Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Hosea Gear makes a great try saving hit against Waikato

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Hosea Gear makes a great try saving hit against Waikato

The Wellington Lions were comfortable 26-14 winners over Waikato on the weekend in their ITM Cup meeting at the Westpac Stadium in New Zealand. The lethal wing pairing of Hosea Gear and Julian Savea made quite a difference as both showed their quality throughout.

Savea, a promising youngster who recently starred in the Junior World Cup, crossed for a try and linked up with Gear to set up another. This clip here though features Gear making a fantastic try saving hit just as Waikato looked like they were going to cross for a great team try.

We’ve all seen what Gear can do with ball in hand, but in this instance he showed that he has the timing and instinct to make those crucial tackles when needed. His speed off the mark was impressive, and is backed up by recent speed training tests done recently.

Wellington did a testing session on artificial turf not too long ago for the entire squad. The test was over the standard distance to measure rugby players speed, 40 metres. Savea came in third best with 5.02s, with second going to young back Buxton Popoalii.

The quickest was, as you guessed, Hosea Gear, who clocked in with a time of 4.96s.

While Gear hasn’t featured at all for the All Blacks this season, their loss is New Zealand Sevens’ gain as he joined up with the Sevens squad as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October.

Coach Gordon Tietjens is aiming to win their fourth gold medal in as many attempts, with Gear no doubt a big part in his plans. Gear himself feels that Sevens may just be his way back in to the hearts and minds of the All Black selectors.

"There are quite a few handy players around. Its going to be good competition but the same time be good for my game as well if I can do well with the Sevens then obviously results will come later on following that," says Gear.

"Its going to be something quite special and something good to experience seeing top athletes from around the world and all different sorts of sports," he added.

This try saving tackle put an end to a great piece of play from Waikato that in itself should be applauded. It didn't work out for them thanks to Gear making the right decision in a situation where he needed pull off the hit to prevent the overlap being utilised. Great play all round.

Time: 01:56

Just can't understand how he is not playing for the allblacks - PS up yours sad people that post first!

By NiWiTa, at August 24, 2010 6:21 pm
Seriously though - I've heard it said he has a poor work rate. On the evidence of this clip I would say that is wrong....

By NiWiTa, at August 24, 2010 6:22 pm
Awfull, 3 offload passes in the action leading to the tryline, how can the referee not see that

By Anonymous, at August 24, 2010 6:24 pm
forwards passes excuse me

By Anonymous, at August 24, 2010 6:25 pm
how gear hasn't aken over Rocockocko's spot, tha's a mystery

By Pedro Fleury, at August 24, 2010 6:28 pm
I'm no specialist about the ABS but it seemed to me that Gear took Rocockocko's spot at one point (or was it Rico ?), maybe 2 years ago and yet Rocockocko has had a good year...
It seems that there's always 4 or 5 players for the same spot w/ the ABs. Whether it's Sivivatu, Roco, Gear...the difference to me is very small unlike other nations.

By jay, at August 24, 2010 6:39 pm
the depth of talent in nz rugby is ridiculous

By Anonymous, at August 24, 2010 6:45 pm
I'd sooner lose Jane than Rokocoko, but as ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ above said the all blacks have and always have had an abundance of world class wingers theres about 10 players that could play wing internationally for new zealand. and to be quite honest it could be tony woodcock out there on the flanks, hed still score shitloads of tries if he was outside nonu and smith

By Jack, at August 24, 2010 6:45 pm
Gear had such a good game. Always made ground in attack and put all the hits in where they counted.

Savea on the other wing for Wellington in this game is another great example of players in the ranks for the AB's.

RD - can we get his solo try up?

By Bradders, at August 24, 2010 6:55 pm
that just made my day!!!

By Anonymous, at August 24, 2010 7:18 pm
...Did anyone one see...Stowers' solo effort for Counties against Manawatu...now he looks promising too....

Gear and Savea on the wings...are RUTHLESS

By Unknown, at August 24, 2010 7:22 pm
Now THAT is a great RUGBY tackle, not like a lot of the shoulder charge and no-arm tackles that fans of American wrestling confuse with good tackling.

Gear is some player too. Agree re. strength in depth of NZ - only France and SA come close.

By Mike, at August 24, 2010 7:33 pm
Josevata suits the ABs game plan at the moment more I think, he's all over the rucks and is still huge in attack but setting up, not finishing.

He contrasts well to Cory Jane. Hosea Gear wouldn't go a miss but I do think it would mean more work for others if he was in the team.

