*





Manu Tuilagi smashes Tom Williams


Top14 player imposter!


JDV smashed by Benoit August


The Northampton Saints 30m scrum!


Bastareaud huge hit on Rory Lamont


All Blacks skills - Pt 2 In the backyard


Trinh-Duc sets up Harinordoquy try


Wales vs England 1999


Greg Holmes great hit on Francois Louw



Friday, January 30, 2009

Friday Funnies - Bill Mclaren - The Voice of Rugby

Legendary commentator Bill Mclaren will forever be known and remembered as the voice of rugby. After 50 years of commentating, the man from Hawick in Scotland sadly retired in 2002.

A passionate man, his love of sport led him into the world of rugby commentating. From a young age he was an ardent Scottish supporter, envisioning famous victories of the future.

"I've still got the fictional reports I used to write when I was a wee boy of seven or eight. Scotland always won. They beat the world once by 70-3."

He played to a respectable level and made it to Scotland trials in 1947, but fell ill with tuberculosis which nearly killed him, forcing him to give up his beloved game.

McLaren maintains, "I would trade in everything I've achieved in rugby for a Scotland jersey and a chance to represent my country."

Mclaren got through the illness and soldiered on to become a symbol of this great sport, with one of the most distinctive and recognisable voices in the game.

His biggest asset in contributing to rugby was in the way he personalized it and added his own touch of colour. Not every commentator, in rugby or otherwise, can claim they made the event more memorable, but McLaren certainly did.

We’ve thrown together a collection of some of the colourful moments from Mclaren’s career that we hope you’ll enjoy. It’s a small tribute to a great man who had a way with words like no other.


Time: 01:12


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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Scott Quinnell's crossbar challenge - Leicester Tigers

We've had a few requests for the popular crossbar challenge of late. So far on RD we've featured two of them - Bristol and Northhampton Saints. Scott Quinnell once again took on another squad recently, this time, the Leicester Tigers.

In the previous clips was saw some success with a few players matching Quinnell's impressive throwing arm.

This time though, the Tigers were pretty dismal as none of the players managed to take on the big guy, much to his smug delight.

He'll continue on though I'd imagine, looking to find worthy challengers.

Seeing as the Tigers couldn't manage against Quinnell, we've found another, slightly older and different version of the crossbar challenge that we figured would be enjoyable for some to watch.

It features a few faces we think you'll find familiar, and who else, but that man Austin Healey stealing the spotlight once again.

Rugby Club


Soccer AM

Time: 01:47 and 04:00


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Best tries of the Heineken Cup - Round 6

The final round of group action took place in the Heineken Cup this past weekend, with the Quarter Final match ups now having been drawn.

We’ve got a neat little video for you, showing all the best tries from the action in this most exciting of European rugby competitions.

It was a tense few days as results were determined right down till the last minutes of play, but now we all know who progresses, and who plays who.

The draw has been made and there is the possibility of both semi-finals being played at Wales' Millennium Stadium after top seeds Cardiff Blues and Munster emerged as favourites to be allowed to choose where they play those matches.

We look forward to an exciting next round of action as we see Cardiff take on Toulouse, Munster play the Ospreys, Halequins and Leinster battle it out, and Leicester take on Bath in an all English clash.

It’s been a great tournament so far with some fantastic tries. Here are some of the best from Round 6.


Time: 06:09


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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Martin Corry cited for eye gouging against Ospreys

There’s been a lot of talk this week over the past weekends Heineken Cup match between Leicester and the Ospreys. More specifically, it was an incident between Martin Corry and Richard Hibbard that has caused the stir.

Corry has been cited for ‘striking or making contact with the eye’ of Ospreys hooker Hibbard, who can be seen in this short clip looking rather heated to say the least.

Following the match Ospreys falsely accused Tigers’ prop Julian White of gouging, but that has since been apologised for, with White not being cited, and denying any such action.

If Corry is proven guilty, the ban could carry for anywhere between 12 weeks to three years.

Denis Templeton, citing commissioner for the match, cited Corry for "an alleged strike/contact with the eye/eye area in contravention of Law 10.4 (a) and 10.4 (k)".

A date has yet to be set for the disciplinary hearing.

We’d like to stress that this footage doesn’t show much, but some have requested seeing the incident as it happened. For the disciplinary hearing though, they will (presumably) have other angles from the TV company involved, so that could reveal more.


