Monday, October 04, 2010
Lifeimi Mafi cited for two high tackles & Brian O'Driscoll try

Leinster beat Munster 13-9 in their Magners League derby match at a packed Aviva Stadium on Saturday night. Brian ODriscoll scored the winning try for Leinster, while Munster center Lefeimi Mafi made two bad high tackles, for which he has now been cited. Both tackles and the try are included here.
The atmosphere at the new Lansdowne Road venue was superb as a passionate crowd braved the heavy rain to cheer on their sides. In the end it was the Leinster team who came out trumps thanks to BOD going over with ten minutes left in the game.
His opposing center, Munsters Mafi, has been cited for two offences. Firstly he made a terrible tackle on Gordon Darcy midway through the opening half. Darcy lay prone on the ground for quite some time, but managed to play on after a few minutes of treatment. Mafi has been cited under law 10.4(a) for allegedly punching or striking.
It wasnt picked up by the ref or his assistants but later in the game he made a similar tackle on Leinster fullback Rob Kearney, resulting in a yellow card. He has been cited under law 10.4(e) for that one, for an alleged dangerous tackle.
Hewill attened at hearing with a Irish Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel which will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, in Belfast at 16:00. He was cited by an independent citing commissioner who there at the ground. Hugh Logan and Stephen Hilditch will chair the hearing.
On a more positive note, ODriscolls try is included here as well, after the Mafi tackles.
Posted at 5:11 pm | 81 comments
Posted in Big Hits & Dirty Play
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Viewing 81 comments
Bradders October 04, 2010 4:09 pm

The first was basically him chinning the poor bugger.
Although Kearney lowered his body position it was still a very high tackling attempt.
There should be no doubt in any rugby player or fans mind that these are worth a citing and more than a yellow on the day.
Anonymous October 04, 2010 4:10 pm

He was a promising player though s
ConnachtFan October 04, 2010 4:37 pm

Huh!! the 3rd October 04, 2010 4:41 pm

First warrants a card, 2 in one match regardless of Kearney lowering into it deserves suspension.
Munster looked shocking in attack. And don't give me bull about the rain. NZ teams (esp Wellington and Canterbury) always play as good in wet as dry. Keith Earls, please come back soon.
Huh!! the 3rd October 04, 2010 4:43 pm

More to do with the fact it was actually a great kick, and he'll never kick a ball as good again.
no' bad ay... October 04, 2010 4:51 pm

A forearm in the throat is krav maga. Not rugby.
Andy F October 04, 2010 5:19 pm

maith an buachaill!
Anonymous October 04, 2010 5:21 pm

Anonymous October 04, 2010 5:49 pm

kehoe October 04, 2010 5:57 pm

Regarding Mafi, I think he's a good player and all, but he's played rugby for how long and still doesn't know how to tackle? I'm a Munster fan, so I cringe any time I see him lining someone up because he almost never makes a textbook tackle and I'm just waiting for him to get penalized.
Where is Earls, by the way? Out on injury?
Anonymous October 04, 2010 6:08 pm

Anonymous October 04, 2010 6:36 pm

mise October 04, 2010 6:50 pm

Remember that tackle on Chabal 2 years ago (in RD archives)? He was an animal all match with the tackling. (and yes I know he was yellowed in that one also!)
Canadian content October 04, 2010 6:54 pm

Zeebuzz October 04, 2010 7:31 pm

BigBucks October 04, 2010 7:35 pm

A sidestep who doesnt run at the opposition will be dropped very quickly as well
Anonymous October 04, 2010 7:51 pm

Third centre October 04, 2010 7:58 pm

Leamy, quinlan and ROG need to watch the back chat to refs it could cost them in the future
paddy October 04, 2010 8:15 pm

evisserpmi woh eht rotatnemmoc sklat sdrawkcab tsum fo nekat sraey ot tcefrep
impressive how the commentator talks backwards must of taken years to perfect
micheal cheika October 04, 2010 9:53 pm

Nicko October 04, 2010 10:03 pm

Simon Ioane October 04, 2010 10:08 pm

i'm sick of all your couch critics sitting there with your anonymous names and saying shit like 'pacific islanders, nuff said' they aren't the only ones who head high in rugby you racist biggots.
and this line that i love 'got to say this situation with pacific islanders is getting ridiculous' - are you serious??? what situation??? the one where Rugbydump puts up two videos of two brown boys who made head high tackles now all of a sudden the situaion is ridiculous?? give me a break you clown. put your name up, stop being a pussy and hiding behind your computer. two stupid tackles by two very talented and well natured people. that's it.
but i'm going to join the band wagon, hey RD.. please post some white boys up here who head high tackle please? because there's only an uproar when Pacific islanders do it.
Anonymous October 04, 2010 10:39 pm

