Midweek Madness - James Semple throws up after big tackle

This incident from New Zealand’s ITM Cup was requested via the Rugbydump Facebook Page last week, so after a bit of digging, here is the clip in question as we see young James Semple take a big knock, and suffer for it.

Despite surprising many and having a great start to the season, the Counties Manukau side have had their string of injuries and while they’ve got the midfield general Tana Umaga’s experience to call on, they’ve been hit hard in certain positions.

At flyhalf, or first five-eighth as they call it in New Zealand, they lost key man Baden Kerr to a lower back strain. Kerr was instrumental in their early successes and a real loss for the side.

Bring on 20 year old James Semple, who a week before the Tasman game made his debut against Waikato off the bench. He lacked the composure and confidence that a player like Kerr has, but a week later he got his first start for Counties, against Tasman.

He was much improved and actually showed a lot of maturity and control in a game that the Steelers won convincingly, 23-3.

In the first half he took this solid hit from Tasman wing James Kamana, who obviously got him in in exactly the right spot, as Semple lay strewn on the floor, and eventually brought up whatever it was he had to snack on before the game.

Tana Umaga very kindly helped to help clean up the mess.


Time: 01:46

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