Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Rupeni Caucau try and nice assist against Clermont
Recently we saw a clip of Rupeni Caucau making somewhat of a flip against Bourgoin, messing up a runaway try with a somersault that might have impressed, had he grounded the ball. This weekend he showed what he's capable of though.
Stade Toulouse beat Clermont 15-6, ensuring that they finished the regular season in first place, and maintaining their unbeaten home record. Maxime Medard crossed first for the home side, thanks to a nice build up, broken tackle, and then offload by Caucau.
In the second half we got to see something that brought back a glimpse of the past, with the big man - playing on the wing again - scoring from a set piece as he beat at least two players on the way to the tryline.
At around 110kg's, his low center of gravity and acceleration makes it difficult to stop him with his tail up. He appears to be enjoying his rugby again, building up nicely of late, having now been with Toulouse for three months.
"I feel like I have been here two or three years already," he said.
"In Toulouse, everyone is smiling and ready to help if needed. The players are like brothers. We are a real family. I want to keep playing rugby and be at my best and I would prefer to do that in Toulouse."
This weekend seemed to be his best performance in recent years, something the Fijian selectors will have taken note of, especially as they said not too long ago that he is still on the radar, regardless of his size. Trials for the Pacific Nations Cup will be held on June 3rd.
Time: 01:01
Posted at 5:35 pm | 45 comments
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Posted in Great Tries
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Viewing 45 comments
Shant May 10, 2011 7:02 pm
Should have put Caucau in the squad vs. Leinster. Maybe they might have won ; )
Anonymous May 10, 2011 7:04 pm
I hope to god that caucaunibuca plays in rwc 2011
Anonymous May 10, 2011 7:18 pm
He's just fat. I saw a pic of him when he was young (roughly 20) and he was massive and shredded. Looked like a bodybuilder
Anonymous May 10, 2011 7:28 pm
9. Doussain
10. McAlister
11. Caucau
12. Poitrenaud
13. Fritz
14. Clerc
15. Medard
hows that sound for a Toulouse backline next season?
10. McAlister
11. Caucau
12. Poitrenaud
13. Fritz
14. Clerc
15. Medard
hows that sound for a Toulouse backline next season?
Rich May 10, 2011 7:33 pm
The man is an actual freak. I just hope I see another specimen like him in my lifetime. One that commits 100% to rugby. People always talk about 'the next Lomu' I'm going to put it out there, I think if Caucau had given his all to rugby he would have eclipsed the big man. Thoughts?
Anonymous May 10, 2011 7:35 pm
It's truly bizarre that someone this far out of shape can still cruise in against top teams. Fair enough he's strong etc. but he's not just brawling through defences, he's still got yards of pace on some of these would-be tacklers. Brilliant stuff.
Fatisbeautiful May 10, 2011 7:57 pm
Yeah Rich, one of the most exciting ball carriers of all time! I rate Caucau very highly.
I think that it's cool that he is fat yet quick. All rugby players are starting to look like gym rats, but not Caucau! I'd like to see some Robin Brooke/John Eales types too. All shapes and sizes.
I think that it's cool that he is fat yet quick. All rugby players are starting to look like gym rats, but not Caucau! I'd like to see some Robin Brooke/John Eales types too. All shapes and sizes.
Juggernauter May 10, 2011 8:05 pm
This fatty is like the Gavin Henson of Fiji... plays extremely well yet fails to commit to the cause... I think his case is more funny than Henson's, Cuucacunibuca has never hurted anyone...
I surely hope he gets to the world cup. Just remember him playing in Australia '03 against Scotland... pure brilliance
I surely hope he gets to the world cup. Just remember him playing in Australia '03 against Scotland... pure brilliance
Rugby Onslaught May 10, 2011 8:21 pm
He came to the club at 130kg, his profile rates him at 118kg, Toulouse have stated the aim is to get him to 110kg. 100-105kg would be his ideal weight, but I wouldn't bet on him getting there with holidays coming up. Does anyone know does his contract with Toulouse exclude him from playing for Fiji? I don't imagine anyone does as the ignorance on here is usually breathtaking.
wonkythrower May 10, 2011 9:10 pm
Woah imagine how good he'd be if he wasn't a fat, unfit prop and instead a fit, world class wing. Shame.
Anonymous May 10, 2011 9:24 pm
@ wonkythrower, name a fit world class wing who could score tries like caucau??? he is playing for the best club in europe and scoring tries against top teams, what makes you think he is unfit? i'ld rather have a player who looks like him and can actually score tries rather than some gym monkey winger who is a useless toss.
David May 10, 2011 9:40 pm
even so though, his pace! his running looks casual at times. and still you seen other backs struggling to keep up.
one of those great guys to watch.
one of those great guys to watch.
orange May 10, 2011 9:44 pm
When you're too fat to wrap your arms around him, it makes it hard to tackle the guy. That, and he's still pretty damned fast, and has a step.