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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The infamous Hand of Back incident of 2002

The 2002 Heineken Cup Final will be remembered as a match that ended in a heap of controversy as an incident took place that tarnished a players reputation with Munster supporters for possibly the rest of time.

It was Munster up against the Leicester Tigers in the show piece of Northern Hemisphere rugby, with Leicester leading 15-9 with time on the clock virtually up.

Munster had one last chance of an attack, with a scrum deep in the opposition half. As Peter Stringer went to put the ball in, the referee was unsighted, which led to Leicester flanker Neil Back illegally slapping the ball back onto the safety of his side of the scrum.

It caused the turnover, which resulted in the game coming to an end shortly afterwards, and Leicester winning the Heineken Cup.

Leicester boss Dean Richards saw nothing wrong or illegal about what he’d done, while captain Martin Johnson said that those type of things always happen, it’s just that this time, it was seen clearly on TV.

"If it gives an advantage to your team, obviously you're going to say 'great,' and if the opposition do it you won't be happy, but these things happen - just not always in the last minute of a major final."

The Munster press and fans were livid though, labelling Back a cheat, to which he responded remorsefully shortly afterwards.

"In a way, I wish I hadn't done it," said Back.

"I have to be honest about it. I don't like people thinking I'm a cheat. I don't want that slur. I'm not a cheat. I had a lot of mail over that incident, mostly negative. There were letters saying I was a cheat, some of them from Leicester fans, which was a bit hurtful.

“If people wanted to make me feel bad about what happened, they have. That's disappointing and I know it upset my wife, Alison. If I thought there was any possible way of redressing it, I would consider it. I regret it because I don't like to think that, because of that one incident, there are people who think I'm a cheat."

"It has tarnished my reputation. In making any judgment, I would hope people will evaluate me over my whole career and not label me on that one moment. It happened spontaneously. I weighed the options up in a split-second and did what I did."


Time: 0:47
Note: Commentary from the smug Austin Healey, who is seen kicking the ball out at the end.
Thanks to the contributor who made the effort to get the clip up and submit the link.


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Monday, January 26, 2009

Brian Lima knocks himself out with crunching hit - 1997

As we sort through the best clips of the past weekend, we pause to take a look back to a sickening collision from the Super 12, in approximately 1997.

It was Auckland against the Gauteng Lions (as they were known back then), and we get to see one of the hardest hitters in the games history in action.

While Samoan Brian Lima was always known for his uncompromising tackling style, there were a few blotches in his career as the killer hits sometimes drifted a little too high.

In the 2007 World Cup he famously knocked himself out when going a little too high on Andre Pretorious. Much debate always follows regarding the legality of some of the hits. Many love them, while others write them off as downright dirty.

In this clip though, all those years back, we see a fairly similar incident as a young and fearless Lima launches into Gauteng fullback Dawie Du Toit, knocking himself out cold on impact.

It was a crunching hit, with a sickening noise and unfortunate result. As we all know though, Lima recovered, going on to make quite a name for himself with his robust style of play, and more than a few spectacular hits throughout his career.


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Friday, January 23, 2009

Friday Funnies - Jerry Flannery is pretty in pink

We’ve had numerous requests for this clip throughout the week, since it was first uploaded a few days back.

The clip features Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery as he leaves the hotel and walks through the streets of Auckland CBD while on tour in New Zealand.

He’s obviously been late for a training session or meeting because he was working on his hairdo, so has been punished by management or the squad.

We don’t know too much about it, but by the look of things, the punishment is to don a lovely pink shirt and some tight leggings, then walk through the streets blowing his fog horn and yelling the same thing his sign says - ‘My hair is more important than timekeeping’.

The clip apparently comes from Anthony Foleys DVD, “Axel: Munster’s Heineken Cup Journey” and has amateur footage that looks to be filmed by one of his teammates.

The streets of Auckland will never be the same as this burly Irishman struts his stuff, creating quite the fuss and attention as he’s egged on by teammates Mick O’Driscoll, Peter Stringer, and Paul O’Connell.


Time: 02:20


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Thursday, January 22, 2009

Tom James suspended for headbutt on Olivier Azam

Cardiff Blues winger Tom James has been suspended for two weeks following the red card he received against Gloucester on Sunday.

