Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Aaron Cruden flattened on debut by Benson Stanley

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Aaron Cruden flattened on debut by Benson Stanley

The weekend isn't over yet, but over the past two days there's been some top class rugby played both north and south of the equator. As I figure out what's going to be featured on RD, here's a great hit by Benson Stanley from Round 1 of the Super 14.

The Blues and the Hurricanes actually played the first match of the 2010 tournament, and within the first two minutes there was a great hit made by Conrad Smith, but we'll show that another time.

Later in the match young Aaron Cruden made his Super 14 debut. You will have seen Cruden playing in the Air New Zealand Cup, and featured here on Rugbydump as there's huge raps on the youngster who recovered from testicular cancer and made it back to the top.

He's a tremendous talent, and as you can see in this clip, got talked up a helluva lot by the commentators, who pretty much put the kiss of death on him as his first touch of the ball was greeted by a big tackle from Benson Stanley.

Stanley has a bit of a reputation for making those type of hits, as you will have seen on here before. A member of a famous rugby playing family, Benson punches well above his weight, but has superb timing and technique when it comes to bringing down bigger players.

Unfortunately for Cruden, he's not too big himself, so found out the hard way that he's now playing with the big boys, and Super 14 rugby will be a fair challenge. Knowing what little I do about him though, he'll bounce back strong and will be sure to make an impact with the 'Canes this season.

Be sure to check out the related links below to see some of Stanley's other big hits, as well as the feature on Cruden's remarkable story. Highlights from the weekend's matches will be posted when possible. For individual clips, please drop us a mail or post in the requests section.

Time: 01:52

first comment..jeezzz been waiting for this for a long time.btw great tackle!!

By Anonymous, at February 21, 2010 2:09 pm
Second sux..

By Anonymous, at February 21, 2010 2:13 pm
Sweet hit! Stanley is incredible at that

By Cane, at February 21, 2010 2:23 pm
ouch great hit never heard of this guy cruden sure looks like hes straight out of wooly back country though

By Anonymous, at February 21, 2010 2:42 pm
joker, i wanna see conrad smith

cruden sounds good though, i don't think he has the balls though. he'll take an armchair ride.

By Anonymous, at February 21, 2010 3:05 pm
awesome timing and technique from Stanley, pity this great tackle still can't stop what's happening in the next 30 mins. sigh...

welcome to the big boys level Cruden.

By Jeroz, at February 21, 2010 3:09 pm
BIIIImmmmmmmmmmm

By Unknown, at February 21, 2010 4:51 pm
Cruden looks very promising, but Stanley sure knows how to hit... Future double call up for the All Blacks?

By Joost, at February 21, 2010 11:47 pm
Stanley is certainly solid in defense lol good job by cruden to get the ball away actually! Saying stanley is small RD is strange, he's 5'11 and 15st. Wouldnt call him a light weight lol

By fwightened, at February 22, 2010 12:06 am
'Stanley is certainly solid in defense lol good job by cruden to get the ball away actually! Saying stanley is small RD is strange, he's 5'11 and 15st. Wouldnt call him a light weight lol'

probably the reference to the fact most players nowadays are 6ft or over and 16 stone up.......

TSRB??? surely!

By Anonymous, at February 22, 2010 4:32 am
great timing for the House of Pian song to come on!

By Mikee, at February 22, 2010 8:19 am
he should have rolled out of the way, had to call time off when his team was rumbling forward cause he was down too near to the ruck.
Love how the commentators were bigging him up then that!

By mat, at February 22, 2010 11:20 am
Awesome hit

By Anonymous, at February 22, 2010 11:37 am
It's better for AC that it happened in his first S14 rather than in a Test against the Boks...
But man, he got hit by a train there...

By vinniechan, at February 22, 2010 4:18 pm
lol, welcome to the game... :)

By Anonymous, at February 23, 2010 4:19 am