Danie Rossouw big tackle on Lionel Nallet in Cape Town
While Bakkies Botha served out a suspension for foul play, eagerly waiting in the wings has been his Bulls teammate Danie Rossouw, who off late has once again shown exactly how much of a valuable asset he is to Springbok rugby.
The big lock-come-loose forward has been on a great run of form of late with both the Bulls in their Super 14 winning campaign, and then more recently with the Springboks against both Wales and France.
Rossouw, who made that famous try saving tackle on Mark Cueto in the 2007 World Cup final, has an incredible work rate for such a big guy and while adept at playing in both the second and back row, enjoys mixing it up physically and is great with ball in hand.
His form is making fans and coaching staff appreciate that while the Botha-Matfied combination has been arguably the best in world rugby in recent times, the Matfield-Rossouw combo can be just as menacing, and at times can offer more.
"Danie is in the form of his life right now," said captain John Smit after Welsh Test "For how many years have we thought the choice for the No.4 jersey was a fait accompli, but I don’t think that is the case anymore."
Against the French he was menacing on defense, no more so than with this big tackle on Lionel Nallet, who took some time to get up. Questions were asked about the legitimacy of the hit, but referee Bryce Lawrence actually overruled his assistant, who said it was a shoulder charge.
South Africa play the touring Italian tomorrow in Witbank, a match that Rossouw has actually been rested for, with the return of Bakkies Botha. Check out the fixtures page to see what else is happening around the world of rugby.
Time: 01:38
The big lock-come-loose forward has been on a great run of form of late with both the Bulls in their Super 14 winning campaign, and then more recently with the Springboks against both Wales and France.
Rossouw, who made that famous try saving tackle on Mark Cueto in the 2007 World Cup final, has an incredible work rate for such a big guy and while adept at playing in both the second and back row, enjoys mixing it up physically and is great with ball in hand.
His form is making fans and coaching staff appreciate that while the Botha-Matfied combination has been arguably the best in world rugby in recent times, the Matfield-Rossouw combo can be just as menacing, and at times can offer more.
"Danie is in the form of his life right now," said captain John Smit after Welsh Test "For how many years have we thought the choice for the No.4 jersey was a fait accompli, but I don’t think that is the case anymore."
Against the French he was menacing on defense, no more so than with this big tackle on Lionel Nallet, who took some time to get up. Questions were asked about the legitimacy of the hit, but referee Bryce Lawrence actually overruled his assistant, who said it was a shoulder charge.
South Africa play the touring Italian tomorrow in Witbank, a match that Rossouw has actually been rested for, with the return of Bakkies Botha. Check out the fixtures page to see what else is happening around the world of rugby.
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27 Comments:
first!! yes!!! up your bums!!!!
good hit too!!
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 6:23 pm
defiinitely not a shoulder charge,great hit
By Leeners93, at June 18, 2010 6:26 pm
No arms = shoulder charge. Simple.
By Dalma, at June 18, 2010 6:36 pm
^ but he used his arms, and tackled with the shoulder. Legal. Maybe not so simple? :)
I thought it was a fair hit, and very common. I've never seen anyone make a hard (legal) tackle with their forearms before.
Booom!
By Laz, at June 18, 2010 6:43 pm
The ferocity of the hit sent Nallet back before he could wrap his arms but saying that it was probably high, judging by Nallets reaction grasping his neck/throat. Don't think it warranted a card but a penalty might have been no harm.
By David, at June 18, 2010 6:47 pm
yellow card
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 6:52 pm
Was that supposed to be a tackle?
"No arms = shoulder charge. Simple."
I agree, but Nallet was losing control of the ball when he gets hit, that's very dangerous when you have to face a tackle (or a charge in this case)
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 7:04 pm
God imagine a normal size person being hit like that, if nallet is hurt from it would kill a mere mortal.
Also i reckon it was a perfectly legal tackle, the hit was so big an so fast the nallet fell to the ground before rossouw could wrap his arms round him, you could see rossouw atempting to wrap his arms but wasn't quick enough.
