:: Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more Rugbydump.com ::

Rugby injuries in the professional era

As the end of year Tests kick into gear, there isn't a team taking part that hasn't been affected by injury. While that has, and always will be a part of rugby, it seems that nowadays players are feeling the impact of professional rugby more than ever.

The IRB's Medical Strategic Plan forum began in London today. It's a two day conference that will have medical experts from each of rugby’s leading countries in attendance. They will discuss the increased rate of injuries and physicality in the game, and hope to make recommendations regarding player welfare.

They’re concerned that the demands on top players have become too great, referees aren’t enforcing the laws in certain aspects of play, and that players have quite simply become too big.

When looking at international sport, 220 out of 1000 hours are lost to injury in rugby. In American Football it’s 112 hours, Ice Hockey 80, Football, 40, and Cricket just 10 hours.

"We are reaching a level where the players have got too big for their skill levels," said Lions team doctor James Robson at the end of their tour of South Africa in July.

"Players have become a little too muscle-bound and bulky," he added.

Jonny Wilkinson's list of injuries over the years includes a fractured shoulder, knee ligaments, ankle ligaments, haematoma, groin injury, damaged kidney, torn thigh muscles and a dislocated knee. Mike Tindall has had a ruptured liver, punctured lung, ankle ligaments, shoulder surgery, torn stomach muscles, broken foot and broken leg.

Jean De Villiers has missed two world cups due to injury, and Gavin Henson seems to have thrown in the towel after a career spent on the physio bench.

Former England centre Damian Hopley, who himself had his career cut short because of a knee injury, is now chief executive of the Rugby Players’ Association. He’s concerned about the prolific rate of injuries to players these days and feels that amongst other things, the reduction of squads due to the economic crisis, has had an affect.

"I feel sorry for the players and also the directors of rugby who are now in a results-driven business,” he said. "They need results to save their jobs. It is a vicious circle. They have a very difficult task."

It’s clear that there are a number of factors involved in the high rate of injuries that are occurring at the moment. Too much rugby, bigger players, and refereeing inconsistencies seem to be the top three to blame.

The man who recently suspended Dan Carter for a week, Judge Jeff Blackett, says referees and citing officers are at fault for not taking sterner action when applying the laws.

"We are not applying the laws of the game or we are interpreting them too freely. If referees and citing officers applied the rules more rigidly, we may see a reduction of injuries at the breakdown.

"There is a balance between dynamism and safety, and I think it has gone too far in the wrong direction. In an effort to increase the attractiveness of the competition, we are in danger of damaging the game," he said.

Time: 02:08
Note: This video report was compiled on Friday, before England played Australia.
Register now on the forum to discuss this and other topics at length.

Will Genia - A Wallaby great in the making

Stand out performer against England on Saturday, young Wallaby scrumhalf Will Genia’s rise to fame has been rapid. Playing off the bench for most of the Super 14, he now looks to be the obvious successor to the great George Gregan.

Since Gregan retired a few years back, the Wallabies have been searching in vain for a natural heir to the number nine throne. They seem to have finally succeeded, as the 21 year old is already being compared to both Gregan and Nick Farr-Jones.

He was the second choice scrumhalf at the Queensland Reds for much of the season, but impressed to the extent that he made his debut for Australia in the Tri Nations against New Zealand. His first start came against South Africa, in what is now his home town, Brisbane.

Genia was born and raised in Papua New Guinea, before moving to Brisbane when he was 12. He admits he didn’t know anything about rugby union before then.

"It is all rugby league in Port Moresby where I grew up," he said. "I didn't play any team sport when I was a kid. I just played a lot of backyard cricket. I never got involved in any sport at primary school."

"I kind of got into rugby because I was an islander and everyone just assumed I'd be good. I started off as a winger and moved into inside centre and then into halfback. I think I'm still fast though," he added.

At the age of 15 he watched in a boarding house with his schoolmates as Jonny Wilkinson slotted that famous dropgoal to beat the Wallabies in 2003.

"Jonny Wilkinson broke my heart that night. There was a lot of English kids who wouldn’t let it go. They still haven’t let it go."

