Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Aurelien Rougerie's big hitting four minutes vs Scotland

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Aurelien Rougerie's big hitting four minutes vs Scotland

France’s big winger Aurelien Rougerie made quite an impact against Scotland on the weekend. In less than five minutes he managed to put in two huge hits, injuring himself in the process and ruling out the chance of being selected to play Ireland.

The Clermont wing hadn’t played for his country in about two years, so was clearly pumped up as he chased the kickoff and timed the great hit on Kelly Brown perfectly. The statement of intent backfired though.

Unfortunately Rougerie came off worse, needing treatment on his arm and shoulder before soldiering on. Undeterred, a minute or so later he flew into another Scottish player, doing more damage to himself.

The kamikaze winger took the full impact of Johnnie Beattie’s shoulder to the jaw in a horrible looking collision that effectively ended his match. He did stay on for a minute or so, but when the ball came to him out wide, he dropped it and threw in the towel, less than five minutes into the game.

The injury to his neck is less serious than initially thought, but he underwent tests on Monday evening and will be out of action for two to three weeks.

It was a long wait for him to get back into the French side, and sadly for him, two big collisions in the space of a few minutes ended it. Vincent Clerc replaced him, and will stay in the side for the big match against Ireland this weekend in Paris.

Alexis Palisson will also play, as debutant Benjamin Fall is also out injured. Julien Malzieu from Clermont, and Jean-Baptiste Poux also join the squad.

"You don't change a winning team," said coach Marc Lievremont. "Playing Vincent Clerc from the start shouldn't cause a debate, there was a lot of discussion on who to play on the left wing.

"We decided to go with the versatility and left foot of Alexis Palisson.

"We know the qualities of Julien Malzieu but it seemed interesting to us to have the presence of Alexis alongside Clement Poitrenaud."

Time: 03:47

first! Good hits, great player. They will miss him but even he couldn't help their fate against Ireland this weekend. Irish victory coming up.

By Anonymous, at February 10, 2010 12:42 pm
The worst bit in the story is that poor Aurélien was supposed to go on honeymoon on that day, and cancelled it when he received the surprise call from Lievremont! His missus must have been delighted.

By nobby, at February 10, 2010 1:01 pm
Great enthusiasm, but imperfect technique seems to have contributed to the injuries.

By Phil, at February 10, 2010 1:13 pm
too much enthusiasm for his return I think... I hope we'll see him again during the tournament.

By 3/4 centre, at February 10, 2010 1:23 pm
Too many espressos...? Sure he was enthusiastic in the first hit but the second one was some pretty sound defending - if not technically perfect in the contact.

In the second one he comes from depth where he's been covering the open-side dink into space and still manages to shut down a movement where the Scots had men on the outside.

This is pretty tough to do as a winger where you have to gamble positional play against an overlap. I think he got it all spot on and shut down a significant gain in ground that the scots would have otherwise made. Certainly not a product to too many espressos.

By Anonymous, at February 10, 2010 1:27 pm
Very underrated player, captain of the best french club and capable of scoring unbelievable tries like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AarCSY1Ha18

I hope he gets better soon

By Oli, at February 10, 2010 1:36 pm
Sweet commitment. Whether good technique or not he deserves a round of applause!

By JLH, at February 10, 2010 1:39 pm
Perfect technique for the first tackle, what do you all mean "too much enthusisatic"??? When you tackle you tackle, that's all! And when you can tackle hard, you tackle hard! That's what he did and he did it well even though he injured himself, that's the game! Rugby is about hitting your opponent that's what i think

By Anonymous, at February 10, 2010 1:49 pm
Love watching this guy play but he's got to be a bit careful - there's no point putting in a big hit if it hurts you more than the bloke with the ball.

Wilko used to be the same - put in all those big hits and ended up having a recurring shoulder injury.

By Ted, at February 10, 2010 1:51 pm
He isn't THAT underrated. He was positioned centre lately by Vern Cotter and he agrees he had a time when he didn't play good matches (well, not as good as he used to anyway).
He's a fantastic player but there are lots of talents in the back line today from 11 to 15. The point is he's got a physical dimension the others lack, no doubt.

Talk about an underrated (and unlucky) Clermont player is Baby. Can play everywhere from 10 to 15 and is talented. And one I find a little overrated is Marty. (to all Marty lovers, mind I didn't write he was a bad player, just that we can find better players than him for the national team)

By Maximus, at February 10, 2010 2:27 pm
good hits and great player !

By dezzy, at February 10, 2010 2:30 pm
First tackle is huge could of been a bit lower but its hard to get down when your racing in to cream a second row! Second tackle is unfortunate as Bettie(i think) turns and Rougerie takes his shoulder, and most of Bettie's weight to the face. Great enthusiasm, i think we(the Irish) would of had a handful on the wing if he was playing(not that we aren't gunna have one but a player of his physicality and pace running at earls and bowe forget about it!)

By Conor, at February 10, 2010 3:25 pm
is it just me, or has the sound gone off on this site?

all other sites working Youtube etc, but I have no sound wen listening to these vids!!!??

