Sunday, May 15, 2011
Gio Aplon's brilliant individual try against the Chiefs
Gio Aplon scored this sensational solo effort against the Chiefs on Saturday in their Super Rugby meeting in Hamilton. The home side won 30-23 however, coming back from being 20-3 down.
Having flown off into a commanding lead, the Stormers, who last week lost to the Crusaders but have been in great form otherwise, would have thought that the game was dead and buried at halftime. The Chiefs came back though, scoring 27 points in the second half to take a great win.
The try of the game however came from the losing side, as Springbok flyer Gio Aplon showed that there most certainly still is room for the little guy in professional rugby. One of, if not the lightest players in the tournament, the former Sevens star glided through the Chiefs cover.
The angle he took initially, to break a tackle from a nicely timed Jean De Villiers pass, was what put him through. The way he casually bobbed and weaved, beating All Black players, was great to see and no doubt makes this try one of the best we've seen in the last few weeks.
In fact it was last year in the selfsame fixture that the Stormers scored another unbelievable try , that time it was a team effort though, with Bryan Habana crossing for the honours.
Besides this great effort, the loss was disappointing for the tourists, with captain Schalk Burger naturally unhappy about how they played in the last 40. "The second half was pretty disgusting really."
There was a touch and go call that resulted in a penalty try, with Aplon himself being yellow carded, but all credit to the Chiefs for a fantastic comeback against one of the top sides in the tournament this year. As for the Aplon try, you won't see many better this year. Enjoy.
Time: 01:20
Posted at 10:14 pm | 39 comments
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Viewing 39 comments
Andy May 15, 2011 10:23 pm
first. i'm really sorry for saying that but i've never been first.
re: the rugby. Nice one.
re: the rugby. Nice one.
Anonymous May 15, 2011 10:31 pm
Nice. I'm a massive fan of Aplon but he really shouldn't be wearing a scrumcap in the backline :(
Rich May 15, 2011 10:51 pm
Cracking initial line break. But really what on earth is No: 25 doing?!?! (I think its 25, whoever runs within an inch of Aplon and does nothing) That is unforgivably bad defence.
Rob May 15, 2011 11:36 pm
Rich, did you mean Donald? He looked as though he was running a switch with Aplon. :)
i love bacon May 16, 2011 12:38 am
I love this little man, this little Saffa Shane Williams.
Being only 5'7" and 165lb myself, he's representing us "normal"-sized guys at a top level (not only that, he's a terrific winger!)
Being only 5'7" and 165lb myself, he's representing us "normal"-sized guys at a top level (not only that, he's a terrific winger!)
i love bacon May 16, 2011 12:40 am
Oh, and I think that Donald must've forgot that he was playing rugby and not just racing people to the try line.
Link May 16, 2011 12:48 am
There is nothing wrong with wearing a scrum-cap in the backline
Regarding the try, what a cracker! A mixture of a great running and not so great defence from 1 or 2 of the chiefs!
Regarding the try, what a cracker! A mixture of a great running and not so great defence from 1 or 2 of the chiefs!
Anonymous May 16, 2011 1:52 am
Too bad the Stormers were royally fucked by Stu Dickinson.
Unlike Shane Williams, Aplon can actually tackle... and not just wrap the legs or something... drive back tackles. Try of the round.
Unlike Shane Williams, Aplon can actually tackle... and not just wrap the legs or something... drive back tackles. Try of the round.
Yankees May 16, 2011 2:03 am
The Chiefs OWNED the 'Top of the SA Table' Stormers...LOL!
Anonymous May 16, 2011 2:09 am
Two tries came from a bullshit sin binning of Aplon/penalty try. Kahui ran into Aplon's line.
Also, how bout 'dem injury ravaged Cheetahs against the Crusaders? Owned.
Brussow in his 20 minute cameo did more than McCaw did the whole game, then he went off and left Ashley Johnson (more often than not a quota) to own McCaw as well.
Looks like not even the "GREAT" Carter and Mccaw duo could compete against a side that every year has it's talent taken away by the bigger sides. How about that Sonny? Did fuck all and got injured by a bigger man.
Also, how bout 'dem injury ravaged Cheetahs against the Crusaders? Owned.
Brussow in his 20 minute cameo did more than McCaw did the whole game, then he went off and left Ashley Johnson (more often than not a quota) to own McCaw as well.
Looks like not even the "GREAT" Carter and Mccaw duo could compete against a side that every year has it's talent taken away by the bigger sides. How about that Sonny? Did fuck all and got injured by a bigger man.
i love bacon May 16, 2011 2:11 am
Anonymous at 3:16am: for a winger in amateur club rugby, I'd say it's pretty average.
Other anon just after: I will agree on the fact that Aplon does put his whole body into defense as well - not just in tackles, but he counterrucks like backs should, but don't often seem to, do.
Other anon just after: I will agree on the fact that Aplon does put his whole body into defense as well - not just in tackles, but he counterrucks like backs should, but don't often seem to, do.
Anonymous May 16, 2011 2:24 am
^ yeah, THEIR (not there) backs can't score tries. Just like the one we saw in the clip. Idiot.
Juggernauter May 16, 2011 2:35 am
What on earth was Stephen Donald doing? He had a good chance of making a great blindside try-saving tackle but, as usual, went for the wrong call (remember Hong Kong?) Come on mate!