It’s now six years later, and on Saturday he played against the English at Twickenham, winning the Man of the Match award and scoring his maiden Test try.

"You just take the opportunities as they come really. If it's on to run, you run. If it's on to kick, you kick. If it's on to pass, you pass. You've just got to be aware of what's in front of you," said Genia.

Australia face Ireland next, and while the Grand Slam is the goal, the 5ft 9ins halfback has another challenge ahead of him - getting the Man of the Match trophy home. They’re only allowed 20kg in the bag, and the prize itself weighs 20kg.

"It's bigger than me!" he said.

:: Related Posts ::
Australia too good for England at Twickenham

Time: 04:10

Dan Carter suspended for a week following high tackle

All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter has been suspended for a week following his high tackle that went unpunished against Wales on the weekend.

The tackle occurred with ten minutes left in the match, as Wales were hot on attack. Neither referee Craig Joubert, nor any of his assitant referee's, saw the incident clearly. Joubert said from the angle he was at, he was unable to make an accurate judgement on whether it constituted a dangerous tackle.

Following Carter being cited after the match, a disciplinary hearing took place in London earlier today as he appeared before IRB judicial officer Jeff Blackett.

Carter, who has apologised to replacement scrumhalf Roberts already, has the right to appeal the ban that will see him out of action for a week. He will miss the Test against Italy, but can return on the 17th of November.

Some had thought that he might get more than a week, but with just a week's suspension, he will be available for the big clash with England on the 20th at Twickenham.

Carter's good disciplinary record helped at the hearing, as he's yet to be sent off in his career.

Time: 01:45

Alan Quinlan attempts to replicate the Hand of Back

Back in 2002, Leicester flanker Neil Back famously tapped the ball into his side of the scrum in the Heineken Cup final against Munster. Last weekend, Alan Quinlan did the same against Ulster, but with less successful results.

When Back did it in 2002, it caused a huge stir as it happened late in the final, when Munster had one last shot at an attack. It produced the turnover and the match ended with Leicester winning 15-9.

The Munster fans were incensed by Back's actions, labelling him a cheat. Ironically enough, it's a Munster player who's gone and tried the same thing now, albeit at a less high profile match.

Quinlan, who missed the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa after being suspended for eye-gouging, tapped the ball into the scrum in the Magners League match against Ulster last weekend.

He's known to be quite a mischievous character, but got caught out on this occasion as the touch judge spotted it, resulting in referee Alain Roland penalising the Munster man.

Scrumhalf Kevin Putt famously did the same thing for the Sharks many years ago. Have any of you flankers ever gotten away with this, or seen it done in some other high profile match?

Time: 01:07

Wales fail to capitalise on chances as All Blacks triumph

The All Blacks got their tour of the UK & Europe under way on a positive note after they beat Wales 19-12 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

They now hold a 21 match unbeaten streak over the Welsh, who at times came close, but couldn’t quite break the hoodoo that the New Zealand side has over them.

On a sour note, Dan Carter, who put in one of his better performances of the season, has been cited following a tackle he made in the final ten minutes of the match.

He kicked four penalties and converted the lone try by Andrew Hore, but felled Martin Roberts with a head-high tackle that went unpunished on the field.

The home crowd booed Carter whenever he got the ball after that.

"Carter played sublimely, but it was perhaps a new experience for him to be jeered," said former Welsh captain Eddie Butler.

Roberts, who had come on as a replacement, said that Carter apologised to him afterwards.

"Looking at the replay it did look quite high. He did apologise to me. He said 'sorry for the tackle' after the game," Roberts said.

"Things like that happen in games, and you just have to take it on the chin. It looked bad, but I was fine."

Captain Ryan Jones admitted that their errors had given the All Blacks chances to score.

"The All Blacks capitalised on our mistakes and you can't afford to give the All Blacks and Dan Carter an easy ride," he said.

Stephen Jones kicked four penalties for Wales in what was a fairly dull encounter, in contrast with all the excitement and intensity surrounding last year’s fixture.

New Zealand have since moved on to Milan, where they will face Italy next weekend.

