Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Pelu Taele given a straight red card for high hit against Bayonne

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Pelu Taele given a straight red card for high hit against Bayonne

Biarritz hosted Bayonne in a Top 14 derby match at Estadio Anoeta, San Sebastien in Spain this past weekend. The match was as expected, highly physical and confrontational, with Biarritz winning 12-6.

The match was without tries, but still delivered in terms of intensity and entertainment, despite being much of a forward based battle.

It was 6-6 at halftime, with Valentine Courrent and Benjamin Arrayet exchanging penalties before Bayonne attempted to spread the all in the second period.

Australian Rodney “Rodzilla” Blake received a yellow card for his part in an altercation, but it was Samoan lock ‘Jordan’ Pelu Taele-Pavihi who had a moment of madness early in the second half, as he attempted to behead Pepito Elhorga.

Elhorga cut inside at full tilt before the huge Samoan stuck a massive forearm out that effectively clothes-lined the Bayonne winger.

Taele-Pavihi had been warned earlier in the match after a hit on Craig Gower, so was given a straight red by the referee for this dangerous high shot.

Biarrtiz played the last half hour with fourteen men, but still came out on top thanks for another two penalties by Courrent.

When asked earlier today about the incident, Taele was regretful.

"It wasnt a good tackle. I'm quite disappointed at myself but cant do anything about it!"

Time: 0:53
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Good decision. Straight red.

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 3:20 pm
Absolutely awful tacke. Red more than deserved

By flibustier, at September 16, 2009 3:42 pm
Red deserved. However it again highlights the inconscistency in refeering decisions. Take the tackle on Rob Kearney against Italy in the 6 Nations. Very similar tackle and just received a yellow.

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 3:50 pm
This guy was already warned by the ref for a dangerous hit so maybe that's why it was straight red whereas in the Kearney hit, was the offender warned already? Or was it an isolated incident?

By Chris J, at September 16, 2009 4:00 pm
I think it's just a yellow.
It happens, he wouldn't have meant to take his head off at all.
I guess if he'd already given away a few penalties, he might deserve it.

By Jon, at September 16, 2009 4:04 pm
Jon, are you serious??? You think it just deserved a yellow??? That's about as bad as it gets.....

By le Brack, at September 16, 2009 4:28 pm
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 4:41 pm
Chris J, Masi's tackle on Kearney was only after about 60 seconds, so the referee probably just didn't want to give a red so early. Or maybe he just thought it was only a yellow-grade offence.

By Kearney for tests, at September 16, 2009 4:47 pm
what was the bayonne number 6 trying to do?? he just sort of feel ontop of jordan then picked himself up and walked away lol!!

By creggs08, at September 16, 2009 4:54 pm
I think the Bayonne number 6 decided not to act like an idiot, like Taele had just done,and realized that Taele was probably about to get busted, so he walked away.

If this isn't a red card, then what is? This kind of stuff is what the red card is for.

Also, if he had been warned and a guy like Kearney hadn't been warned, then I think that's the difference.

By realrugby, at September 16, 2009 5:11 pm
Red without a doubt. This thing happens to often. And being a winger/fullback you always hear rubbish excuses made when its a forward who has made the offence. Its as bad as a spear tackle and needs to be treated the same way... no place for it in the game

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 5:18 pm
don't generalize about the islanders.

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 5:40 pm
So there you go. This guy was giving up penalties then got warned by the ref, finally in the 2nd half he tries to take another player's head off. Red card. 60 seconds into an international Kearney gets taken out in a similar fashion. Early in the match, no warnings issued, so a yellow is ok. I'd say the ref got it right.

By Chris J, at September 16, 2009 6:00 pm
I think he actually tried to take elhorgas head... Maybe he wanted a shrunken head lucky charm or something?

By Eric, at September 16, 2009 6:14 pm
I think Bayonne no. 6 realized this isn't D2, so there wasn't about to be a massive brawl.