By olwakachangchang, at August 24, 2010 8:36 pm
i'm indian and hopefully going to see gear at dehli yeah :)

By rosh, at August 24, 2010 9:38 pm
Passes aren't forward @anon. you're getting confused by the angle of the footage. Epic clip alround, waikato's break from their own 22, hosea's tackle, wellington do a waikato 5 seconds later.

By Nerk, at August 24, 2010 10:07 pm
Fantastic tackle

By Chris, at August 24, 2010 10:21 pm
Saw this hit on the highlights from nzrugby (on youtube), both this and the aforementioned Stowers try were awesome. As well as this one

By decepti0n, at August 25, 2010 12:39 am
Hey Mike, you are not a rugby player.
Rugby players don't equate hitting with the shoulder with American Wrestling.
It's called putting on a hit.
It's a tough game, man up.
Bloody toffs.

By Tommy, at August 25, 2010 2:17 am
NZ backline talent is just ridiculous at the moment: Muliana, Jane, Dagg, Joe Rocks, Sivivatu, Rene Ranger, Guildford, Isaia Toeava, Gear, plus some new youngsters like Sean Maitland and Savea.

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 5:16 am
dont be silly, jane has easily been the form winger in the blacks this year. if anyone went it would be joe, hopefully after getting some time in the sevens squad gear will get a serious look in come the end of year tour. what about the hurricanes squad for next year, nonu, smith, jane, gear and savea. all they need is a quality 10 and they will be lethal.

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 9:29 am
"great shot"

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 9:44 am
A excellent spectacle, both in offense and defense!

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 9:48 am
Who knew Gear was that quick?! He's huge! Certainly doesn't look rapid.

Fantastic tackle

By Flinto, at August 25, 2010 12:59 pm
Would NZ fans say the ABs are weakest in the forwards? It's hard see any weaknesses as an England fan but I guess pack has the least depth compared the backline as demonstrated by most posters comments...

Would welcome others thoughts

By NiWiTa, at August 25, 2010 1:42 pm
WHAT A TACKLE ! wonderful defence from this big guy

By FRENCHMAN, at August 25, 2010 2:24 pm
If your questing his speed just ask any of the England team that played against the Maori this year how quick he is!

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 3:07 pm
If he leaves his wing and jumps out of the line he better bloody make the hit. And this is why he isnt an ABs (yet).

By Unknown, at August 25, 2010 4:00 pm
isnt an AB yet

By bob jenkins, at August 25, 2010 4:02 pm
Excellent rugby..good attacking rugby capped of by two fantastic tackles..Gears was a superb hit but the tackle before on the line was in essence what is a try saving tackle.

By KenyaQuin, at August 25, 2010 4:06 pm
BOOOOOOOM!!!!

By yak, at August 25, 2010 4:09 pm
haha also great grammer correction Bob jenkins!

By yak, at August 25, 2010 4:20 pm
I'd put Dagg in for Jane, and Gear in for Rocockocko

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 7:31 pm
Tommy - you are right, I am not a rugby player...any more. I had a few bad injuries, now I just watch the game. Rugby tackles are about putting in a hit - WITHIN THE RULES. If you just like to see guys smashing into each other, watch American football or check out Hulk Hogan. Me, I prefer to see the courage and skill of proper rugby tackles like Gear's one here.

'Man up' - lol. Cliches, anyone? Lock and load. Rock and roll. Whatever you're having yourself.

By Mike, at August 25, 2010 8:25 pm
Rugby tackles are about putting in a hit - WITHIN THE RULES. If you just like to see guys smashing into each other, watch American football or check out Hulk Hogan. Me, I prefer to see the courage and skill of proper rugby tackles like Gear's one here.

'Man up' - lol. Cliches, anyone? Lock and load. Rock and roll. Whatever you're having yourself.

...........

No, you're an upperclass toff fairy.

The anti-hit brigade are homos.

Shoulder charges should be made legal and its embarassing for Union that they aren't. Now adays when showing my American friends rugby I'll always show them League.

Because Union is just too soft at the moment, because of upperclass toffs like you. I can almost guarantee you're European.

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 8:33 pm
^ what's embarassing is that you consider yourself a true rugby fan and yet you bitch and moan about laws that have been around since the game began. If you dont like it, sure, go watch League then. Throw in some NFL and UFC while you're at it, but this is rugby and the fact that you're questioning shoulder hits etc shows your age - I'm guessing between 16-22, and you learnt about rugby on youtube. ;)

By Benson, at August 25, 2010 8:50 pm
^ what's embarassing is that you consider yourself a true rugby fan and yet you bitch and moan about laws that have been around since the game began. If you dont like it, sure, go watch League then. Throw in some NFL and UFC while you're at it, but this is rugby and the fact that you're questioning shoulder hits etc shows your age - I'm guessing between 16-22, and you learnt about rugby on youtube. ;)

.........