Good for him for committing himself back into the game (seeing as someone mentioned Henson, Caucau has at least made it past 1 game, so his "comeback" is already much better than the Welshman's).
The guy can still run circles around players with a joint in his mouth, a milkshake in one hand, and the ball in the other.
Good for him for committing himself back into the game (seeing as someone mentioned Henson, Caucau has at least made it past 1 game, so his "comeback" is already much better than the Welshman's).
The guy can still run circles around players with a joint in his mouth, a milkshake in one hand, and the ball in the other.
Anonymous May 10, 2011 9:46 pm
hes actually better now than he was when he was skinnier. hes probably the hardest person to tackle in world rugby. who else is there sean obrien tuilagi ,rene ranger,basteraud all impossible to tacke but caucau is shorter than all of them
orange May 10, 2011 9:49 pm
Hmmmmm, I take back what I said about Henson...he's played two games for Toulon, and apparently, that suspension he'd received for fighting with teammates has been lifted now?
Von May 10, 2011 10:06 pm
Very nice.
Love the Clermont player tripping over his teammate at the beginning of the clip and doing a massive prat fall!
Anyway, why are people so insistent that Caucau should lose weight? What advantage will he gain? He already jogs effortlessly past some of the fastest players in world rugby, so doesn't really need to add any pace. And part of the reason he beats defenders so easily is down to sheer ballast and girth - players can't get enough grip on him to slow him down. And even if they could, he's agile enough - despite his flab - to dodge them anyway. That recent clip of Quade Cooper bounding this way and that like a deranged kangaroo pales in comparison to some of the shit Caucau pulls out of the bag.
Being an apparently fat bar steward is part of Caucau's aura. People used to get Pavarotti to lose weight and every time he did his voice suffered. Hope Caucau doesn't lose his mystique and individual brilliance just for the sake of trying to fit a mould, (and to be fair, it doesn't look very likely that that'll happen!).
Love the Clermont player tripping over his teammate at the beginning of the clip and doing a massive prat fall!
Anyway, why are people so insistent that Caucau should lose weight? What advantage will he gain? He already jogs effortlessly past some of the fastest players in world rugby, so doesn't really need to add any pace. And part of the reason he beats defenders so easily is down to sheer ballast and girth - players can't get enough grip on him to slow him down. And even if they could, he's agile enough - despite his flab - to dodge them anyway. That recent clip of Quade Cooper bounding this way and that like a deranged kangaroo pales in comparison to some of the shit Caucau pulls out of the bag.
Being an apparently fat bar steward is part of Caucau's aura. People used to get Pavarotti to lose weight and every time he did his voice suffered. Hope Caucau doesn't lose his mystique and individual brilliance just for the sake of trying to fit a mould, (and to be fair, it doesn't look very likely that that'll happen!).
JAMIE May 10, 2011 11:14 pm
Von
Caucau was at his true best when he wasn't massive (well, he was well built as said above) during his days in the Super 12 and the 2003 RWC. He literally jogged the field and sidestepped opponents with such ease I still can't get my head around it. Also, you can never be too fast.
Caucau was at his true best when he wasn't massive (well, he was well built as said above) during his days in the Super 12 and the 2003 RWC. He literally jogged the field and sidestepped opponents with such ease I still can't get my head around it. Also, you can never be too fast.
Anonymous May 10, 2011 11:30 pm
I remember blues captain 2003 xavier rush comments in 03 when questioned about caucau's speed, he said there should be a speed limit on caucau so that supporting players can keep up...
Anonymous May 11, 2011 12:16 am
People pls keep commenting about well Rups doing that might actually spark fire in brain to actually vision and commit to team fiji and bring bck some of those sidesteps and pace in his running.Rups4RWC!
Frenchy May 11, 2011 12:42 am
to
9. Doussain
10. McAlister
11. Caucau
12. Poitrenaud
13. Fritz
14. Clerc
15. Medard
16. Jauzion
9. Doussain
10. McAlister
11. Caucau
12. Poitrenaud
13. Fritz
14. Clerc
15. Medard
16. Jauzion
Anonymous May 11, 2011 12:48 am
Caucau is not human! he's an alien! if he worths 10 Shane Williams it's only because he eats theim at breakfeast to absorb their power and pace .... like Boo!!
help get out his belly !!!
Allright calm down, that's not a true story. But anywway he is and will remains both a legend and a science enigma and that's the way I like seeing him: fat, fast, and of course also fanciful.
help get out his belly !!!
Allright calm down, that's not a true story. But anywway he is and will remains both a legend and a science enigma and that's the way I like seeing him: fat, fast, and of course also fanciful.