Referee Alan Lewis dismissed James for headbutting Gloucester hooker Olivier Azam in the 27th minute, after Azam had given him a push in the back.

The Blues held on to claim a famous 16-12 victory, despite being a man down for the majority of the match at Kingsholm.

Following the sending off, the ERC disciplinary hearing in Dublin saw a threee-man independent panel determining that the offence was at the low-end of the level of seriousness for a strike with the head.

Having taken into account any mitigating and aggravating factors which would have been the aggressive manner in which Azam approached James, the committee suspended James for two weeks from the date of the match up to Sunday, February 1.

James will then only miss one match, the European clash against Calvisano at the Arms Park on Friday evening.

This clip includes a short interview with coach Dai Young after the match, who clearly saw the reaction of the victim as an influencing factor for the red card.


Time: 01:50


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Famous win for Glasgow, upsetting Toulouse in France

Glasgow Warriors achieved a famous victory in the Heineken Cup on the weekend as they took on French champions Toulouse in their own back yard. Winning 33-26, they shocked the home crowd and gained respect across the rugby world.

Having not been beaten at Stade Ernest Wallon in two years and 15 matches, and with a quarter final in their sights, Toulouse were the odds on favourites.

Glasgow were playing for nothing more than self-respect and the possibility of improving their seeding in future events. This was a true underdog story, and one that gives hope to those sides and players out there who lack the self belief to pull off the unimaginable.

They came out firing with a sense of pride and passion rarely seen by the side that has struggled to achieve in the past. The final score is somewhat deceiving, as the visitors had a comfortable points cushion throughout.

When Dan Parks kicked his first penalty, the crowd cheered, almost sympathetically. The reality of what was happening soon hit home though as the visitors scored two quick tries, and controlled the match right up until the last few minutes, when the French champions dramatically came back with a penalty try and a score from Vincent Clerc.

Fourteen points of the lead was wiped away in two attacks. For a moment it looked as though the game’s greatest comeback could outdo one of it’s greatest shocks. But it was not to be, as Toulouse’s only consolation was the late penalty that gave them a losing bonus point.

So it was victory for Glasgow, delighting coach Sean Lineen.

"It makes you very proud of what the team did, very humble.

"We've not been basking in the glow, but it's always good now and then to stop and have a little look at what you've done. When you do something special you've got to be allowed to enjoy it."


Time: 08:09


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Fixtures 2009

Download to your Calendar
To get fixtures for various tournaments in your Outlook/Apple calendar, simply download the small files below (right click, save target as) then open and apply.


» Outlook Fixtures

» Apple ICalendar British & Irish Lions tour 2009
» Apple ICalendar Tri Nations

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

Heineken Cup Semi Finals

2 May 2009 - Munster vs Leinster
3 May 2009 - Cardiff Blues vs Leicester


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British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa
Sat 30th May 2009 Highveld XV vs British & Irish Lions - Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace
Wed 3 June 2009 Golden Lions vs British & Irish Lions - Coca-Cola Park (Ellis Park)
Sat 6 June 2009 Cheetahs vs British & Irish Lions - Vodacom Park
Wed 10 June 2009 Sharks vs British & Irish Lions - The ABSA Stadium (Kingspark)
Sat 13 June 2009 Western Province vs British & Irish Lions - Newlands
Tue 16 June 2009 Coastal XV vs British & Irish Lions - Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Sat 20 June 2009 South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - The ABSA Stadium (Kingspark)
Tue 23 June 2009 Emerging Springboks vs British & Irish Lions - Newlands
Sat 27 June 2009 South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Loftus Versfeld
Sat 4 July 2009 South Africa vs British & Irish Lions - Coca-Cola Park (Ellis Park)


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Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Munster vs Sale - All the tries

As per a request, here are the full highlights of the Munster vs Sale match that took place on the weekend.

We featured the Paul Warwick try a few days back, a try that was scored shortly after a cracking hit from wing Doug Howlett. That try is included in this package, as well as all the others from the match.

Jerry Flannery in particular finished off one of the better tries of the match. Some great passing with quick hands saw him fly over in the corner.

Munster have already qualified for the knock-out stages of the tournament, but the hooker maintains that their primary goal remains to secure a home quarter final.