DH October 04, 2010 10:47 pm

John F October 04, 2010 10:48 pm

John F October 04, 2010 10:48 pm

Andy October 04, 2010 11:48 pm

Outside Centre October 04, 2010 11:57 pm

Mafi very lucky not to get a straight red with hit on D'Arcy.
Anonymous October 05, 2010 12:22 am

islandstylin' October 05, 2010 12:39 am

Yes.. these types of tackle do go unpunished in the islands. It is as much a part of our game as side-stepping, flair, etc. We do consider it a proper challenge to our opposition. I miss the islands!! hahaha
But we as islanders need to stop bringing that same mentality outside the islands. We can't win with one(or 2) guys on the bench.
Anonymous October 05, 2010 12:43 am

Anonymous October 05, 2010 12:53 am

Btw, this level of rugby nearly ruined Jean de Villiers. He is only now getting back to the form he was in before he left. Not South african but I do watch the currie cup and notice things.
Bill October 05, 2010 1:02 am

Should sit on the sidelines for a week or two for two head highs like that.
Not too bad though, these things happen, people calling for red cards and stuff need to stop watching so much soccer.
They're just head highs, they happen.
Maybe a yellow for the first one if the ref was feeling particularlay harsh, but the second wasn't even very high, he got him below the chin, around the neck, easy to do without meaning it.
Anonymous October 05, 2010 1:05 am

After the second tackle, Mafi should have been sporting tiger stripes from a decent Leinster rucking.
Tom October 05, 2010 1:51 am

It's a swinging arm, they happen, red cards should be reserved for repeated infringments after multiple warnings or massively dirty play like eye gouging.
A swinging arm is usually just a penalty, maybe a yelloe if the ref is a bit of a pedant.
kehoe October 05, 2010 3:45 am

Man...Irish orthography is even more confusing than French. I'd hate to be an Irish stenographer.
Islander October 05, 2010 5:32 am

It's not the case in the south.
They just tackle hard, like all southerners, harder than northerners it seems.
It's just a rougher tougher game down south, I am usually blown away by how much Europeans freak out because of a big tackle or the odd head high.
Suck it up.
Anonymous October 05, 2010 6:13 am

bacon is deliciouos October 05, 2010 6:24 am

I think islandstylin' nailed it on the head.
Anonymous October 05, 2010 7:19 am

and for fuck's sake stop always hiding behind the easy "racism" excuse: there ARE differents ways of playing, just as there ARE different cultures, including rugby cultures. italians do like pasta, french people do like bread (just go in France and you'll see there are shops specialised in hundreds of different types of bread) is it racist to say that??? NO
just as it is not racist to say that nearly half the dangerous tackles are made by PIs!!!!!!!and there SHOULD be something made about that or there'll be deads next!
Anonymous October 05, 2010 7:25 am

get over yourself mate, no one asks them to come in NH, they just come for the money and because the level is good, no one would miss a bench of guys in such a huge amount of clubs...do you actually pretend NH rugby wouldn't be the same without them? one guy in every two or three teams? if this isn't BOLLOCKS....the only difference would probably be for some beheaded guys everyone knows hahaha
Anonymous October 05, 2010 7:27 am

including this one.
Chris October 05, 2010 7:37 am

.....
Because there's 0 evidence to suggest this is true.
You only come to that conclusion because you're a racist bigot.
Chris October 05, 2010 7:41 am

It's not the case in the south.
They just tackle hard, like all southerners, harder than northerners it seems.
It's just a rougher tougher game down south, I am usually blown away by how much Europeans freak out because of a big tackle or the odd head high.
Suck it up.
........
Mate European rugby is soft. If we were banished from rugby all together the game would thrive.
The only thing holding back rugby is British toffs. They want to bring it all back to the amateur era
Chris October 05, 2010 7:43 am

.....
Did you know most serious rugby injuries are from scrums? Maybe we should ban white people are scrummaging if that's the case?
John F October 05, 2010 7:44 am

