Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Lifeimi Mafi cited for two high tackles + Brian O'Driscoll try

Monday, October 04, 2010

Lifeimi Mafi cited for two high tackles + Brian O'Driscoll try

Leinster beat Munster 13-9 in their Magners League derby match at a packed Aviva Stadium on Saturday night. Brian O’Driscoll scored the winning try for Leinster, while Munster center Lefeimi Mafi made two bad high tackles, for which he has now been cited. Both tackles and the try are included here.

The atmosphere at the new Lansdowne Road venue was superb as a passionate crowd braved the heavy rain to cheer on their sides. In the end it was the Leinster team who came out trumps thanks to BOD going over with ten minutes left in the game.

His opposing center, Munster’s Mafi, has been cited for two offences. Firstly he made a terrible tackle on Gordon Darcy midway through the opening half. Darcy lay prone on the ground for quite some time, but managed to play on after a few minutes of treatment. Mafi has been cited under law 10.4(a) for allegedly punching or striking.

It wasn’t picked up by the ref or his assistants but later in the game he made a similar tackle on Leinster fullback Rob Kearney, resulting in a yellow card. He has been cited under law 10.4(e) for that one, for an alleged dangerous tackle.

Hewill attened at hearing with a Irish Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel which will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, in Belfast at 16:00. He was cited by an independent citing commissioner who there at the ground. Hugh Logan and Stephen Hilditch will chair the hearing.

On a more positive note, O’Driscoll’s try is included here as well, after the Mafi tackles.

Want to watch Heineken Cup rugby live this upcoming weekend? We've got tickets for six different matches to give away. Find out more here - Heineken Cup tickets

1st

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 5:59 pm
great try, those tackles were both horendous!!
The first was basically him chinning the poor bugger.
Although Kearney lowered his body position it was still a very high tackling attempt.
There should be no doubt in any rugby player or fans mind that these are worth a citing and more than a yellow on the day.

By Bradders, at October 04, 2010 6:09 pm
Kearney should stop thinking he can just dance his way around people like he used to. Clearly he's not half the player he was before the lions tour anymore.
He was a promising player though s

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 6:10 pm
have to love O'Leary saying "For Fucks sake !" @ 2:04 when the ref blew the final whistle, he obviously thought there was enough time for Munster to attack from the penalty lineout.

By ConnachtFan, at October 04, 2010 6:37 pm
From a Munster fan, should get several weeks.

First warrants a card, 2 in one match regardless of Kearney lowering into it deserves suspension.

Munster looked shocking in attack. And don't give me bull about the rain. NZ teams (esp Wellington and Canterbury) always play as good in wet as dry. Keith Earls, please come back soon.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at October 04, 2010 6:41 pm
Agree Connachtfan.

More to do with the fact it was actually a great kick, and he'll never kick a ball as good again.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at October 04, 2010 6:43 pm
I think Mafi should consider himself lucky not to get 2 yellows or even a straight red for the first 'tackle'.
A forearm in the throat is krav maga. Not rugby.

By no' bad ay..., at October 04, 2010 6:51 pm
That guy just doesn't know how to tackle.

By Andy, at October 04, 2010 6:55 pm
I love the way its in irish!ya could have taken the clip from setanta in english.

maith an buachaill!

By Andy F, at October 04, 2010 7:19 pm
wtf???that was a RED! Are pacific islander going to try and play fair ever???

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 7:21 pm
pacific islanders. nuff said

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 7:30 pm
Great to here it in irish at last,much more excitin

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 7:49 pm
Hey, I was got the TG4 feed of this as well, and not speaking Irish, could someone enlighten me as to what "baltashun" (that'd be the best phonetic spelling I can muster), or maybe "baldusin" or something means? They say it over and over again during the match...

Regarding Mafi, I think he's a good player and all, but he's played rugby for how long and still doesn't know how to tackle? I'm a Munster fan, so I cringe any time I see him lining someone up because he almost never makes a textbook tackle and I'm just waiting for him to get penalized.

Where is Earls, by the way? Out on injury?