"The job isn’t done yet. Beating Sale was all about getting some pride back in playing at Thomond Park. We are all very much aware this is only the first step and there is still another pool match to go."

They meet Montauban this weekend at the Stade de Sapiac.


Time: 08:43


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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Eddie Jones talks us through Saracens vs Viadana

Saracens booked their place in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup despite a fright from Italian side Viadana in the 36-19 result at Vicarage Road.

The last eight will be dominated by English clubs with Saracens joining fellow qualifiers London Irish, Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors with a match to spare.

Saracens will travel to Mont de Marsan on Friday for their final Pool Five match as they look to book home advantage in the quarter-finals.

Glen Jackson went into the match with 50 points so far in the tournament, and continued his fine form by notching up another 21 with the boot.

Tries from Noah Cato, Kameli Ratuvou and Adam Powell eased them home with Jackson doing the rest.

We’ve come across this video which shows highlights of the match, but from a different perspective as coach Eddie Jones talks you through the tries. We thought it could be interesting for some, so have stuck it up for you to take a look.


Time: 04:26
Note: With thanks to saracens.com


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Sunday, January 18, 2009

Courtney Lawes huge hit on Julien Tomas

Northampton Saints survived a second half comeback from Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup on Thursday to win the encounter 28-24.

Ben Foden, recently called up to the England squad, was once again a star player on the night as he set up tries for Chris Mayor and Stephen Myler.

It was a close match but Saints sealed the win late in the game with an impressively taken try by Scotland winger Sean Lamont.

There were a few big tackles and tension throughout, but it was this hit from young Courtney Lawes on Montpellier’s scrumhalf Julien Tomas that we’ve chosen to feature.

The young man is as athletic as you could ask for in a guy who’s 6ft7 and weights over 100kg’s. Anyone who’s seen him play will know that he gets around the park, and can easily play as a loosie, not just as lock.

He has a bright future ahead of him and it’s great to see a big guy show such commitment so late in a game. The chase and hit was timed perfectly, and as you can see, it was a bit of a mismatch as Tomas clearly felt it.


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Saturday, January 17, 2009

Big Doug Howlett hit leads to Warwick try vs Sale

A packed Thomond Park witnessed a convincing win by Munster over the Sale Sharks by 37-14, ensuring them qualification for the knock out stages of the Heineken Cup.

Looking as impressive as ever, the six try victory shows that they’re once again going to be a difficult prospect to topple. They’ve now reached the knock out stages for the 11th successive season.

New Zealand winger Doug Howlett, ever popular with the fans, put in this fantastic hit on ex Natal Sharks center Rudi Kyle.

Howlett has made a number of impressive big hits in recent times, showing that as a wing, whether you’re big or small, you’re not just about finishing tries. Offensive defence can lead to tries as much as creative play can.

The ball was turned over shortly afterwards, and a few quick passes put Paul Warwick away in space to run in their sixth try.


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Pierre Mignoni nice finish against Montabaun

It’s Heineken Cup weekend and last night saw Round 5 kickoff with some enjoyable matches across Europe.

We’ve got a nice try for you here from the all French, Pool One clash at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin between Clermont and Montauban.

Clermont kept their quarter-final hopes alive in a match that produced seven tries, with them winning comfortably 43-10 in the end.

Pierre Mignoni scored twice as they recorded the bonus point win which sees them now at 13 points in the competition.

This excellent darting run saw him sneak in at the corner with barely an inch to spare.

It was excellent finishing from the sniping scrum half who had very little space to work with.


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Friday, January 16, 2009

Friday Funnies - The Ref organising the lineout

Our funny clip for today comes from a few months back, and the match between Gloucester and the London Wasps.

As you'll more than likely know, we like to trawl through archives of rugby footage, finding comical and interesting clips to share with you here, on a Friday in particular.

We had a laugh over this short clip, as you could be forgiven for thinking you're watching a training ground session prematch as the coach shouts instructions at his young hooker.

The referee even goes as far as shouting when the right moment is for hooker Rob Webber to throw the ball in.

They've always said ref's have the power to make top players feel like schoolboys. Well, this pretty much exemplifies that.

Have a good weekend.


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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Jerry Collins injured by awkward looking tackle

Some of you may have heard about Toulon flanker Jerry Collins being injured on the weekend after only ten minutes in the Top 14 match against Brive. Thanks to another valued contributor and fan, we've got the clip showing exactly what happened.

