Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Andrew Van Der Heijden's huge hit on prop Soane Tonga'uiha

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Andrew Van Der Heijden's huge hit on prop Soane Tonga'uiha

A few days ago you saw a video that featured Gcobani Bobo and Chris Ashton having a little battle in the Newcastle vs Northampton match. As mentioned, the game was full of incident, so here's another great hit from it.

The Bobo-Ashton post, which was stuck up to a highlight a great hit and a nice, old school type confrontation, caused quite a stir as some of you took the opportunity to rip into a player that for various reasons is disliked in some quarters.

Opinions are fine, and constructive discussion is encouraged, but lets bear in mind that a lot of these players do visit the site and we'd like the image of it not to be tarnished by anonymous mud slinging please. That's a little request from RD to you, that would be much appreciated.

Back to the game, and this cracking hit from Aucklander Andrew van der Heijden on Saints' mobile prop Soane Tonga'uiha, who has probably never been hit that hard in his life.

A former Auckland and Blues player, 6ft7 Van der Heijden moved to Newcastle in December, and after recovering from a broken arm the day after signing, has been looking to make a big impact. As you can see below, he did just that, smashing the big Tongan into next week.

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Time: 01:07

Great hit!

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2011 10:03 am
Incredible hit, launched into his upper body.

By cp85, at April 19, 2011 10:12 am
Tonga'uiha is 6'4 and 135 kgs (300 lbs) and Van Der Heijden is 6'7 115 kgs (255 lbs)......

F**k that.

By nice, at April 19, 2011 10:14 am
SH players :)

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2011 10:15 am
Massive.

Tonga'uiha is still the best prop in the premiership. I really hope he gets released for the RWC, unlike previous cups when the pacific nations are denied some of their premiership players. That way we can see how he stacks up against the best in the world.

By Ian M, at April 19, 2011 10:29 am
I bet the earth moved for all concerned, awesome hit!

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2011 10:51 am
Most incredible thing about it is that it wasn't like he blindsided him just as he caught the ball or anything, like that was genuinely Tonga'uiha on the charge when he smashed him

By Unknown, at April 19, 2011 11:13 am
I thought Tonga'uiha was going to get blindsided. Turns out he ran straight into the bloke and lost!

Awesome hit

By Dave, at April 19, 2011 11:34 am
i think a TSRB12 is needed just for that hit!

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2011 11:56 am
Bosh.

Tremendous hit.

Tonga'uiha did well to keep the ball though didn't he.

By Von, at April 19, 2011 12:09 pm
@Ian m tiny has been quoted as saying he offered his services to tonga for RWC 11 after his wife has their baby. He hasn't heard back from them.

By Ben johnson, at April 19, 2011 12:17 pm
Ouch. Commentator says it all. Not many people would be able to take Tonga'uiha out like that, especially with him in full charge. He is a monster of a man.

RD, the time is due for another TSRB, don't you think? Love those.

By The Green Mafia, at April 19, 2011 12:51 pm
like others have said I really thought he was going to get hit as he caught the ball. But no he got into his stride and the guy still levelled him! great tackle!

By Russell, at April 19, 2011 12:53 pm
'lets bear in mind that a lot of these players do visit the site and we'd like the image of it not to be tarnished by anonymous mud slinging please'

...Good luck with that RD!!

Great hit, and incredible power to be able to do that!!

By Alexander, at April 19, 2011 1:30 pm
Pretty sure that as a samoan prop he was never hit like that!!! surely he is used to smash people around the pitch... great hit!!

By eric, at April 19, 2011 1:42 pm
he's tongan..

that was a league-style hit.. easier to hit someone hard when the leading shoulder invovled no arms at all.. VDH is lucky his teammate was there to conceal what could've been a penalty

oh well still and awesome hit!!

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2011 2:57 pm
^^^^^^
No arms involved? What are you on about? He's got both arms round him - no mean feat in itself!

By Von, at April 19, 2011 3:26 pm
Ummm freeze it at 0:34 (or at any other point on a replay) and you'll see both arms are wrapped right around him. NOTHING illegal about it. Perfect tackle. :)

By Andy, at April 19, 2011 3:35 pm
Great legal hit.

By Mike, at April 19, 2011 3:49 pm
Imagine getting caught in between that. Guess it would be a quick way to die...

By Benny, at April 19, 2011 4:26 pm
lead with the shoulder and wrapped with the arms. Perfect.

By Stubby, at April 19, 2011 5:39 pm
Great hit. Tiny was running a tad high and thats what let him get smashed like that. Newcastle looks horrible though, I can't believe Carl Hayman went to go play with them.

Look at the crash into the posts the #8 ran. He's running so slow and right into 3 guys and they all let him bye.

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2011 6:44 pm
Can I just get some clarification on this:

people say 'hit with the shoulder'

Now, I pride myself of tackling hard, however...i ALWAYS (almost always) hit with the shoulder and THEN wrap...im talking about a minuscule time difference between the two, but my shoulder always takes the brunt of the hit...now is this 'illegal' in union?

I have no idea how i could tackle without hitting with the shoulder first...

By No.7, at April 19, 2011 7:11 pm
oh and p.s i thought this tackle was awesome and absolutely legal...

By No.7, at April 19, 2011 7:11 pm
no.7 you are terrible at rugby. bloody couch potatoe

By Anonymous, at April 19, 2011 7:19 pm
Great hit!

No.7 your explanation is legal, it's only when the hit and the wrap are separate movements that it becomes illegal. This clip is a textbook example of hitting with the shoulder whilst wrapping.

Anonymous, you should learn to spell if you are going to slag people...

By Conman, at April 19, 2011 9:04 pm
that is a sensational tackle

By Chris Boy, at April 20, 2011 12:02 am
Damn that's a big tackle. Mad props.

By Anonymous, at April 20, 2011 1:14 am
Good hit, technique was good, led with the shoulder, right into his chest.
Only way to stop the big units.

By Jono, at April 20, 2011 4:51 am
No7., it's literally the only way to tackle, and it's perfectly legal.

All the laws say is that at some point in the tackle you are supposed to attempt to grasp the other player in some way.

That's it, it says nothign about wrapping, or even succeeding in getting hold of a player, merely that you have to make an attempt to.

What the rule really means, and it what it was brought in to do, is prevent players tucking their arms up across their chest and running in sideways, to hit just with the point of the shoulder, side on.

Like they do in league sometimes, and NFL. Where it's just about knocking a guy off their feet.

But anyway, as I said, this is textbook. Hit with the shoulder, then throw the arms round.

By Jono, at April 20, 2011 4:54 am
big it yeah

By Anonymous, at April 20, 2011 10:34 am