By kehoe, at October 04, 2010 7:57 pm
got to say this situation with pacific islanders is getting ridiculous

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 8:08 pm
oh look... a high illegal tackle but between two guys who are a similar build....and no Red.........backs up chris' point about damien and tuilagi

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 8:36 pm
To be fair to Mafi, he _can_ tackle really well. he just doesn't all the time.
Remember that tackle on Chabal 2 years ago (in RD archives)? He was an animal all match with the tackling. (and yes I know he was yellowed in that one also!)

By mise, at October 04, 2010 8:50 pm
Can't believe he played the whole game. Should have been two yellows if not at a red for the tackle on D'arcy.

By Canadian content, at October 04, 2010 8:54 pm
pacific islanders have a different style of play altogether, do not go and stereotype as usual....have you forgotten that Howlett and Tuitupou are both Pacific Islanders.....where would this sport be without us pacific islanders?

By Safe Trading, at October 04, 2010 9:31 pm
Eh - Kearney can't sidestep people ? Did you actually watch the game - he undid nearly half the munster backline and passed to fitzgereld for him to run in for a try literally 2 mins before this.

A sidestep who doesnt run at the opposition will be dropped very quickly as well

By BigBucks, at October 04, 2010 9:35 pm
Players like Mafi, Rabeni or Tuilagi often help their team to win with their technique, power and speed but sometimes they make them loose with the number of yellow and red card they receive.

By Anonymous, at October 04, 2010 9:51 pm
MAfi is a great tackler but this definitely deserves a citing. He'll probably get off due to the ridiculous system used in the Magners. Fair play to darcy for playing on after that.

Leamy, quinlan and ROG need to watch the back chat to refs it could cost them in the future

By Third centre, at October 04, 2010 9:58 pm
should of not been on the park after the first tacklle let alone the secound one take a break and carry some H2o for a while mafi

evisserpmi woh eht rotatnemmoc sklat sdrawkcab tsum fo nekat sraey ot tcefrep

impressive how the commentator talks backwards must of taken years to perfect

By paddy, at October 04, 2010 10:15 pm
great tackles... good man Mafi.... !!!

By micheal cheika, at October 04, 2010 11:53 pm
I love Magners league, but we don't get any games televised in Aussie. It sucks!

By Nicko, at October 05, 2010 12:03 am
What's this got to do with Race?
i'm sick of all your couch critics sitting there with your anonymous names and saying shit like 'pacific islanders, nuff said' they aren't the only ones who head high in rugby you racist biggots.
and this line that i love 'got to say this situation with pacific islanders is getting ridiculous' - are you serious??? what situation??? the one where Rugbydump puts up two videos of two brown boys who made head high tackles now all of a sudden the situaion is ridiculous?? give me a break you clown. put your name up, stop being a pussy and hiding behind your computer. two stupid tackles by two very talented and well natured people. that's it.

but i'm going to join the band wagon, hey RD.. please post some white boys up here who head high tackle please? because there's only an uproar when Pacific islanders do it.

By Simon Ioane, at October 05, 2010 12:08 am
Good call Simon. Leave the brown boys alone. Where would rugby be without PIs? The entertainment factor would be way low. What you have to realise is in the village it's a completely different sport. Even in the parks and school yards of New Zealand. Alot of these hits would just be considered part of the game. The fact is we try to hit hard with every tackle. That means on the rare occassions it is miss-timed it looks particularly bad. But you Northern boys know all this is part of the package and keep importing our players so it's quite hypocritical if you bag us for the qualities that makes you sign our players in the first place.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 12:39 am
Simon get off your high horse, it is not racist to say that Pacific Islanders, as a group, make a lot of high, dangerous tackles. Not all of them do. And plenty of others who aren't Islanders do. But it's clear to anyone who looks at facts and isn't in some politically correct bubble that Islanders make a disproportionate amount of these hits compared to any other group of rugby players, relative to the number of them playing in any particular league. They also have a disproportionate number of back rows and back three players because of their incredible physique, which is superior in many regards to European Caucasians and a lot of other ethnic groups. But of course it's not racist to state this fact because it reflects them in a positive light. Get over yourself mate.

