Antoine Dupont's tackle on Mack Hansen is my highlight of the year. The technique he uses is simply stunning. Heroic, yet exemplary; he wraps around Mack's legs and holds on for dear life, he leans all his weight back and digs his studs into the turf, preventing Mack from gaining any traction that would get him over for the score. And once Dupont has done all this he starts fighting, pulling Mack backwards until the winger realises he needs to hit the deck to keep possession. One could argue that the circumstances fell in his favour, but there are very few 9s in world rugby that could pull off a try-saver like that.
It was poor by Hansen though, he just kept the same approach instead of trying something different. Hansen is one of the lightest international wingers.
He stayed upright probably expecting O Mahoney to get him over the line rather than trotting up watch or give an auld stare. It was some moment so glad it didn't change the result @johnmc3862
He was averege so far and according to its coach (and the data) he reached his highest speed of the season on that run. And to be fair what makes this try special is the scenario of that final of top 14.
The context behind Ntamack's one makes it the most heroic play of the year. The fact that he makes a huge mistake just before, leading to a more than probable defeat for Toulouse shows how much of a champion he is for turning the situation like that
In terms of moments, nothing comes close to Ntamack winning the Brennus in the last minute. Mark Telea on the other hand had an "I'M HIM" year. I guess copyright is the reason why we didn't see more of his heroics in this great as ever compilation.
N'Tamack actually did the same action against the Stormers (absolutely stunning!) I think in the European cup and the same (yep!) earlier in the championship. 3 not bad ...
Loved Ritchie getting his hand to the ball as Penaud dives for the line. Awesome precision. I still haven't got my head around the Dupont tackle on Mack, tho'
The sequence at 8:10 and the preceding second or two is the most compressed high stakes bilateral high quality play I can recall, in any field sport. The WC is literally won and lost four tmes in about 5s at most: - Pollard kicks the drop, strikes it sweetly to join Stransky and W’son in the pantheon - Savea, sprinting and stretching at max effort, likely complete with feral growling, get a fingertip to the drop, a potential cup-winning play where Erasmus failed in the ‘99 SF with Larkham’s drop. - B Barrett spots the 3-man overlap and starts what would have been the cup-winning counterattack literally while the ball is still in the air -PSDT is 1 forward on 3/4 killers in 40m of real estate. Makes snap read, closes 15ms between glances and spot tackles poor Jordie, again, winning it all.
6:56 Ref: "Bring him down safely!" Lowe: "How bout I just hold him up, safely, eh?" That look he gave the ref, like, come on we knew the outcome from the start xD stellar
That Josh Adams hit was such a big momentum changer. Wales had been under the cosh and were facing another Fiji attack. Whenever you see a Fijian winger in space you expect at least a dominant carry, but a cheeky offload is always on the cards. The dominant tackle combined with the jackle penalty instantly boosted the whole Welsh team in an instant.
🇿🇦 Never rated Pollard as an elite goal kicker on the top shelf with M Steyn, Wilkinson, Carter, Jenkins, et al, but to come back from injury and kick 14 from 14 in the crucible, including two match winning 50yders post 70mins in the rain… he’s him.
Watching these highlights it actually disappoints me as a South African that only one World Cup has been won by the entire northern hemisphere.Clearly they have what it takes but they just can’t do it. Especially Ireland France and England. Most of these countries have what it takes to beat The boks and the all blacks but they just don’t. I hope one of these northern hemisphere teams wins the next one because even as a South African it’s kinda boring when it’s always the boks and all blacks. Incredible moments by these players btw.
Mannnn I've literally had it with this 'no look kick' from Libbok- he watches it onto his boot right until he actually has to kick it?! And for no reason too, its not like he's fooling the defence, the defender is already attempting a charge down! It's not big or clever, its just weird and unnecessary in my opinion. The kick itself is great skill- the 'no look' element is just pointless.
From the wing you can’t immediately follow the ball’s trajectory, so you watch the kicker to judge where to cover. Gets the wing to bite in and open more space wide.
That first clip was less DVDM being good and England being shit. Further proof - Duhan being absent any time he plays a decent side and the only time he is present is to make a mistake on defence.
Disagree, he holds the record for the most defending beaten in a single Six Nations tournament which is remarkable considering how poor defences were even just 10 years ago. No one else scored a try that involved beating as many defenders against that same English side as Duhan did. Penaud probably the closest. I think Duhan’s change of hands for the final fend is seriously under appreciated too.
Antoine Dupont's tackle on Mack Hansen is my highlight of the year. The technique he uses is simply stunning. Heroic, yet exemplary; he wraps around Mack's legs and holds on for dear life, he leans all his weight back and digs his studs into the turf, preventing Mack from gaining any traction that would get him over for the score. And once Dupont has done all this he starts fighting, pulling Mack backwards until the winger realises he needs to hit the deck to keep possession. One could argue that the circumstances fell in his favour, but there are very few 9s in world rugby that could pull off a try-saver like that.
It was poor by Hansen though, he just kept the same approach instead of trying something different. Hansen is one of the lightest international wingers.
Dupont is a beast strength wise.