We'll get better, longer highlights up for you soon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Win tickets to watch the All Blacks face the Barbarians at Twickenham!
Details here
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 03:20
Note: Thanks to allblacks.com for the placeholder clip

Canterbury beat Wellington to win the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup

Canterbury won the Air New Zealand cup for the 5th time as they beat Wellington 28-20 in the New Zealand provincial rugby cup final at the AMI Stadium on Saturday.

Canterbury won the tournament for the second time in succession after building up a convincing 18-3 lead at the interval before Wellington came back to take the score to 25-20 with two minutes remaining.

The home side has depth in abundance as even without their star All Blacks, they were too strong for the Wellington side, who once again failed at the final hurdle. They’ve now reached six of the last seven finals, but lost them all.

It was all guns blazing after kickoff, as the opening few minutes flowed back and forth before fullback Colin Slade gassed wing David Smith to score a great opening try.

Slade, who’s had a superb season, scored again later after a pinpoint Casey Laulala long pass allowed him to go in for his second. He was later sin-binned though for a professional foul, which allowed Wellington to get back into the match, scoring ten points while he was absent.

It was Laulala’s last match for the Christchurch side, as he will now head over to the Cardiff Blues in Wales to ply his trade in the UK & Europe. Voted by his peers as the best defensive and attacking player in the Air New Zealand Cup recently, it will be a massive loss for the side, but a fantastic signing for the Blues.

Alapati Leuia scored Wellingtons first try, but wing Sean Maitland came back with a sensational solo effort, capping off his superb season on the wing.

Wellington built up momentum in the last ten minutes of the match, but a late penalty to Stephen Brett knocked the wind out their sails, and sealed the victory for the prolific Canterbury unit.

Coach Rob Penney is keen to stick around so they can go for the hat-trick of titles. He paid tribute to his players.

"The guys supported each other wonderfully. It is still a team orientated game and you can't do it individually.

"The red-and-black theme is really about doing it for the team and the boys have bought into that time and time again and it's won the day again," he said.

Time: 05:49

Leicester Tigers claim South African scalp at Welford Road

There was some joy for English rugby fans this weekend as a pumped up Leicester Tigers beat a lacklustre South African XV 22-17 at Welford Road on Friday night.

It was a historic win for the Tigers, who themselves were missing their England players and had a few others out due to injury. The South African side comprised of a group of young Currie Cup players, mixed in with a handful of Test veterans.

Despite an early try to Jongi Nokwe, it was clear that a Springbok scalp was more motivation for the Tigers than vice versa, as the home side ripped into the tourists, dominating them in practically every department. In the scrum came the most humiliation though, as the Bok pack were demolished and conceded penalties on more than one occasion.

Gurthro Steenkamp, who has since left the tour with an injury, was destroyed by Martin Castrogiovanni in the scrums. Captain on the night, Chilliboy Ralepele, was also injured, leaving the field after 20 minutes. It was a shambolic Springbok team, and a poor showing all round.

Springbok assistant coach Dick Muir was shocked at the performance, despite picking nine uncapped players: "I don't think I've ever seen a South Africa pack as bad as that, especially from a coaching perspective. We were given a bit of a lesson at the scrums," he said.

"We just move on. We came over here with an experiment and perhaps it didn't come off as planned. Hats off to the Tigers. They were incredibly strong in that department so we've got to go back to the drawing board."

Tigers coach Richard Cokerill said his scrum was immense. "Rugby can get quite scientific in its analysis these days. Sometimes you just need 15 blokes to come here and roll their sleeves up. The scientists can't quantify that. And that's what we did tonight," he said.

Argentine wing Lucas Amorosino scored a nice try after a neat switch from the highly impressive Manu Tuilagi. Scrumhalf Ben Youngs, only 20 years old, put in a great performance as he kicked his kicks and showed no fear with a few darting runs. He tallied up 17 points on the night, showing maturity beyond his years.

It was a sensational occasion for the 24 000 fans at the ground, and the many more watching at home, as the Leicester Tigers claimed the scalp of the South African dirt trackers, whose coaching staff and selection policies will be questioned following the match.