By DH, at October 05, 2010 12:47 am
How is it racist when people notice that Pacific Islanders are responsible for a large share of high/late/dangerous tackles. They are just using their eyes. They are not saying that all islanders commit high tackles, but of the high tackles commited, plenty are by Islanders, who have an unfortunate habit of swinging their arms around at neck height. Mafi might be pumped up but the way he goes in is not even rugby.

By John F, at October 05, 2010 12:48 am
How is it racist when people notice that Pacific Islanders are responsible for a large share of high/late/dangerous tackles. They are just using their eyes. They are not saying that all islanders commit high tackles, but of the high tackles commited, plenty are by Islanders, who have an unfortunate habit of swinging their arms around at neck height. Mafi might be pumped up but the way he goes in is not even rugby.

By John F, at October 05, 2010 12:48 am
To one of the many anonymous I admire you for sticking up for pacific islanders and I don't agree there is a situation etc etc but are you really telling that this is a legal tackle where they play rugby. That's bollox. Black, white, brown whatever this tackle would leave anyone down seeing stars and it's a yellow card. I also don't buy into this being tough nonsense. The game requires skill, technique and intelligence. This tackle had none. I'm sure Mafi would put his hands up and say yeah sorry that was a shit tackle.

By Andy, at October 05, 2010 1:48 am
@ Kehoe..............."An Babhta seo". This translates to "This time". For example....before Kearney got high tackled, commentator says Kearney an babhta seo......Kearney this time.

Mafi very lucky not to get a straight red with hit on D'Arcy.

By Outside Centre, at October 05, 2010 1:57 am
your all a bunch of pussies, those were yellow card offenses, not red.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 2:22 am
Andy

Yes.. these types of tackle do go unpunished in the islands. It is as much a part of our game as side-stepping, flair, etc. We do consider it a proper challenge to our opposition. I miss the islands!! hahaha

But we as islanders need to stop bringing that same mentality outside the islands. We can't win with one(or 2) guys on the bench.

By islandstylin', at October 05, 2010 2:39 am
Andy it most definitely is legal. You need to experience village rugby, the game is alot different and there aren't exactly alot of highly qualified refs around. And in NZ also boys all play rugby at lunchtime and after school in the park/paddock and these games are unreffed and anything goes, you try to keep it legal for safety and sportsmanships sake but nobody is going to get told to piss off for a bit of over enthusiasm (which is what we would call it). This is why we have good rugby instincts but also why our instincts sometimes get the better of us. Like I said, it is the NH that is so desperate for Pacific players so it is hypocritical to get shitty when you don't like our play.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 2:43 am
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 2:47 am
Simon Ioane... dont try and play the race card. Mr. politically correct, fuck you and your 678 cousins.

Btw, this level of rugby nearly ruined Jean de Villiers. He is only now getting back to the form he was in before he left. Not South african but I do watch the currie cup and notice things.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 2:53 am
Yeah, not the best tackling, the first one in particular, that was a classic swingin arm.
Should sit on the sidelines for a week or two for two head highs like that.
Not too bad though, these things happen, people calling for red cards and stuff need to stop watching so much soccer.
They're just head highs, they happen.
Maybe a yellow for the first one if the ref was feeling particularlay harsh, but the second wasn't even very high, he got him below the chin, around the neck, easy to do without meaning it.

By Bill, at October 05, 2010 3:02 am
First tackle should have been a red. In the absence of a competent referee, the Leinster players should have disciplined Mafi themselves.
After the second tackle, Mafi should have been sporting tiger stripes from a decent Leinster rucking.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 3:05 am
Red would be a massive overreaction.
It's a swinging arm, they happen, red cards should be reserved for repeated infringments after multiple warnings or massively dirty play like eye gouging.
A swinging arm is usually just a penalty, maybe a yelloe if the ref is a bit of a pedant.

By Tom, at October 05, 2010 3:51 am
Hey, Outside Centre, thanks for the answer!