Everyone should question laws that makes no sense.

There's nothing wrong with shoulder charges. This is no longer an amateur game, i hate to tell you. It's not longer a game for upperclass totalitarian elitists.

It's now a global game played by people of all creeds and class.

I know you hate that but rugby is no longer your game you upperclass scumbag.

Go play billiards or something, you fairy.

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 8:58 pm
LMAO. The Europeans can't hack it. And they wonder why they're physically dominated everytime they take on a SH team.

Carry on with your 'technique', it's clearly working for the NH toffs lol

By NONU IS GOD, at August 25, 2010 9:01 pm
So you're firstly admitting that you're low class.. Nice, I could tell already. And secondly you're saying that anyone who isn't posh would love for shoulder charges to be in the game? Where's the logic dude. I'm not a toff, I'm not posh, and I'm not a fairy. I can however spot the difference between League & Union.

And why are you calling me a scumbag when it was someone else you were arguing with earlier? :)

Pipe down, tiger.

By Benson, at August 25, 2010 9:10 pm
As an upperclass totalitarian elitist European, I am disappointed to learn that I cannot 'hack it' and that this game is not for me any more.

And you're completely right, we should bring in shoulder charges. And mandatory forearm tattoos. And make all the players work at a steel mill or some other shithole. Oh no wait, we already have rugby league for that. So go and watch league and stop wasting people's time posting on aforum about a sport that's clearly above your level of comprehension. And your level of grammar.

By DH, at August 25, 2010 10:54 pm
Haha. NH fags.

By Anonymous, at August 25, 2010 11:31 pm
Interesting debate until that anonymous fool came along. You shouldn't use words like 'totalitarian' or 'elitist' if you don't know what they mean mate. Open a book, it might help.

Oh, and I can guarantee that you are an idiot. Back in your box, clown.

Hopefully RD will delete this message and those of our anonymous idiot homophobe 15 year-old friend and we can get back to proper debate.

By Mike, at August 25, 2010 11:52 pm
Oh yeah, I meant to mention that I am always impressed by and indeed quite scared of internet tough guys.

Please don't hurt me!

By Mike, at August 25, 2010 11:56 pm
Good hit, pass a bit telegraphed.

By Mise, at August 26, 2010 12:26 am
I agree with anon, you always see this attitude from upper class toffs who played the game at their posh schools in the UK.
"It's not American wrestling, shoudler charges are uncouth... blah, blah, blah"
All good tackles are hits with the shoulder.
It's a retarded rule.
This tackle was exectued exactly the same way as alot of tackles that get called shoulders, except the guy who got tacled didn';t get smashed enough that he flew backwards, and Gear was able to go to ground with him.
Mike, man up is an expression Aussies use sometimes, it's kind of tounge in cheek, but the message is clear enough. Stop having a cry about "improper" tackling techniques.
You just sound like an upper-class toff with no cojones.
Shoudlers aren't dangerous, I played league and union growing up and never got injured from a shoulder charge, it just doesn't happen that way much. The worse tha happens is you get winded.
Scrums are far more dangerous, as are rucks.

By Tommy, at August 26, 2010 12:38 am
What is this obsession with 'upper-class', and what has my 'class' (if you go in for that bullshit) got to do with anything? By the way, being educated does not make you a 'toff' - the last time I heard someone make that argument I was ten, and so was the other guy.

Serious question, have you guys ever been outside Australia?

By Mike, at August 26, 2010 1:30 am
The toffs are angry again. It'll be great when they realise they're universally hated.

Please crawl into your holes. You've acted as an anchor on the game of Rugby for too long.

You're an embarassment to the game.

Bloody silver-spooners.

By Chris, at August 26, 2010 1:35 am
Lol at the one guy posting ten times with different names - get a life man!

By Gavin, at August 26, 2010 2:46 am
Great tackle by Gear, he has to be looked at seriously for the RWC squad for next year. He had the best form of any NZ winger in the super 14's this year.
As for who he should replace??? There is no one in the AB's backline who deserve to be stood down or dropped to make room for Gear or anyone else. Yes at the start of the June tests i was calling for him to replace Rokocoko but Joe has proved he deserves to be there.

As for the debate on allowing shoulder charges in rugby union having been hit by a few during my playing days i believe they should stay where they are, with league. And before you blokes start calling me a toff know this, i grew up in NZ 1 of 9 kids, i was educated through the NZ public system.