You only come to that conclusion because you're a racist bigot."
0 evidence like the evidence that comes up on this site all the time? Racism would be saying that they put in bad tackles because Islanders are all disgusting human beings. Noticing that Islanders seem to be responsible for quite a lot of high profile high and dangerous tackles is inevitable I'm afraid. You're free to throw the term racism around if you want, but it's thick.
edbok October 05, 2010 8:31 am

It's the chin-shot on D'Arcy that's inexcusable.
Anonymous October 05, 2010 10:54 am

Mike October 05, 2010 2:52 pm

Most ACTUAL rugby fans watch it for the skills of the players. I'm not interested in watching top level rugby where guys have a career of 3 years and the great skilled players like BOD and Carter are either physical wrecks after a few years or never bother to play professionally because it is too risky.
Big tackles are an important part of the game - but they are only a part. Big tackles that can cripple people are not part of the game and never should be. You say that attitude is soft. I say you are a keyboard warrior and have no idea what you are talking about.
(u-p)rick October 05, 2010 5:34 pm

But its clear as day that although theres plenty of white blokes who make these tackles, a huge amount of these tackles are made by pacific islanders....
i.e they play to impose themselves...whether its a lack discipline or just a lack of getting low, i dunno, he just deserves a ban....
Anonymous October 05, 2010 5:34 pm

The ref did seem to have a good view of the first, even if he was a bit far back. Should have been able to give the yellow then.
Kearney should stop thinking he can just dance his way around people like he used to.
He did just that in the match and made an excellent break. The first though that came to my mind was "why does he not do that more often instead of doing an up and under"?
Oh and dont try and make a big deal with o driscals try, it was the first thing hes done in years and even that was a simple walk over and put down try.
O' Driscoll made some perfectly clear contributions which weren't shown in this clip. Make sure you've actually watched the player you're going to try and criticize him.
-KG
jej October 05, 2010 7:50 pm

Tr gan teanga, tr gan anam lads.
Whenever you see the Welsh highlights with the Welsh commentary Im like "ughhhhhh" but now that its in Irsh makes me feel strangely proud and patriotic
Paul Gormley October 05, 2010 8:12 pm

Resident Troll October 05, 2010 8:56 pm

It is clear to see a large 'proportion' of 'dangerous' (even those we say "it wasn't that bad" to) are performed by Pacific Islanders (in one way or another)
Is it coincidence? maybe, but it is a fact....
Does it make ALL pacific islanders thugs and scum of the earth? ofcourse not...
Anonymous October 05, 2010 9:56 pm

Think that's fair. Upper end of the dangerous tackle offence.
Bill October 05, 2010 10:08 pm

I'm not an Islander btw, but enough of this bullshit.
There's plenty of high tackles by white guys, EVERY SINGLE WEEKEND.
You just don't take notice of them, because when you see a brown guy do it, it registers that he's an Islander and justifies your bullshit.
It was just a swinging arm, they happen all the time, at every level of the game, ban him for a few weeks, like you would any player.
And then shut up about it.
mise October 06, 2010 12:37 am

On one side there's them wot say: islanders tackle hard and occasionally a bit high.
On the otherside, there's them wot say........
la mme chose
one side is accused of racism, the udder (in a world of actual debate)of naivet.
Meanwhile, a disproportionately high number of islander play like islanders.
It can be a better defensive game, or it can be a bit ott - that islander game - eitherways, its not as extreme as the debate here.
Chill out.
How about discussing the merits or otherwise of islander style defence?
Anonymous October 06, 2010 1:39 am

Chris October 06, 2010 2:11 am

..........
Whenever you see a bad tackle by an Islander the first thing that comes to your head is "Pacific Islander". You're already subconsciously racist, that's how you come to the conclusion.
When a white guy does a high tackle ethnicity doesn't even enter your mind.
Funny that.
Chris October 06, 2010 2:15 am

...........
So we're agreed. Lets get rid of scrums. They're too dangerous. Lets be rid of them.
If you want to go that route of being all high and mighty and about player safety then lets get rid of the most dangerous aspects of the game. Scrums and rucking.
In relative terms tackling is one of the safest areas of the game. Second only to the lineout.
Where as scrums and rucks are a massive danger zone, having left many players paralysed from the neck down.
If we're about safety they should be gone. Or you can shut the fuck up and stop crying about any tackle above the nipples.
Anonymous October 06, 2010 2:28 am