Man...Irish orthography is even more confusing than French. I'd hate to be an Irish stenographer.

By kehoe, at October 05, 2010 5:45 am
This whole thing about Islanders is bullshit.
It's not the case in the south.
They just tackle hard, like all southerners, harder than northerners it seems.
It's just a rougher tougher game down south, I am usually blown away by how much Europeans freak out because of a big tackle or the odd head high.
Suck it up.

By Islander, at October 05, 2010 7:32 am
is that sam tuitupou playing in 12. was wondering what happened to him.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 8:13 am
Islander, Mafi's tackle is just as illegal in the south. I wouldn't agree with the blanket statement that islanders in general are reckless or dangerous, as there are many pacific islanders who play well within the laws of the game and are model ruggers. It's not only islanders who break the rules. And "Europeans" don't necessarily "freak out" - if you watched the game, there wasn't much jeering of Mafi's first (the worse of the two, I thought) tackle on D'Arcy. It was only when he did it again that he got punished.

I think islandstylin' nailed it on the head.

By bacon is deliciouos, at October 05, 2010 8:24 am
guys,could you PLEAAAASE spare us the racism bullshit for once? racism is being an excuse! no one ever said that PIs are not good players, they are awesome players, but it seems it is in their culture to tackle high! I remember a high tackle from Nalaga on JB Elissalde in an international game 2 years ago when he got off the field and straight to the hospital!
and for fuck's sake stop always hiding behind the easy "racism" excuse: there ARE differents ways of playing, just as there ARE different cultures, including rugby cultures. italians do like pasta, french people do like bread (just go in France and you'll see there are shops specialised in hundreds of different types of bread) is it racist to say that??? NO
just as it is not racist to say that nearly half the dangerous tackles are made by PIs!!!!!!!and there SHOULD be something made about that or there'll be deads next!

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 9:19 am
"Like I said, it is the NH that is so desperate for Pacific players so it is hypocritical to get shitty when you don't like our play."
get over yourself mate, no one asks them to come in NH, they just come for the money and because the level is good, no one would miss a bench of guys in such a huge amount of clubs...do you actually pretend NH rugby wouldn't be the same without them? one guy in every two or three teams? if this isn't BOLLOCKS....the only difference would probably be for some beheaded guys everyone knows hahaha

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 9:25 am
jesus, it'll be great when RD gets rid of allowing anonymous posts.

including this one.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 9:27 am
How is it racist when people notice that Pacific Islanders are responsible for a large share of high/late/dangerous tackles.

.....

Because there's 0 evidence to suggest this is true.

You only come to that conclusion because you're a racist bigot.

By Chris, at October 05, 2010 9:37 am
This whole thing about Islanders is bullshit.
It's not the case in the south.
They just tackle hard, like all southerners, harder than northerners it seems.
It's just a rougher tougher game down south, I am usually blown away by how much Europeans freak out because of a big tackle or the odd head high.
Suck it up.

........

Mate European rugby is soft. If we were banished from rugby all together the game would thrive.

The only thing holding back rugby is British toffs. They want to bring it all back to the amateur era

By Chris, at October 05, 2010 9:41 am
just as it is not racist to say that nearly half the dangerous tackles are made by PIs!!!!!!!and there SHOULD be something made about that or there'll be deads next!

.....

Did you know most serious rugby injuries are from scrums? Maybe we should ban white people are scrummaging if that's the case?

By Chris, at October 05, 2010 9:43 am
"Because there's 0 evidence to suggest this is true.

You only come to that conclusion because you're a racist bigot."

0 evidence like the evidence that comes up on this site all the time? Racism would be saying that they put in bad tackles because Islanders are all disgusting human beings. Noticing that Islanders seem to be responsible for quite a lot of high profile high and dangerous tackles is inevitable I'm afraid. You're free to throw the term racism around if you want, but it's thick.

By John F, at October 05, 2010 9:44 am
First tackle was horrendous; the second actually does not look as bad from front on, a bit high but not really dangerous. Seems to be the double-hit that puts the hurt on Kearney much more than the Mafi tackle.