By Cleckheaton kiwi, at June 18, 2010 7:22 pm
^^ agree. Just shows that refs have an impossible job pleasing everybody when we can't even agree having studied the slow motion replay!
By Phil, at June 18, 2010 7:55 pm
mean hit!!!! perfectly legal
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 10:48 pm
great hit, not illegal at all... btw what up with the footballer face of nallet in the picture? or was he that hurt.. milking it maybe?
By Anonymous, at June 18, 2010 11:45 pm
i don't know which clip dalma just watched but he used his arms. great hit, lets not turn this into a whimps game.
By Chris Boy, at June 19, 2010 2:25 am
why do people wanna take away the physicality of rugby??? Bloody short sighted idiots.
This tackle was low enough with elbows raised to show effort being made into the tackle, and again to the wimpy guys, a legal tackle... get over it, it's rugby, and what gives it the edge over NFL and soccer.
By Anonymous, at June 19, 2010 6:46 am
LEGAL!!!!
By boomer, at June 19, 2010 9:40 am
^^ Anonymous two above - I love all this stuff of calling guys 'wimpy' if they disagree with you about the legality of the tackle. It's not a clear-cut one at all, and taking dangerous tackles is important for the players' welfare. I don't want to be watching second-rate players because all the good ones are crocked by injuries.
I'm convinced that a lot of these 'get lost you wimp' guys have never played the game - if you had, you would understand the risks and the punishment you take. This is not cartoon violence - the only way to limit the risks is to adhere as best you can to the rules. Collisions are part of rugby, but only ONE part. If you want to watch guys get smashed all day, watch wrestling.
By Mike, at June 19, 2010 11:04 am
Quality hit, nothing wrong there. Arms were wrapped, yet not holding on. Still legal. It would have been good to see a replay from the other angle so the naysayers could see the left arm. A shoulder charge would have had his right arm tucked under his chest though. This was perfectly fine. Heavyweight clash!
By Scotsdale, at June 19, 2010 11:45 am
As the great Umaga said "We paly rugby not tiddly winks" Why in the past few years has everyone started calling for cards and bitching about whats a legal hit... under the shoulder line is fine! If u want to bitch an moan an call for cards play football!
By Anonymous, at June 19, 2010 11:47 am
"As the great Umaga said "We paly rugby not tiddly winks" Why in the past few years has everyone started calling for cards and bitching about whats a legal hit... under the shoulder line is fine! If u want to bitch an moan an call for cards play football!"
sais the man who usualy broke bones ...
Yellow card
By tikoala, at June 19, 2010 12:14 pm
Good referee. Note there were no complaints from the French. Big tackle. Nice.
By Disco, at June 19, 2010 2:13 pm
yellow card.
By Anonymous, at June 19, 2010 3:39 pm
anyone who thinks this is an illegal tackle should be executed, your ruining the game of rugby with your fannyness.... have a glass of concrete and harden the fu#k up!
By Anonymous, at June 19, 2010 4:34 pm
The arms were coming around and if I'm not mistaken actually do slightly grab around nallet's back for a moment...
Fair hit, good hit and good game...
By themull, at June 19, 2010 6:28 pm
Yeah what is with all the idiots calling cards. Perfectly legal. No problem in leading with the shoulder the wrapping the arms (or attempting too). You wana see a shoulder charge look up Sonny Bill Williams playing league, that is what is illegal in union.
By Timbo, at June 19, 2010 11:08 pm
The game is slowly being ruined by soft cunts.
This is legal every day of the week. If you can't appreciate the game of rugby maybe you should be playing another sport? Instead of trying to ruin it by catering to your own softness.
By Anonymous, at June 19, 2010 11:59 pm
Nothing wrong with that. Massive tackle.
England Australia highlights please.
By Anonymous, at June 20, 2010 5:18 pm
even if the tackle is legal he dives over the ball to impede the release, the boks did it all match against wales, it stops any quick ball, refs or other teams need to smarten up at the breakdown.
By mat, at June 23, 2010 11:48 am
nearly as good as the time o driscoll smashed russouw
By Anonymous, at June 24, 2010 3:02 pm
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