Jono October 06, 2010 4:38 am

They're about 100 times more likely to result in a serious, life-altering injury.
Or maybe you should just go watch another sport, like badminton or golf.
Anonymous October 06, 2010 4:55 am

Tom Bishop, Gravesen October 06, 2010 11:24 am

-----------------------------------
I am an English player, our team is all white and born & bred englishmen.... erm Paul Sackey & Ugo Monye = Not White.
Shontey Hape & Ricki Flutey are not british.
Your comment is racist and there is no space for that in the game. Keep it to yourself you anonymous keyboard warrior.
In relation to the tackles. Mafi (not PI's just this one) has a habit of making this kind of tackle. Second one is clumsy but the first one is a late, cheap shot that could really have hurt D'arcy. Nothing brave about hitting a player in the head late from behind. Deserves his ban.
rico October 06, 2010 2:32 pm

Anonymous October 06, 2010 3:56 pm

Seriously guys, stop bringing the whole NH is shit all the time, lets not compare what cannot be compared:
NH players play MUCH more games ( IRB made a comparison between frenchman Thieery Dussautoir and McCaw: froggie plays 20 to 30 more games A YEAR!) and are not allowed any products you guys can take.(let's not start a fight on that: no one gives a fuck).
when it comes to international rugby, you SH guys spend half the year with your national team, and the other half with a good part of it.
back to this tackle: as for the "tough guys" who keep on saying that "rugby's a mans sport and so on" and imply there are no rules whatsoever, well it just proves you've never played rugby because being seriously injured by a foolish move sucks: at least a regular tackle that breaks you something, all you can say is "fair enough". when a SOB or rips your head off coz he's not good enough to make a fair tackle in the particular situation, he just deserves to be sent off!
sorry for the long post, I've read too much nonsense of "tough guys" who know nothing, and some (not every) SH guys who should be a bit more humble.
Paco
ronan October 06, 2010 8:50 pm

Jimbo October 06, 2010 9:19 pm

First tackle was not a swinging arm it was a punch!! Second tackle poor timing.
So in your 'playground rugby' the kids punch each other to toughen up! Macho Rubbish!
PI are awesome to watch as their ability to play open rugby is immense! The game wouldn't be the same without them.
And ANON, keep your BNP attitudes out of rugby please!
Tom October 06, 2010 11:10 pm

Ban for a few weeks if fine for that.
Let's not hyperventilate about it is all.
In regards to Paco, the SH produces bette rplayers because of the focus of their rugby. SH players tend to have better skills (passing, stepping, reading the play and descision making).
Physically there's almost no difference between the players, they do virtually the same conditioning work and gym work in both hemispheres.
It's the speed if the play down south, combined with a focus on skills training from an early age and a commitment to running rugy as a philosophy.
In terms of games played, the top South African and NZ players play in just as much rugby. They play S14, plus their domestic comps (Currie Cup and ITM Cup) and Internationals.
Amount of rugby is not what the NH lacks. It's the type of ruby player they develop and the style they employ.
And it's not racist to say that, don't be daft.
And it aint tought o say that i n Europe they pull out too many cards, and that dangerous tackles aren't nearly as dangerous as scrummaging or rucking. Scrums are the most dangerous part of the game, but you don't see people hyperventialting over scrums.
islandstylin' October 07, 2010 2:40 am

hahaha i am the same size as mafi.. but you know what?? we play with a chip on our shoulder because we've always been "small" for a Pacific Islander.. (there are some stereotypes even we believe haha)
i don't know if that's what drives us "small" PI but we do try to make up for the size disparity.. look at brian lima.. he's relatively small too
NiWiTa October 08, 2010 1:34 pm

Thanks RD keep posting the clips and maybe the arseholes will go away and play with their bits...
Greiffel October 08, 2010 1:55 pm

Anyway, if that is the case, why not just join the forum?
Anonymous October 09, 2010 5:42 pm

Kenny October 12, 2010 3:07 pm

"Paul Gormley said...
Lets get out of the rascism and into the interesting business, Munster in fairness were missing three key players. I mean o connell, flannery and earls would have made a difference, and I predict Munster will do the double this year!"
Yeah Paul there still crap; five in a row and earls flannery and o connell were there for nearly all of them; what a croak of rubbish; i was really hoping no one would try that old chestnut














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