It's the chin-shot on D'Arcy that's inexcusable.

By edbok, at October 05, 2010 10:31 am
I have no ties to either club or nationality of the players, but personally the first tackle was borderline red-worthy for me....i was just all wrong....

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 12:54 pm
GREAT RESULT

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 1:33 pm
LOL at O'Leary!!! Dope!

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 1:38 pm
Chris and all his anonymous doppels...I mean supporters...you do not own rugby. If you want to watch something with lots of collisions and not much skill, they make WWE for people like you.

Most ACTUAL rugby fans watch it for the skills of the players. I'm not interested in watching top level rugby where guys have a career of 3 years and the great skilled players like BOD and Carter are either physical wrecks after a few years or never bother to play professionally because it is too risky.

Big tackles are an important part of the game - but they are only a part. Big tackles that can cripple people are not part of the game and never should be. You say that attitude is soft. I say you are a keyboard warrior and have no idea what you are talking about.

By Mike, at October 05, 2010 4:52 pm
Thanks for the highlights RD.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 5:49 pm
In all fairness Chris im not one to say 'lets get pacific islanders out of the game'

But its clear as day that although theres plenty of white blokes who make these tackles, a huge amount of these tackles are made by pacific islanders....

i.e they play to impose themselves...whether its a lack discipline or just a lack of getting low, i dunno, he just deserves a ban....

By (u-p)rick, at October 05, 2010 7:34 pm
Thanks for posting. For some reason, the replay cut off just before it showed what happened. In fact, they seemed to cut everything of just before it happened. The tackles, the scraps, the card, etc. The entire crowd groaned every time the logo came up on the big screen. Really fucking annoying.

The ref did seem to have a good view of the first, even if he was a bit far back. Should have been able to give the yellow then.

Kearney should stop thinking he can just dance his way around people like he used to.

He did just that in the match and made an excellent break. The first though that came to my mind was "why does he not do that more often instead of doing an up and under"?

Oh and dont try and make a big deal with o driscals try, it was the first thing hes done in years and even that was a simple walk over and put down try.

O' Driscoll made some perfectly clear contributions which weren't shown in this clip. Make sure you've actually watched the player you're going to try and criticize him.

-KG

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 7:34 pm
Ceapaim go bhfuil sé go h-íontach, an rugbaí ar an teilifís ar TG4 agus duine ag caint as Gaeilge.
Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam lads.

Whenever you see the Welsh highlights with the Welsh commentary Im like "ughhhhhh" but now that its in Irsh makes me feel strangely proud and patriotic

By jej, at October 05, 2010 9:50 pm
Lets get out of the rascism and into the interesting business, Munster in fairness were missing three key players. I mean o connell, flannery and earls would have made a difference, and I predict Munster will do the double this year!

By Paul Gormley, at October 05, 2010 10:12 pm
There is no racism involved here....

It is clear to see a large 'proportion' of 'dangerous' (even those we say "it wasn't that bad" to) are performed by Pacific Islanders (in one way or another)

Is it coincidence? maybe, but it is a fact....

Does it make ALL pacific islanders thugs and scum of the earth? ofcourse not...

By Resident Troll, at October 05, 2010 10:56 pm
Mafi got 7 weeks...

Think that's fair. Upper end of the dangerous tackle offence.

By Anonymous, at October 05, 2010 11:56 pm
This bullshit about Islanders makes me sick.
I'm not an Islander btw, but enough of this bullshit.
There's plenty of high tackles by white guys, EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.
You just don't take notice of them, because when you see a brown guy do it, it registers that he's an Islander and justifies your bullshit.
It was just a swinging arm, they happen all the time, at every level of the game, ban him for a few weeks, like you would any player.
And then shut up about it.

By Bill, at October 06, 2010 12:08 am
yawn yawn yawn.
On one side there's them wot say: islanders tackle hard and occasionally a bit high.
On the otherside, there's them wot say........

la même chose

one side is accused of racism, the udder (in a world of actual debate)of naiveté.

Meanwhile, a disproportionately high number of islander play like islanders.