The injury was sustained as opposition prop Pascal Idieder went in extremely low for a tackle on Collins’ legs, causing the knee to twist and the big former All Black to be left lying on the floor writhing in pain.

Collins will be sidelined for what looks like six to eight weeks with the knee injury, adding misery to Toulon’s already disappointing season.

According to their website, the scan has revealed that he has strained his knee, but the cruciate ligaments were not ruptured.

The tackle technique in question looked rather strange to say the least. Yes, get in low on a big guy, but the ball had been passed and there was no attempt to run through Ideider, so for him to go in low like he did, was very peculiar.

There have since been murmurs of foul play, with some accusing the Brive prop of of a deliberate attempt to cause damage. To others though, perhaps it was simply clumsy.

Incidentally, Toulon lost the match, 19-9.


Time: 03:35


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Another two big hits from the Top 14

We have another two big this for you from the weekend, and this time they're coming once again, from the Top 14.

As we all know, the Top 14 is littered with foreign players these days. From Kiwis to English, Samoans to South Africans, it's what makes the league so interesting to watch, and adds a new dimension to what would have been possibly a different style of play.

The physically of the south sea islanders in particular is often on show, as it is here when we see this huge hit from Bayonne's Filimone Bolavucu on Montaubans's flyhalf Cédric Rosalen. Watch as Bolavucu reads the long, floated pass, timing the tackle perfectly and flying in to hit him hard.

It looked pretty spectacular, but there is a question over the legality, despite him seemingly looking to wrap his arms. Tackles like this will always be up for discussion, with opinions varied. It wasn't high, but the impact was huge as the shoulder made contact with the frame of the much smaller Rosalen.

The second hit in this clip comes from the incident packed Perpignan and Bourgoin game again, with Karena Wihongi putting in a solid, textbook looking hit on Perpignan flanker Jean-Pierre Perez.

Well timed, rocking him back, it was great commitment and timing from the big front ranker. It's always good to see the big boys throwing themselves around the pass, so this tackle in particular was a pleasure to watch.


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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

French Flair - tries from 1970 to 1999

French rugby has for many a year been associated with a free running spirit and je ne sais quoi that is truly unique and a pleasure to watch.

One of our regular contributors from France has put together a video that shows some of the finer moments from the men in blue, spanning thirty years of classic running rugby.

The early seventies clips show us legends of the French game scoring fantastic tries, leading into the eighties and nineties, culminating in one of the most famous French wins over New Zealand in '99.

Some of the players on display here are legends such as Lagisquet, Blanco, Sella, Lafond, Camberabero, Sadourny, Saint-Andre, and Dominici.

It's a sensational compilation that shows you the true flair of the French, running the ball from all angles, keeping it alive whenever possible, and most importantly - getting over the tryline to finish off the great phases of play.

Stand out moments would be Serge Blanco's winning try in the 1987 World Cup Semi Final, the try by Phillip Saint-Andre at Twickenham in 1991, the 'Try of the Century' by Jean-Luc Sadourny in 1994, and then of course, tries scored by the French in the 1999 World Cup semi against the All Blacks.

It's a treat to watch, as it features some fairly rare footage you probably wouldn't have seen before. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did, and thanks again to Guetteba for putting it together.


Time: 07:49


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Monday, January 12, 2009

Perpignan vs Bourgoin produces two yellows and a red

There were three big incidents this weekend in Perpignan's 40-14 victory over Bourgoin in the French Top 14 championship. All three resulted in cards for the perpetrators, with one of the incidents possibly having a slightly harsh outcome for some people.

The Catalan side scored five tries which resulted in a bonus point win as they keep in touch with the league leaders.

Bourgoin’s poor discipline cost them as they played a man down for a large part of the match.

South Africans Rudi Coetzee and Philip Burger were involved in the first yellow carding, with Coetzee coming in for a solid hit that was deemed illegal by the referee.

You decide for yourself, but the commentators themselves were in no doubt that it was perfectly fine. The big wing spent ten minutes in the cooler regardless.

Captain Julien Frier was then shown a red card shortly afterwards for some foul language and anger directed at the ref. Frier was apparently saying something about him just waiting to blow up Bourgoin at any opportunity, which led to his frustration.

