Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Nick Abendanon's try saving tackle on Zee Ngwenya

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Nick Abendanon's try saving tackle on Zee Ngwenya

Biarritz beat Bath 12-11 in a low scoring but tense game at the Rec on the weekend. Bath failed to take their chances in the Heineken Cup home game, but this quick clip is of a nice try saving tackle that was requested earlier in the week.

Bath scored an excellent try via Michael Claason’s that followed a fantastic piece of quick hands by Olly Barkley, but it was Dimitri Yachvili of Biarritz that controlled matters as he kicked four penalties to make sure the visitors left with the win.

Barkley did have a chance late in the game to have a crack with a drop goal, but for whatever reason Bath chose to move the ball wide, resulting in a turnover and a blundered opportunity. Coach Steve Meehan has since said that his team needs to grow up.

"It's actually quite difficult to put into words," said head coach Meehan. "We played a very good first half - we got all the decisions right - but a few technical penalties went against us in the second half. And then with four minutes to go, we had an opportunity to win the match, but we didn't take it."

"We've got to grow up and take the points. It's straightforward, it is about being ruthless, getting the job done and getting it through the sticks. Simple. Drop-goals and penalties win games. They kick the penalties and keep the scoreboard ticking over. We had the opportunity and didn't take it," he added.

Besides the try, there was another highlight for Bath and that was this well timed tackle by fullback Nick Abendanon as speedster Zee Ngwenya got the ball in a tiny bit of space, all he needs usually. If Abendanon hadn’t committed then, the flying Eagles wing would have been gone for all money. A memorable moment from a frustrating day for the home side.

Time: 01:24

first

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2010 10:22 pm
seven hundred and fourty third!! cool beans look at me!!!!

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2010 10:35 pm
should have gone himself

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2010 10:40 pm
Why on earth did he make that pass?

By Espancatio, at October 14, 2010 10:48 pm
over-reation from the commentator really. they were all running the same speed as the centre who broke away, meaning nick could just stay with Z because they were not moving that fast.

lets hope for another great weekend of heineken cup rugby

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2010 10:50 pm
good effort
but i just dont understand why the centre didnt back himself, surely he could have gone another 10-15meters, and if he ever got tackle by nick abendanon, Takudzwa Ngwenya would have been there for the off-load...

By Luxi, at October 14, 2010 11:12 pm
Did I miss something here? Abendanon was already on him before Zee got the ball. Hardly an amazing tackle. If he tore him down ala Cullen on Dominici then fair enough but, Barnes and Harrison should pull their tongue in. You're not a dog are you Stuart?

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2010 11:22 pm
the turnover from abendanon is way more impressive than the tackle. a lot of flankers could learn something from that!

By maidstoneranger, at October 14, 2010 11:32 pm
Has Zee lost a bit of his pace? This is coming from a SH guy who never gets to see much of him... so that might be a dumb question.

By Jamie, at October 14, 2010 11:50 pm
it's big news cos abendanon actually made a tackle.

nothing more.

By Anonymous, at October 14, 2010 11:50 pm
good tackle, has Ngwenya lost a bit?

Thing I find funny about these comment threads is the way the spotty 13 year old virgins always anonymously say "first". Hilarious that typing that is the only thing you will ever win in your life, first place in a forgettable and pointless comment thread. Well done you degenerate losers.

By Johnny Ireland, at October 14, 2010 11:53 pm
Good effort, but not a gorgeous try saver as abendanon and Z were running at the same speed.
the timing pass was also not very well executed

that said, i like abendanon, he is fast and full of skills. it will be interesting to watch him in international tests of november.

By Flooz, at October 14, 2010 11:56 pm
Agree with most here, tackle wasn't that impressive (no I can't do better), but they're right next to each other... if Z intercepts and has a 20m headstart, and still gets tackled, then yeah. Besides in this case the tackler had a head start

By decepti0n, at October 14, 2010 11:59 pm
Similar to a tackle I made at the weekend, admittedly at a much slower pace!

By PineTree, at October 15, 2010 12:16 am
The tackler doesn't release!

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 12:17 am
Hey great tackle.

ive posted a few pics of old rugby programmes on my flikr account if you wanna see guys, a few rare ones

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eabenny/sets/72157624697801052/

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 12:31 am
the tackle's not much as he didn't have to make up loads of ground but the turnover was excellent

Oh yeah and i agree with all the comments on why the centre didn't just backhimself!?

By Third centre, at October 15, 2010 12:33 am
Before watching the video I thought Ngwenya was chased down. Turns out he was right next to Zee when he got the ball. Good tackle though

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 12:50 am
Imagine if Ngwenya actually put on some weight like Habana.... he's kind of like a stick. Sorry, but im french and I get annoyed with him a lot because of his defense and work rate off the ball is very very poor he does the odd good thing but most games he will let in at least one try not the complete player

By Jui', at October 15, 2010 12:52 am
I have also been watching a lot of curie cup rugby lately and i say that Bjorn basson is probably faster than zee too. he has just recently broken the currie cup try scoring record of 19. he has 21 tries this season and has some serious wheels okay yes. look him up on youtube against sharks.

By Jui', at October 15, 2010 12:56 am
commentator getting a little excited there calling it the tackle of the season lol

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 12:57 am
Definitely a commentator overreaction. Abendanon didn't "catch" Ngwenya...in fact, Ngwenya made yards on Abendanon to come up past him from behind...but yeah, the ball should've never been passed.