It can be a better defensive game, or it can be a bit ott - that islander game - eitherways, its not as extreme as the debate here.

Chill out.

How about discussing the merits or otherwise of islander style defence?

By mise, at October 06, 2010 2:37 am
I say get rid of the islanders. England don't need them. Look at our power house English squad, we are the number one team in the world and dominate every year. Our team is all white and all born and breed Englishmen. How many nations can say that?

By Anonymous, at October 06, 2010 3:39 am
0 evidence like the evidence that comes up on this site all the time? Racism would be saying that they put in bad tackles because Islanders are all disgusting human beings. Noticing that Islanders seem to be responsible for quite a lot of high profile high and dangerous tackles is inevitable I'm afraid. You're free to throw the term racism around if you want, but it's thick.

..........

Whenever you see a bad tackle by an Islander the first thing that comes to your head is "Pacific Islander". You're already subconsciously racist, that's how you come to the conclusion.

When a white guy does a high tackle ethnicity doesn't even enter your mind.

Funny that.

By Chris, at October 06, 2010 4:11 am
Big tackles are an important part of the game - but they are only a part. Big tackles that can cripple people are not part of the game and never should be. You say that attitude is soft. I say you are a keyboard warrior and have no idea what you are talking about.

...........

So we're agreed. Lets get rid of scrums. They're too dangerous. Lets be rid of them.

If you want to go that route of being all high and mighty and about player safety then lets get rid of the most dangerous aspects of the game. Scrums and rucking.

In relative terms tackling is one of the safest areas of the game. Second only to the lineout.

Where as scrums and rucks are a massive danger zone, having left many players paralysed from the neck down.

If we're about safety they should be gone. Or you can shut the fuck up and stop crying about any tackle above the nipples.

By Chris, at October 06, 2010 4:15 am
Any sort of big tackle should be illegal. It makes the game very unsafe and makes kids not want to play anymore.

By Anonymous, at October 06, 2010 4:28 am
Chris is right, if you thinkt ackling can be dangerous, and don't want it to be part of the game as a result, you must absolutly want to get rid of scrums and rucks.
They're about 100 times more likely to result in a serious, life-altering injury.
Or maybe you should just go watch another sport, like badminton or golf.

By Jono, at October 06, 2010 6:38 am
from playing rugby in auckland these tackles are part and parcel of the game here.. dere considered big hits and kearney ducked into the tackle time for d d4 lads to tuffen up.

By Anonymous, at October 06, 2010 6:55 am
I say get rid of the islanders. England don't need them. Look at our power house English squad, we are the number one team in the world and dominate every year. Our team is all white and all born and breed Englishmen. How many nations can say that?

-----------------------------------

I am an English player, our team is all white and born & bred englishmen.... erm Paul Sackey & Ugo Monye = Not White.

Shontey Hape & Ricki Flutey are not british.

Your comment is racist and there is no space for that in the game. Keep it to yourself you anonymous keyboard warrior.

In relation to the tackles. Mafi (not PI's just this one) has a habit of making this kind of tackle. Second one is clumsy but the first one is a late, cheap shot that could really have hurt D'arcy. Nothing brave about hitting a player in the head late from behind. Deserves his ban.

By Tom Bishop, Gravesend, at October 06, 2010 1:24 pm
I love mafi, such a dude, hits hard for a small fella, at the end of the days its rugby piss off and play soccer if you dont like it! I hope mafi plays for Ireland some day.

By rico, at October 06, 2010 4:32 pm
its actually much more racist from a SH guy to keep on saying "european rugby's shit, its for sissies" without actually following any NH tournament more than occasionnally.