Having my jaw broken through a misdirected shoulder charge, watched a mate get his eye socket smashed from another misdirected shoulder charge both of which the refs missed. Yes these are 2 incidents that are probably outside the norm for league players but they were during union matches and are outside the LAWS of the game, we are not trained in how to absorb these types of hits.

By Anonymous, at August 26, 2010 5:12 am
I tend to agree with Gavin.

There's nothing 'toff' or elitist about liking rugby the way it is. Rugby League is there for you if you fancy shoulder hits, etc. In all my years I've never heard this debate in person, so it always surprises me when it springs up on the internet.

By Greiffel, at August 26, 2010 7:31 am
Hi Greiffel - thanks for being the voice of reason...

Hey anon poster - you are an example of sibling coitus (you might need a dictionary for that one). Why don't you grow some pubes and come back in 5 years.

As one of the NH "toffs" who grew up in an industrial town and played both codes I find the vitriol of some of the SH posters pretty sad....Thanks to the "toffs" rugby was invented - no matter how bad us pathetic Europeans play!

DH - get over the anti-league status too mate. You are an example of someone that gives people in the Southern Hemisphere the idea that we all are a bunch of"toffs". What's the point in wasting your energy commenting on a game you have clearly not played.

Back to the initial debate - playing within the rules is what makes the game what it is. I tend to agree with Greiffel/Gavin re shoulder charges due to the style of play in Union. Shoulder charges can come in from more sideways complex angles in modern Rugby Union and therefore are harder to prepare for/protect yourself against injury from.

Yours a big european toff/poofter/elitist/whinging pom etc.....

By NiWiTa, at August 26, 2010 2:16 pm
Shoudlers shouldn't be ilegal.
They are just as many injuries from normal tackles.
Besides, what some people call a shoulder, isn;t one under the rules.
The law simply states a player must make an attempt to grasp the other player.
The law is intended to stop people tucking their arms up and racing in side on. That's a shoulder charge.
Any takcle that doesn't involve the tackelr getting his arms round is NOT a shoulder charge. As long as he makes some attempt to bring his arms and hands into play, it's not a shoulder charge.
Good tackles are getting penalised and then this ridiculous over reaction is getting applauded by wowsers who apparently don't like the physical side of rugby.
If it's a matter of injuries, we better start banning scrums and rucks, cuz they both result in much more and much more serious injuries.
Jesus, we may as well ban tackling altogether, cuz it's no less dangerous than shoulder charging.

By Jono, at August 27, 2010 12:35 am
Jono - I take your point, but I'd be interested in seeing research on the relative dangers of 'normal tackles' (i.e. rugby tackles) and shoulder charges (which do not involve grabbing the opponent at all). I'd really be astonished if the injuries caused by the bigger impact of shoulder charges was not much greater. You also need to bear in mind the long-term wear-and-tear that players get these days, it's not like the amateur days anymore, and I reckon a lot of modern players like BOD and Umaga may end up crippled with long-term joint and back injuries because of their extremely physical style of play.

Just to be clear, I loved the physical side of the game when I played, otherwise I'd be watching and playing another sport now. But I don't want to be afraid to see my kids play the game if they risk serious long-term damage - and that's not good for the game coming from a fan and former player. Can you imagine what mothers must think? "Hmm...my little Johnny can play football and maybe get rich, or he can play rugby and maybe get crippled..."

Not good for the health of the sport.

By Mike, at August 27, 2010 3:19 am
Mike, I hoenstly put that down to your inexposure to rugby league.
I'm an Aussie, and like alot of Aussies, I played both rugby union and league growing up and watch both.
Once you've been on the end of a few shoulders (or administered them) you realise they are essentially not really different from normal tackles. They just look more specatucalr, cuz one guy often goes flying thru the air. But it's often the defender, not the guy with the ball.
Either way, in my experience, I'd much rather get shouldered (Im actually you used to love people trying it on me, cuz I rated my chances of putting them on their arses), than picked up and dumped on my back (legal in both sports, as it should be), or recieve a textbook tackle to the ribs. Shoudler's aren't that bad mate.
Besides which, modern tackling technique, which all pros use, is essentialy to put on a shoulder hit, then fling the arms round.
It's the only way to stop the big units.
Problem is people get penalised for tackling well now in union, even though under the laws they aren't charging, and are actually preforming text book tackles, as they're trained to do, so well the other guy is going flying backwards.
It's a tough sport, and if your concern is injuries, again scrums are much, much, much more dangerous, as are rucks.

By Jono, at August 27, 2010 5:39 am
Fair points Jono.

By Mike, at August 27, 2010 8:25 pm