Late in the game we then saw a reckless spear that was followed by a brawl as tempers flared. Replacement Meyer was yellow carded for the dangerous tackle.

On a sidenote, Perpignan’s Dan Carter didn’t return at halftime after injuring his Achilles tendon.
"The pain was getting worse after about half an hour of the match and as a precaution I came off at half-time. It was frustrating because I really wanted to play and the team had a really good match.

"I'll get tests on Monday and will decide with the staff if it would be better to take several days off from training."


Time: 04:22


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Sunday, January 11, 2009

Butch James and Joe Maddock combine for a great Bath try

From the same match where Leicester snuck a late Tom Croft try to steal the win away from Bath, this try is well worth sharing as we believe it’s up there with the best scored all season.

South African flyhalf Butch James had an outstanding game for the visitors as he set up the first try with a barging run, then showed his more creative side to set up a brilliant try for winger Joe Maddock.

James collected his own delicate kick into space then exchanged passes with Maddock down the right wing before tossing it back to Maddock who stepped inside perfectly and dived over for a sensational try.

When Bath coach Steve signed James there were perhaps doubts over whether a player with such a reputation for brutish rugby would fit into a side that enjoyed such an expansive game.

"I had seen Butch play a lot of Super 14 rugby and had a different view on him than others," said Meehan.

"I was very aware he had the capability to play a good short or long passing game. His tactical kicking, which has so much variety, has been the aspect of his play that has surprised people most. Geordan Murphy is one of the best full-backs around and I have a huge admiration for him. Butch kept him second-guessing last Sunday and that shows the good job he is doing."

Try scorer Maddock believes that Bath play in the manner of southern hemisphere sides.

"Bath are as close to a Super 14 team in England as you can get with the style we play. There are other teams, like London Irish, who will chuck the ball around a bit, but I don't think that they will chance their arm as much as we do. That is certainly a trait that a lot of Super 14 rugby teams have: they are willing to run it from anywhere, which we are, and they score some fantastic tries, which we can do."

With the type of form that James is showing currently, he should be a shoe in for the number 10 berth come selection time when the Springboks host the British & Irish Lions. Whether the coach decides to look north or not though, remains to be seen.


Time: 02:01


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Friday, January 09, 2009

Friday Funnies - Jim Telfers 'Speak English'

From the third Test match of the 1997 Lions Tour to South Africa, played on July 5th: a little bit of conflict between spectators.

Having already won the series but looking for a series white wash over the world champion Springboks, the Lions found the final Test a bridge too far. The South Africans restored some pride with a 35-16 victory.

This little incident however, gives us a look at the other side of the picture, as it shows how the coaches respond to a piece of questionable play from Springbok forward Andre Venter.

Despite Ian McGeechan's attempts to keep forwards coach Jim Telfer quiet, the hard-as-nails Scotsman banters with a South African fan who points out Venter only stamped the Lion because he was being held onto illegally.

Another fan, in front of Telfer adds her two cents in Afrikaans. Telfer can't resist getting in the last words, "Speak English", before everyone moves on and refocuses their attention on the game.


Time: 01:05


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More random tries from 2008

We've got another awesome tries video for you, once again recapping 2008 with some of the best and most memorable five pointers from across the globe.

This time it's something a little different, but we hope you enjoy as the video is done in a very different style to what you'd be used to seeing, but is highly entertaining and shows tries and moments that you may have either missed, or have enjoyed and should enjoy seeing again.

The intro is pretty long, showing some great visuals from around the rugby world before kicking into the tries from the different big tournaments that took place last year.

We hope you like the video and leave a comment if you did. If you didn't like it or have an issue with the music, you're welcome to create something better. We'll gladly share it with the world.

Any thoughts on which was your best try or moment from the clip? From Ben Foden to Ryan Kankowski, there's plenty to choose from.


Time: 06:42


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Late Tom Croft try sneaks win over Bath for Leicester

Leicester came back in style against Bath on the weekend after it looked like the game had gotten away from them, following an out of sorts first half performance.

The late second try for Tom Croft tied the scores at 22-22, with flyhalf Derick Hougaard left to do what he does best – convert the kick.

Hougaard had slotted an important drop goal before that, setting up the finale as Leicester chased the game in an effort to pull off the late win.