Ben May 11, 2011 9:16 am
Why is it this man, surely the living embodiment of mercurial rugby genius, my favourite player today? I crave clips of Caucau on rugbydump. There is a great documentary film waiting to be made about this guy. The fact that he's had so many ups and downs, his unreliability, his seeming not to really be too bothered about rules, regulations and being professional about his rugby career, all add to the appeal.
His brilliance is all the sweeter because of that nagging feeling we all have that he somehow "wasted" his talent through his own fault. But would we have it any other way? I truly hope he gets on the field for the RWC. He lifts me out of my seat, he makes my day better just by playing rugby. Is that odd?
His brilliance is all the sweeter because of that nagging feeling we all have that he somehow "wasted" his talent through his own fault. But would we have it any other way? I truly hope he gets on the field for the RWC. He lifts me out of my seat, he makes my day better just by playing rugby. Is that odd?
Anonymous May 11, 2011 9:35 am
There's that famous NH defence I keep hearing about.
Nick May 11, 2011 9:35 am
@Wonkythrower-he wouldn't be Caucau if he was a gym monkey. Half the legend of the guy is that he does what he does while he is a human tank!
He should have been at least on the bench vs leinster!
He should have been at least on the bench vs leinster!
RememberTheMer May 11, 2011 10:50 am
There is no way Caucau is better now than in when he carried less ballast. He was best for about 2-4 seasons with Northland and Auckland. He didn't need to be big to brush off tackles because nobody could get near him.
This vid is 2 tries he scored for Northland way back (terrible quality). The way he drops the clutch for the second try is godlike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7erh3d9e_8&feature=related
View Video
This vid is 2 tries he scored for Northland way back (terrible quality). The way he drops the clutch for the second try is godlike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7erh3d9e_8&feature=related
View Video
Hendrick May 11, 2011 11:06 am
How is someone so fat so fast? It defies logic! I wonder how good he would be if he lost weight.
wonkythrower May 11, 2011 12:07 pm
Caucau has always had great balance and lower body strength, there is no way his belly has made him a better player. Check the clip RememberTheMer put up and this classic one where fiji almost beat scotland in WC 2003: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d02jJUrcgog It's funny cause even there the commentators think he's a bit overweight but thats when he was a world class wing, with so much more speed and just as much strength as now. Compare that with now though and it's too completely different physiques and mostly his rugby brain (and far weaker opposition) thats allowing him to stay competetive.
It's good to see he's enjoying his rugby at Toulouse though and as 'rugby onslaught' said hopefully he loses that extra weight and returns to the kind of form where he averaged over a try a game.
View Video
It's good to see he's enjoying his rugby at Toulouse though and as 'rugby onslaught' said hopefully he loses that extra weight and returns to the kind of form where he averaged over a try a game.
View Video
Anonymous May 11, 2011 1:34 pm
Lol, least he didn't trip over his gut when he scored this one!
Honestly though, I hope the guy gets selected for the rwc... in fact, if he doesn't then thats a terrible decision that they'll end up regretting!
Awesome player!
Honestly though, I hope the guy gets selected for the rwc... in fact, if he doesn't then thats a terrible decision that they'll end up regretting!
Awesome player!
Phil May 11, 2011 8:06 pm
Brilliant, he makes it look as though he's a man playing against boys.
Anonymous May 12, 2011 1:05 pm
great player - nice to see he likes being at toulouse!
So he hopefully wont leave them to fiji in the next time!
So he hopefully wont leave them to fiji in the next time!
Anonymous May 14, 2011 3:08 am
dude need to get laid more from his mrs if to lose dat fat
Anonymous May 26, 2011 5:53 am
ALL YOUR COMMENTS ARE VALID OF THIS EPIC,ENIGMATIC PHENOMENON THAT IS RUPENI CAUCAUNIBUCA...I was in his company when he was still at Agen, and he truly is 'A FREE SPIRIT!' Rups does NOT GIVE F_CK!...CAUCAU does what he wants when he wants... Eats KFC,doesn't train,bangs Perfect 10 bimbos and when he talked about rugby and his body! he said that he has nothing to prove! He used to have an amazing rig! Ripped with an '8-pack' The photos R on his Facebook fan-page.
I guess its kinda selfish of us all to insist he get into shape for our viewing pleasure...perhaps we should be hoping he gets fit for his own good, healthwise because his hedonistic lifestyle and diet of junk food, kava and beautiful women can't be good for the old ticker. In saying that it looks like Toulouse R finally whipping him into shape.
RUPENI CAUCAUNIBUCA aka "The-G.O.A.T"
I guess its kinda selfish of us all to insist he get into shape for our viewing pleasure...perhaps we should be hoping he gets fit for his own good, healthwise because his hedonistic lifestyle and diet of junk food, kava and beautiful women can't be good for the old ticker. In saying that it looks like Toulouse R finally whipping him into shape.
RUPENI CAUCAUNIBUCA aka "The-G.O.A.T"
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