By Anonymous, at February 10, 2010 3:26 pm
No. It is just you. Sorry.

By Maximus, at February 10, 2010 5:40 pm
Legend!

Get well soon, Aurelien!

By Anonymous, at February 10, 2010 5:50 pm
I just read on rugbyrama (french rugby site) about saturday clash between France and Ireland, Earls said that if they win by cheating, it will be justice, after what happens between the two football teams.

Even if I totally understand the angry of irish football fans and I am ashamed by seeing France playing the world cup, I can't understand Earls's words. It's not the same sport, not the same players, not the same supporters...
My intent here is not to re-start a fake patriotic debate, but just express my incomprehension.

My team will play against irish students saturday, so I hope this clash between two 6N potential winners will be good, then we can enjoy a great "third halftime" with the irish friends...

By 3/4 centre, at February 10, 2010 5:53 pm
This comment has been removed by the author.

By Unknown, at February 10, 2010 6:31 pm
"If we win by cheating, it will be justice"

I've heard the same argument about Keith Earls.This young man seems to talk a lot..

Not the same sport, not the same mentality. i don't understand this remark, very sad for rugby..
Maybe a way to put pressure on the referees.

I just hope this match will be straight and fair, and not full of footballers attitudes.
Let's just hope a great match with real good hits and actions from both sides. Forget this sneaky allusion

ps: i'll be at stade de france :)

By Flooz, at February 10, 2010 6:35 pm
some days u just werent meant to get up :)

By sebastian, at February 10, 2010 6:42 pm
The only result of Earls' stupid comments is to give more motivation to the French team. Cheers mate.

By Pitseleh, at February 10, 2010 7:08 pm
absolutely agree with pitseleh!

i don't know what expect earls with these curious comments.
But if french players hear about this, they would be very attentive to give a brutal and direct answer

By Ben, at February 10, 2010 7:26 pm
First tackle was great aswell as the crowds reaction! Just unlucky.

By paddy, at February 10, 2010 7:37 pm
RD - thanks for getting rid of the poker ads from the site by the way, much nicer with the familiar red colour scheme. :-)

By Phil, at February 10, 2010 8:18 pm
"i don't understand this remark, very sad for rugby..
Maybe a way to put pressure on the referees."

Yes, so the refs will check carefully to be sure that Irish lads won't cheat. Thanks again Earls. But honestly, most of French rugby fans don't give a f*** about football.

About Rougerie I hope that we'll see him again with XV de France. He deserves more than 4 minutes...

By Pitseleh, at February 10, 2010 8:27 pm
Thanks for messing up my fantasy rugby team Aurélien.

By The Inside Shoulder, at February 10, 2010 10:40 pm
An American football like committment to both tackles not surprised he was injured. Live by the sword, die by the sword. I know my very amateur career was cut short by over committment to the knocking opponents into next week. Funny how the only person who usually ends up there is the tackler.

By canadian content, at February 11, 2010 12:09 am
Palisson over Malzieu. Not the obvious decision but Lievremont clearly loves chopping and changing. Palisson will likely be up against Bowe, a nice test of his positioning and tackling skills!

By John F, at February 11, 2010 1:46 am
Forget the 6 Nations, the Super 14 starts on Friday. Where are the hype videos?

By Anonymous, at February 11, 2010 2:55 am
he dropped the pass partly cause he was "somewhere else" after those hits but partly cause it was too low for Clerc, it was at Rou's knees

By mat, at February 11, 2010 11:50 am
'american football commitment", except for he has not got 5" of padding and a helmet.

By mat, at February 11, 2010 11:55 am
that is the attitude!!! well done aurelien!

By Flanker, at February 11, 2010 12:39 pm
Good stuff.
Can't help but think if he'd been an Islander he would have got carded.

By Anonymous, at February 12, 2010 3:00 am
Kelly Brown is in on the 'irb and the world are against the french' conspiracy.....

this is ridiculous, attoub gets 70 weeks and kelly brown doesnt get anything, where is the justice, it was simple foul play against the french, kelly brown hurt rougerie and the irb does nothing, disgraace!!!!

By Anonymous, at February 12, 2010 4:06 am
'This is pretty tough to do as a winger where you have to gamble positional play against an overlap. I think he got it all spot on and shut down a significant gain in ground that the scots would have otherwise made. Certainly not a product to too many espressos.'

Its called commentary you prat, they were commenting on his hype and being everywhere.....i suppose you were physically looking for octupi and giraffes on the pitch when Bill Mclaren commentated, as you appear to miss the point of a joke!!!

By Anonymous, at February 12, 2010 4:09 am
gutted for him though he came off second best every time :P

By Anonymous, at February 12, 2010 12:50 pm
He did hit very hard. A little bit too enthusiastic perhaps for his own good...

By vinniechan, at February 12, 2010 5:07 pm
there is nothing wrong with being enthusiastic and tackling hard......

there is however something not quite worth it, if you last 4 mins on the pitch...

By Anonymous, at February 13, 2010 2:13 am