By fishfries, at September 16, 2009 7:39 pm
here's the high tackle on kearney in this years 6 nations:

http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2009/02/andrea-masis-reckless-high-challenge-on.html

reckon it was just as bad and he only got a yellow because 40 seconds on the clock.

By gar, at September 16, 2009 7:39 pm
are there any french men left in the top 14 at all? didn't see one mentioned in the blurb above that video.

By B-tesco, at September 16, 2009 7:44 pm
elhorga is french.

By alasdair, at September 16, 2009 7:49 pm
Oh come on!!! Look how tall the guy is!! And the full back isnt the biggest guy. Im sure it wasnt intentional. He is known for his hard hits but this is a one off. By the way his name is PELU Taele.

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 9:05 pm
Taele is a big man,hes known for his big tackles,yeah what he did deserved a card,not sure about red???def yellow!!
the no.6 for Bayonne would of been shit scared incase Taele turned on him!

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 9:12 pm
Number 6 don't want to do a big brawl ( beucause betwenn Biarritz and Bayonne it's total war, all the matchs are fight and disgrace, this time that a was a clean match )

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 10:09 pm
red deserved i think. got to be one for try savers/rib breakers :)

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 10:24 pm
basic rugby league tackling that, cant run without your head

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 10:47 pm
that was actually hilarious to watch. great tackle. excellent form

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 11:49 pm
mate this guy definitely deserves a card...a bloody V.I.P card to the best night clubs! great tackle haha yeah ok was a bit high but we must take into consideration his height advantage so yes we'll let it slide! woohoo

By Anonymous, at September 16, 2009 11:53 pm
Again, just a yellow imo.
Euro refs seem very quick to go for the red card.
It's not football, these things happen in rugby, he would have just suck his arm out in a despairing attmept at the tackle, but he went too high.
That's all, it wasn't intentional. Reds should be saved for intentional dirty play, like eye gouging.

By Jon, at September 17, 2009 12:35 am
" B-tesco said...

are there any french men left in the top 14 at all? didn't see one mentioned in the blurb above that video."

Elhorga is french you racist moron

By moronkiller, at September 17, 2009 2:56 am
So, is Bayonne playing a lot of matches in Spain this year? I guess Biarritz' and Bayonne's proximity to San Sebastian make it a short trip, but is there any reason in particular that they're doing it? More ticket sales?

By bruce springsteen, at September 17, 2009 4:31 am
awesome - better than Jacque Fouries tackle on Nonu

By jamestheconvict, at September 17, 2009 6:20 am
I'd say that if you're a lock you can't simply jump to tackle someone, not even half a centimeter.
Actually, most high tackles by locks end up being nasty just because in that split second they forget being, well, the 4's and the 5's.
Red deserved but it honestly didn't look nasty. Mate, next time think harder).

Btw, will Elhorga end his career alive? I believe this is the third dangerous one he received since the terrible Elsom-Palu gangle tackle. Poor guy!

By Randorama, at September 17, 2009 6:53 am
The ELsom-Palu tackle wasn't dangerous, it was perfectly legal.
He just got monstered by two of the best flankers in the game.
And the only way this red can be justified is if the guy had already infringed in a similar way during the same game.
otherwise it's an overreaction to a simple high tackle.

By Jon, at September 17, 2009 7:01 am
Red is fair, poor Pepito.

As for high tackles, it is an objective fact that islanders get carded more in the top 14.
Then again I would say that France is more strict on tackles.
A lot of what you see in the south would or could be a penalty in France...
So no objection as for the red here.

By jay, at September 17, 2009 1:31 pm
pelu take it easy wit da taro uso...lol taro = too much agressive
but good tackle indeed :) go MANU SAMOA!hehe

By Anonymous, at September 17, 2009 11:38 pm
Of course red. No doubt about it.
Good that others players immediately stopped what could have been a massive brawl.

By Pitseleh, at September 18, 2009 1:02 pm