The senior Springbok side will face France in Toulouse this coming Friday night. After this performance, it's highly doubtful that any of the players on show at Welford Road will make the matchday 22 for that, the first of their three Tests on tour.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Win tickets to watch the All Blacks face the Barbarians at Twickenham!
Details here
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 06:28

Australia too good for England at Twickenham

Australia overcame their first hurdle in an attempt to emulate the class of ’84 as they beat England 18-9 at Twickenham on Saturday.

The Wallabies put their poor Tri Nations season behind them as they came back from being 9-5 down at half time with a far better second half showing, with young scrumhalf Will Genia putting in a man of the match performance.

It was an England side buoyed by the return of Jonny Wilkinson, but the Aussies absorbed the pressure then gradually took control of the match.

Coach Robbie Deans was impressed with the patience shown by his side.

“I was happy with the way we kept out composure and wore them down," he said.

"The guys didn't become frantic after the missed opportunities and that trust and patience paid off and that's a habit we want to keep."

England have an unprecedented amount of injuries at the moment, with only four of Martin Johnson’s team having taken to the field in the corresponding fixture last year.

The form of returning world cup winners Lewis Moody, Steve Thompson, and flyhalf Wilkinson was a positive for the England coach.

"It's great to have them back," said Johnson. "People have asked me all week what Jonny brings to the game and I'd say 'just watch the game' - he's a world class player," he said.

Wilkinson landed a drop goal after three minutes as he signalled his return to the international game in style. He tackled as hard as ever, and at one stage it looked as though he was going to lift the England side to victory.

Australia, with injury concerns of their own, had many opportunities and only needed to capitalise on two of them. Eight points from Matt Giteau and the first half try to Genia, along with a great second half try to Adam Ashley-Cooper, sealed the win.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Win tickets to watch the All Blacks face the Barbarians at Twickenham!
Details here
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time: 08:38

Looking back at the November Tests 2008

Today the international Test seasons kicks off once again as England face Australia, and Wales host the All Blacks. We'll take a look back to this time last year with this great compilation from the November Tests in 2008.

Each year the best of the Southern Hemisphere heads up North to take on the best on offer. This year, Argentina, Fiji, and Samoa will also be touring, which makes for an interesting few weeks.

It was a Grand Slam winning tour for the All Blacks last year, who beat all before them once again, following on from the success of 2005. This year they'll be looking to go unbeaten too, with a few new players in the line up that will be out to grab the opportunity.

Australia are hoping for a Grand Slam success this year, the first since 1984. They already beat Gloucester, and today go up against the team they lost to in the 2003 World Cup final, England.

The Springboks play three Tests, with France, Italy and Ireland all looking to knock them off their perch. They had a bit of a set back last night though, as their second stringers lost to a pumped up Leicester Tigers side. We'll have highlights of that soon.

This video is quite simply a compilation of some of the more memorable moments from last year. Anyone care to place their predictions for what's going to happen this time around?

We'll have all the best moments from all the biggest matches, right here on RD over the next few weeks. Keep stopping by.

Time: 07:21

Wallabies take on England - Twickenham 1984

Australia get the chance to replicate the heroics of 1984 this weekend, as they begin their Grand Slam of tour 2009 against England at Twickenham. Today we look back at the same fixture from that classic tour 25 years ago.

It was the last time that a Grand Slam tour was attempted by the Wallabies, and the first time it was achieved, with them starting the tour well with a 19-3 win over the English.

Wallaby flyhalf Michael Lynagh and England debutant Stuart Barnes exchanged, as well as missed, penalties throughout the match, but the first half ended 3-0 to the visitors. The brilliant Mark Ella then scored a great try for the Wallabies early in the second.

It was to be Ella's first try of the tour, but not the last, as he achieved the milestone of scoring in each Test.

Lynagh converted then scored a try of his own in the corner, before the Wallabies finished with an excellent team try that had Simon Poidevin over after a brilliant run by David Campese. The match ended 19-3 to the Wallabies, who were on their way to a historic end of year tour success.

Australia play England tomorrow at Twickenham, then travel to Croke Park to take on Ireland, followed by Scotland at Murrayfield, and finishing with Wales at the Millenium Stadium.
Over the next few weeks we'll feature highlights from all the other 1984 Grand Slam matches.