He stayed upright probably expecting O Mahoney to get him over the line rather than trotting up watch or give an auld stare. It was some moment so glad it didn't change the result @johnmc3862
N'Tamack doing that in the last minute of the top 14 final is mad lad stuff.
especially when you have in mind how anonymous he was in the game until that point
He was averege so far and according to its coach (and the data) he reached his highest speed of the season on that run. And to be fair what makes this try special is the scenario of that final of top 14.
PSDT to finish this video is perfection 🏆🏆🏆🏆
The context behind Ntamack's one makes it the most heroic play of the year. The fact that he makes a huge mistake just before, leading to a more than probable defeat for Toulouse shows how much of a champion he is for turning the situation like that
In terms of moments, nothing comes close to Ntamack winning the Brennus in the last minute. Mark Telea on the other hand had an "I'M HIM" year. I guess copyright is the reason why we didn't see more of his heroics in this great as ever compilation.
N'Tamack actually did the same action against the Stormers (absolutely stunning!) I think in the European cup and the same (yep!) earlier in the championship. 3 not bad ...
Loved Ritchie getting his hand to the ball as Penaud dives for the line. Awesome precision. I still haven't got my head around the Dupont tackle on Mack, tho'
Steph du toit's performance in that final is hard to beat
SDT won SA that World Cup. What a machine
80 minutes of hit after hit after hit, what an athlete
The sequence at 8:10 and the preceding second or two is the most compressed high stakes bilateral high quality play I can recall, in any field sport. The WC is literally won and lost four tmes in about 5s at most:
- Pollard kicks the drop, strikes it sweetly to join Stransky and W’son in the pantheon
- Savea, sprinting and stretching at max effort, likely complete with feral growling, get a fingertip to the drop, a potential cup-winning play where Erasmus failed in the ‘99 SF with Larkham’s drop.
- B Barrett spots the 3-man overlap and starts what would have been the cup-winning counterattack literally while the ball is still in the air
-PSDT is 1 forward on 3/4 killers in 40m of real estate. Makes snap read, closes 15ms between glances and spot tackles poor Jordie, again, winning it all.
6:56 Ref: "Bring him down safely!" Lowe: "How bout I just hold him up, safely, eh?" That look he gave the ref, like, come on we knew the outcome from the start xD stellar
That Josh Adams hit was such a big momentum changer. Wales had been under the cosh and were facing another Fiji attack. Whenever you see a Fijian winger in space you expect at least a dominant carry, but a cheeky offload is always on the cards.
The dominant tackle combined with the jackle penalty instantly boosted the whole Welsh team in an instant.
Also teabagged him!
6:41 Just a shepherd.
You could basically have a whole video of just Mark Telea this year - the man was genuinely insane
What game from pstd
Great content as always, Andrew - thank you. Some epic plays there!
The all blacks getting PTSD from PSDT
🇿🇦 Never rated Pollard as an elite goal kicker on the top shelf with M Steyn, Wilkinson, Carter, Jenkins, et al, but to come back from injury and kick 14 from 14 in the crucible, including two match winning 50yders post 70mins in the rain… he’s him.
tom dunn dummying marcus smith was brilliant considering how well smith had been chasing kicks that entire match.
PSTD fucked them up physically
PSDT went after Jordie Barrett in that final like he owed him money.
Josh Adams - Stopped a Fijian at full pelt, teabagged him and made a turnover 😂😂
Nah, the clip at 6.41 is madness
6:41
good video, but I biasedly think Etzebeth's try vs France in the WC should have been included 😅😅 ELIZABEDI!!!
Good point! Great Finish!
I'd add in Scott Barrett's tackle on McDemont
Watching these highlights it actually disappoints me as a South African that only one World Cup has been won by the entire northern hemisphere.Clearly they have what it takes but they just can’t do it. Especially Ireland France and England. Most of these countries have what it takes to beat The boks and the all blacks but they just don’t. I hope one of these northern hemisphere teams wins the next one because even as a South African it’s kinda boring when it’s always the boks and all blacks. Incredible moments by these players btw.
1:17 - 1:32 --- who is this player ?
Mannnn I've literally had it with this 'no look kick' from Libbok- he watches it onto his boot right until he actually has to kick it?! And for no reason too, its not like he's fooling the defence, the defender is already attempting a charge down! It's not big or clever, its just weird and unnecessary in my opinion. The kick itself is great skill- the 'no look' element is just pointless.
I think everyone knows that. It's just stylistically called that. Its literally just a little fun
From the wing you can’t immediately follow the ball’s trajectory, so you watch the kicker to judge where to cover. Gets the wing to bite in and open more space wide.
How many English players in this? 👀🤣
Just the one!
That first clip was less DVDM being good and England being shit.
Further proof - Duhan being absent any time he plays a decent side and the only time he is present is to make a mistake on defence.
Disagree, he holds the record for the most defending beaten in a single Six Nations tournament which is remarkable considering how poor defences were even just 10 years ago. No one else scored a try that involved beating as many defenders against that same English side as Duhan did. Penaud probably the closest. I think Duhan’s change of hands for the final fend is seriously under appreciated too.
Delusional.
First one in 2024??