Seriously guys, stop bringing the whole NH is shit all the time, lets not compare what cannot be compared:
NH players play MUCH more games ( IRB made a comparison between frenchman Thieery Dussautoir and McCaw: froggie plays 20 to 30 more games A YEAR!) and are not allowed any products you guys can take.(let's not start a fight on that: no one gives a fuck).
when it comes to international rugby, you SH guys spend half the year with your national team, and the other half with a good part of it.

back to this tackle: as for the "tough guys" who keep on saying that "rugby's a mans sport and so on" and imply there are no rules whatsoever, well it just proves you've never played rugby because being seriously injured by a foolish move sucks: at least a regular tackle that breaks you something, all you can say is "fair enough". when a SOB or rips your head off coz he's not good enough to make a fair tackle in the particular situation, he just deserves to be sent off!
sorry for the long post, I've read too much nonsense of "tough guys" who know nothing, and some (not every) SH guys who should be a bit more humble.
Paco

By Anonymous, at October 06, 2010 5:56 pm
Is aoibheann liom gaeilge!!!

By Anonymous, at October 06, 2010 7:23 pm
no place for that type of play on any pitch in any part of the world... shocker, did anyone else spot quinnlan trying to trip, i think it was fitzgerald???

By Ronan, at October 06, 2010 10:50 pm
My favourite moment was after the second tackle when number 4 0r 5 drags O'Gara out of the 'scrap'. O'Gara then goes rushing back and finds a much smaller player to 'calm down' :)

First tackle was not a swinging arm it was a punch!! Second tackle poor timing.

So in your 'playground rugby' the kids punch each other to toughen up! Macho Rubbish!

PI are awesome to watch as their ability to play open rugby is immense! The game wouldn't be the same without them.

And ANON, keep your BNP attitudes out of rugby please!

By Jimbo, at October 06, 2010 11:19 pm
It was a swinging arm, regardless if he punched him, they're basically the same thing.
Ban for a few weeks if fine for that.
Let's not hyperventilate about it is all.
In regards to Paco, the SH produces bette rplayers because of the focus of their rugby. SH players tend to have better skills (passing, stepping, reading the play and descision making).
Physically there's almost no difference between the players, they do virtually the same conditioning work and gym work in both hemispheres.
It's the speed if the play down south, combined with a focus on skills training from an early age and a commitment to running rugy as a philosophy.

In terms of games played, the top South African and NZ players play in just as much rugby. They play S14, plus their domestic comps (Currie Cup and ITM Cup) and Internationals.
Amount of rugby is not what the NH lacks. It's the type of ruby player they develop and the style they employ.

And it's not racist to say that, don't be daft.

And it aint tought o say that i n Europe they pull out too many cards, and that dangerous tackles aren't nearly as dangerous as scrummaging or rucking. Scrums are the most dangerous part of the game, but you don't see people hyperventialting over scrums.

By Tom, at October 07, 2010 1:10 am
Rico

hahaha i am the same size as mafi.. but you know what?? we play with a chip on our shoulder because we've always been "small" for a Pacific Islander.. (there are some stereotypes even we believe haha)

i don't know if that's what drives us "small" PI but we do try to make up for the size disparity.. look at brian lima.. he's relatively small too

By islandstylin', at October 07, 2010 4:40 am
sad postings by many and bigoted arguments - will look at RD a few more days and if the racist (NH, SH and PI) prats continue...then time to move on to another rugby site permanently.........sad but true...

Thanks RD keep posting the clips and maybe the arseholes will go away and play with their bits...

By NiWiTa, at October 08, 2010 3:34 pm
NiWiTa, the only thing you value on RD is the discussion boards..?

Anyway, if that is the case, why not just join the forum?

By Greiffel, at October 08, 2010 3:55 pm
PI are bad high tacklers but you must admit that Caucasian are great Eye Gougers.....at least when we tackle the opposition gets back up and keeps on playing....

By Anonymous, at October 09, 2010 7:42 pm
Just to add to the all the idiots on here; spotted this clown trying to excuse Munster being rubbish

"Paul Gormley said...
Lets get out of the rascism and into the interesting business, Munster in fairness were missing three key players. I mean o connell, flannery and earls would have made a difference, and I predict Munster will do the double this year!"

Yeah Paul there still crap; five in a row and earls flannery and o connell were there for nearly all of them; what a croak of rubbish; i was really hoping no one would try that old chestnut

By Kenny, at October 12, 2010 5:07 pm