Whatever, good try saver for Bath though.

Jui, I begrudgingly have to admit you're right (begrudgingly, because I'm from the US). As it was pointed out during this game, Ngwenya is a bit...lacking in defense. He does the BOD rush up off the line, but he does it too soon and since he's a winger, he leaves no one out there to cover for him if the ball just gets passed out wide. Maybe if he were defending as an outside center, it'd work. Habana does it every now and then, but he usually does it right and manages to come off with an interception.

By fry, at October 15, 2010 1:04 am
yes fry. dont get me wrong he can break a game wide open but yeah spot on with that assessment.

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 1:59 am
anon above is me oops.

By Jui', at October 15, 2010 2:00 am
Yeah good tackle, but it was his to make.
What I mean is that he right on Ngwenya, it would have been a real screw up if he misse dthat tackle.
It's not like it was a foot race and Abendanon chased Ngwenya down.

By Jono, at October 15, 2010 3:12 am
I watched the game and felt like Bath came juts short constantly. They have some amazing players and Olly Barkley can't be kept away from the english no. 12, in my opinion... he is a pure quality player, but I wouldn't say a reliable kicker.

BTW, imagine how Biarritz will be once Yachvili is retired. The guy has won so many games for BO barehanded.

Cheers

By Juggernauter, at October 15, 2010 4:43 am
great tackle, but then:

- he doesn't release when Zee looks for a quick off load
- turnover is made with hands in ruck

so I think he prevented a try, but it was a penalty kick

By Bonzo, at October 15, 2010 9:03 am
It should have been a penalty kick against abendanon as he does not release Ngwenya after the tackle. I guess the ref was not looking in the ruck area and did not see the abendanon hands in the ruck.

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 10:03 am
This would be a great clip if it didn't have the sound of Stuart Barnes touching himself over every little thing that Bath do. That mute button is so useful.

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 10:25 am
@Bonzo:
To this you can add that Bond is tackled after he passed the ball to prevent him from helping Z.
Should have been a penalty kick in my opinion.

By Threma, at October 15, 2010 11:28 am
... and n°12 from Biarritz is tackled without the ball at the same time.

By Dalma, at October 15, 2010 11:36 am
(Oops, Tom already noticed it)

By Dalma, at October 15, 2010 11:37 am
Ok he save the try that's it.
Bond didn't play very well.
But in this action I see three big faults.
Abendanon doesn't release Zee after tackling.
He hooks the ball with the hand (0:20)
Bath number 10 made an obstruction on Bond. But this last one is a bit unclear.

But I don't care Biarritz won this game. :)

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 1:05 pm
@ Jonny Ireland

"Hilarious that typing that is the only thing you will ever win in your life, first place in a forgettable and pointless comment thread. Well done you degenerate losers."

Perhaps a little over the top? I would have thought that degenerate losers was a label more befitting the lowest and sickest criminals in society, rather than those who type first in a thread.

Anyway, is it possible to type some code so that any first comment that just says 'first' is automatically deleted?

By Phil, at October 15, 2010 1:25 pm
had to laugh at the commentary of Barnes squawking like an excited camel on heat....well said anonymous with your earlier "This would be a great clip if it didn't have the sound of Stuart Barnes touching himself over every little thing that Bath do. That mute button is so useful."

Tackle was good but not oustanding...I'd like Ollie Barkley at number 12 for England too but imagine he would get savaged by any NZ, SA or Oz 12 currently. What is his tackling like?

By NiWiTa, at October 15, 2010 2:28 pm
what that was hardly a chase down, good tackle technique. WATCH the 1999 france vs all blacks game when cullen chases down dominici

By rosh, at October 15, 2010 4:52 pm
I am very sorry but i do not understand. It is a tackle. what else ?

By Anonymous, at October 15, 2010 6:27 pm
Olly Barkley's tackling isn't the best, but he's no O'Gara. He won't make that big hit you'd expect from 10's like Wilikinson or Stepehen Jones, but will commit to tackles, like a Trinh Duc or Carter.

But he's got the flair needed urgently in the Engnand squad. I'm not a massive England fan but you gotta give credit to them form inventing the sport, and they keep the traditions of rugby clean so I don't dislike them and I like them doing well.

Between Maybe Geraghty to start at 10 in not-so-important games and give Barkley a shot at 12? Wilko will not live forever and Flood... well he's a good club player but not really up there with guys like Quade Cooper, Giteau, Nonu, de Villiers...

This monologue has been going for too long.

Cheers

By Juggernauter, at October 15, 2010 6:33 pm
retarded

By not a spastic unlike......................., at October 15, 2010 10:35 pm
Anybody notice the illegal turnover?

Abendenon didn't realease his man and was off his feet as he slapped the ball back.

Should have been a pen to biaritz.

By Fridge, at October 16, 2010 1:11 am
Ngwenya have another 10 extra gears that he did not use. This tackle is exaggaerated, like he chased Ngwenya and caught him.. It was good reading of the game as Nick did not allow Ngwenya to get into first gear. First Gear amd there is no contest..

By Anonymous, at October 16, 2010 1:20 pm
anyone else notice this was an example for where the refs should inforce the new rules?? The tackling player must move away and let go of the player he has tackled.

By Anonymous, at October 16, 2010 1:34 pm