHOULDER CHARGE!!!

By Buttcramps, at June 15, 2009 10:44 pm
The more I watch this the more I realise how definitely illegal that tackle is. Look at 1.12. He places his hand on the guy's stomach and then hits him with his chest/shoulder. So he obviously didn't try to wrap his arms around him. What's the big problem?

By Kearney for tests, at June 15, 2009 11:07 pm
You guys are acting like a bunch of football players. Stop arguing with each other! Argue with those girly football players instead!

By Random, at June 15, 2009 11:07 pm
Law 10(g) Dangerous charging. A player must not charge or knock down an opponent carrying the
ball without trying to grasp that player.
Penalty: Penalty Kick

Good call, not high, therefor just illegal, not foul play or especially dangerous.

By Kyle, at June 15, 2009 11:25 pm
Illegal, clearly, the arm(s) must surround the player's body, but...

wooosh!! O_o
He tousles him!!

È fallo, non ci piove...

ma l'ha spettinato!! :D :D
BAM BAM, Powell!!

By Madflyhalf, at June 15, 2009 11:54 pm
Kaerny for tests, the wrapping rule is dumb.
Have you played much? You always hit with the shoulder and you can give someone a concussion whether you wrap or not, it's no more likely with a shoulder charge. I've played league and union and it's and getting shoulder charged is really not that bad. Just like a normal hit.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 1:36 am
Kearney, you are convincing yourself that the tackle is unbelieveably illegal because you have some kind of vendetta against Powell, most likely coz u want Heaslip to start the tests, which he probably will, so calm down and at least try to judge Powell and this tackle on their merits. Because that is what the Lions is about, recognizing, even if only for a few weeks that all the players in the squad are on your side, when they usually aren't.
Also ppl generally tend to ignore/write off the opinions of other blatantly biased ppl.

-Dune

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 1:52 am
i like powell but this was not legal.....honestly if this hit was on BOD or S.Jones we'd be crying and wanting whoever responsible strung up and banned forever.......

still....nice to see the "impact" of powell on the field

By No.7, at June 16, 2009 1:57 am
I thought it was illegal but having watched it again it looks like he tried to wrap his arm but the impact was too big and they both were thrown backwards.

Penalty probably fair though as he kind of failed to wrap arms around but then the impact was so high and massive from both players.

Love it!

By anonymous no6, at June 16, 2009 2:14 am
You put a good hit on these days and it gets penalised. I'm a wallabies fan, and appreciate good rugby. Powell is a solid player. I agree with the comments about Barnes being a blight on rugby, and lions being entertaining.

MY GRIPE is every time I watch one of these videos or footage of rugby with a british commentator and a slightly marginal tackle is put on the commentators whinge about the malice involved and how illegal the hit was. Grow a dick you homo's. Rugby is about contact, if that was any other commentary they would be commending powell. And raising they're voices with the excitment it produced.

By Mart, at June 16, 2009 2:56 am
Legal tackle, his arm was up and there was an attempt to wrap.

Powell just hit the guy so hard he couldn't wrap.

P.s. Barnes is awful

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 5:31 am
Huge hit ?????

where - must have missed it

By jamestheconvict, at June 16, 2009 8:01 am
No.7

^^^ No.7 has the best view on this hit, he is totally right and i agree 100% with him.

By ArranR, at June 16, 2009 8:39 am
should have been a sin bin

By bob, at June 16, 2009 8:53 am
We all have to agree that it was good viewing though?

By Cheech, at June 16, 2009 11:32 am
Wow jamestheconvict is so tough and cool, he's the best.

I guess when your dads hitting your mom every night, you start to blank out all hits.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 11:36 am
people just think for a second...

if duane vermeulen had dropped the shoulder and bulldozed over powell which is more dangerous as powells head would of been smashed by his shoulder, then that would of been fair a legal hit....

but is that not still a shoulder charge??? thought they were illegal??

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 11:58 am
because of the sheer force behind powell, he stopped dead, it looked like he didn't wrap round a see him down, if he was tackling someone smaller it would have been seen as legal by the ref.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 1:22 pm
Is anyone else sick of hearing about Spies?

"He's superman!"
"He can leap over skyscrapers."

Spies is obvioulsy a rare athlete.

However, he is not a proven consistent player at test level (like Burger, matfield, or Botha for example). He hasn't done a thing at test level.

Let's see hwo he does in a tight, physical test against the Lions. As the All Blacks found out v. France ....old style tests are a far cry from 67-36 super 14 matches. I very much doubt he is going to be sprinting 70 metres for tries v. the Lions.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 3:43 pm
I hate barnes he hatees the irish always calls ferris northern i know he is but still also often its the british lions

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 4:27 pm
Stuart Barnes knows nothing about rugby.

Is there not even 1 ex-player with better commentating skills. I could do a better job!

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 5:02 pm
come on, that's never illegal

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 6:09 pm
They should definitely get Ryle Nugent in there to commentate. Or Will Chignel.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 6:11 pm
He definitely attempted to wrap, but he was also trying to put in a massive hit, which overrode his wrapping attempt. If that's illegal then so be it, but I don't think there was much wrong with that tackle in the spirit of the game, the rules of rugby are another matter entirely as many here should know.

-Dune

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2009 10:27 pm
"It makess no difference whether he tried to wrap his arms or not the fact of the matter is he didnt wrap them.....If I didnt mean to knock on a pass but I do any way that still means its an opposition scrum....Same rule applies in tackling.."

Not really as an accidental knock on is scrum whereas a deliberate knock on is a penalty

He gets hold of the guys shirt with his left hand and the fact that he's broken a bone in his right probably made it quite hard to get hold with that 1. The force of the impact then knocks the other guy backwards and causes Powell's left hand to loose it's grip!

By Gaz, at June 16, 2009 11:35 pm
I'm suprised noone has mentioned that the saffa player was blindsided when he was hit, he didn't even see powel coming, no wonder he bounced off him like a sack of spuds. I agree that Stuart Barnes is a cock BTW!

By JimboSimpson, at June 17, 2009 10:48 am