It was 16 phases as they hammered away at the Bath defence, keeping their cool as they eventually worked the space for Croft out wide to go over for a dramatic late try. The versatile and athletic forward had the presence of mind to get the ball closer to the posts, making the vital kick for Hougaard that little bit easier.

The kick went over and Leicester won this one by 24-22.

"No cause is ever lost, we kept on playing and they sat on their lead a little," said Richard Cockerill. "This was a great win for us, I think it could be a tuning point to our season. It keeps us in touch in the Premiership - a gap would have opened otherwise - and now we have got three big games in a row, a big local derby against Northampton and then two huge European games."


Time: 03:52


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Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Clermont tackles compilation video

As we all know, tackling is a hugely important element to a successful rugby player, and of course, to a team. We've always maintained a large focus on hits and tackles here on RD, so this video fits in with that nicely.

The compilation itself comes from the official Clermont Auvergne website and features three minutes of textbook, solid hits that are pretty much a great example of the correct way to make tackles in rugby.

There are of course a few big, spectacular looking moments, but all in all, it features a whole load of great defence, with some solid driving tackles from the forwards in the tight exchanges.

It's a good find by a forum user, and well worth watching. Thanks to that user, and of course the Clermont website that put it together.


Time: 03:04


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Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Random tries from 2008

The past year has seen many great moments on the rugby field. From the North to the South, we've witnessed some awesome tries in all competitions around the world.

We've got a video for you today that features some of those classic tries from 2008, many of which you will have seen, but will bring back great memories I'm sure.

IRB Player of the Year Shane Williams features strongly, naturally, with his two scorchers against the Boks midyear.

There's also tries from Matt Banahan, Gareth Thomas, Ricky Januarie, Brian O'Driscoll, and Yves Donguy, to name a few.

Sit back and enjoy this look back on the last year. If 2008 was anything to go by, 2009 will surely produce plenty more of the good stuff for the rugby lover out there.


Time: 07:25
Music: Sex on Fire by the Kings of Leon, and A Town Called Hypocrisy by Lost Prophets


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Nalaga scores four as Clermont dismiss Toulon

Toulon slipped into the relegation zone on the weekend after being beaten 32-5 by Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. Flying Fijian Napolioni Nalaga crossed four times, keeping up his impressive try scoring record for the French side.

His tally for the season is now ten, scoring twice either side of half time. His hulking frame, flamboyant skills, and speed off the mark have seen him acknowledged by Planet Rugby as one of the best wingers in the world, making their team of the year.

As for Toulon, they couldn’t repeat their win over the same side in the opening round of the season, and now face the reality of going back to the Pro D2.

They managed a solitary try from Normaan Jordaan, but it was not enough as the loss results in them now being just one point ahead of bottom placed Mont-de-Marsan.

Tana Umaga and the rest of the highly paid signings may soon find themselves looking for a way out, or facing the ominous tast of heading back to the second division.

Toulon's assistant coach, Aubin Hueber, was full of praise for the opposition though.

"We came up against an excellent Clermont team, who were more dominating and organised than us with leaders who made the difference such as Nalaga who was magnificent. We would really like him in our team!"


Time: 05:00


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Sunday, January 04, 2009

Just another intense rugby compilation

It's the new year and 2009 promises to produce another cracking 12 months of rugby action across the globe. All the biggest names, in the biggest tournaments, as well as the mouth watering British & Irish Lions Tour of South Africa. It should be a feast of rugby, so we hope to be part of it in some way, and hopefully enhance the experience for you.

As always, we like to scour the globe for the best and most enjoyable rugby action available, sharing it with you, the rugby fan.

Being the physical, contact sport that it is, rugby is very much about intensity. It doesn't get any more intense than this video that we've come across, made by a regular RD user and contributor.

The video features all things rugby, which includes both Rugby League and Union action from around the world. While we know some of you don't enjoy the League stuff, plenty do, making this an enjoyable compilation video all in all.

The good thing for the Union fans is that most of that footage is clean, while the League stuff features some massive punch ups from past and present. Overall, it's an action packed video that we felt like sharing. We hope you enjoy, and have a happy new year.


Time: 06:24
Note: As always, we simply show the videos - we dont throw the punches or make the dirty tackles.
Did you enjoy the video for the good moments, or find it in poor taste? We're keen to know your thoughts.


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