And Aplon.. sheer class. The battle for the Boks back three with Habana, Bassong, Viljoen, Mapoe, Kirchner, Jantjies, Pietersen, looks fascinating come World Cup.
Cheers
And Aplon.. sheer class. The battle for the Boks back three with Habana, Bassong, Viljoen, Mapoe, Kirchner, Jantjies, Pietersen, looks fascinating come World Cup.
Cheers
Anonymous May 16, 2011 3:22 am
Donald got stepped (like half the Chiefs team)
Jean de Villiers, class.
Jean de Villiers, class.
alf May 16, 2011 3:57 am
Anonymous at 4:09am, this isn't a video for the Cheetahs-Crusaders match, but I guess you had yourself all worked up and needed to get that out...(to be fair, it was a great match)
But while we're at it, I've never really been less-than-impressed with Ashley Johnson. He always seems to have a tremendous work rate around the pitch. He may not be as threatening of a no. 8 as other international 8's, but to call him a "quota" player is ridiculous.
But while we're at it, I've never really been less-than-impressed with Ashley Johnson. He always seems to have a tremendous work rate around the pitch. He may not be as threatening of a no. 8 as other international 8's, but to call him a "quota" player is ridiculous.
Scotsdale May 16, 2011 5:22 am
Great try! Lets stay focussed on it maybe.
Very impressive balance from Aplon. Give him the ball in space and he's deadly
Very impressive balance from Aplon. Give him the ball in space and he's deadly
Von May 16, 2011 7:01 am
Love this comment:
Rich, did you mean Donald? He looked as though he was running a switch with Aplon. :)
I also enjoyed the utter resignation of Sivivatu's whole body language after Aplon stepped him!
Rich, did you mean Donald? He looked as though he was running a switch with Aplon. :)
I also enjoyed the utter resignation of Sivivatu's whole body language after Aplon stepped him!
Rich May 16, 2011 7:29 am
Great run, but when are referees going to stop feeding at the scrum?
I hate ppl who write May 16, 2011 8:21 am
Regarding the "bullshit binning", as a neutral I think Aplon absolutely deserved it, he put both his hands on the player and leaned into him as he was diving, can't get more cut and dry than that.
That was the turning point but not the only reason the Stormers lost. Watching the match it seemed like the teams switched jerseys at half time. No intensity from the chiefs in the first half, and little or none from the Stormers in the second.
As for Donald, he had a fifty fifty choice to make, thought Aplon would step back in towards the posts so went for that one. Thems the breaks! He had a cracker of a second half though so I don't know why all the couch potatoes are slating him.
Excellent try by Aplon in any case.
That was the turning point but not the only reason the Stormers lost. Watching the match it seemed like the teams switched jerseys at half time. No intensity from the chiefs in the first half, and little or none from the Stormers in the second.
As for Donald, he had a fifty fifty choice to make, thought Aplon would step back in towards the posts so went for that one. Thems the breaks! He had a cracker of a second half though so I don't know why all the couch potatoes are slating him.
Excellent try by Aplon in any case.
Tim May 16, 2011 8:21 am
If your gona talk about the injury ravaged cheeters, how about the injury ravaged crusaders? From surprise surprise... anon
Anyway back to the point, great try, great angle, have always been a fan of Aplon.
Anyway back to the point, great try, great angle, have always been a fan of Aplon.
katman May 16, 2011 8:59 am
Great try.
But the penalty try was a crock of dwang. To award a try under the posts, you must be sure that a try would have been scored. With the Chiefs back running at full tilt after a ball that bounced up a meter in the air and away from him how can the ref or telly ref say that he would have dotted it down? Id say he had about a 20 or 30% chance of getting that ball onto the ground with a semblance of control.
And the yellow card was almost as ridiculous as the one handed out to the Lions prop against the Brumbies for a late tackle, which was pretty much a standard tackle in the offload. Everyone, including the Aussie commentators, were perplexed to put it mildly. Crazy decisions.
But the penalty try was a crock of dwang. To award a try under the posts, you must be sure that a try would have been scored. With the Chiefs back running at full tilt after a ball that bounced up a meter in the air and away from him how can the ref or telly ref say that he would have dotted it down? Id say he had about a 20 or 30% chance of getting that ball onto the ground with a semblance of control.
And the yellow card was almost as ridiculous as the one handed out to the Lions prop against the Brumbies for a late tackle, which was pretty much a standard tackle in the offload. Everyone, including the Aussie commentators, were perplexed to put it mildly. Crazy decisions.
Tim May 16, 2011 10:40 am
Just seen the penalty try and I have to say, you shove a player in the back like that in that position you can't complain if a penalty try gets awarded (not saying Aplon himself complained of course). Playing with fire really. Plus yellow is getting on the heavy side, but still, your asking for trouble.
Andrew May 16, 2011 11:09 am
@Katman - 9.A.1 "probably have scored but for foul play"
katman May 16, 2011 11:52 am
^^ well I guess that depends then on your definition of "probably". As I said, I reckon he had 20 to 30% chance of dotting that ball down. So in my book that's "probably not". Just saying.
I hate ppl who write May 16, 2011 4:26 pm
@Katman, where does that percentage come from there? If he hadn't been hindered there was no reason for him not to touch that down, it bounced up nicely giving him the time to grab it and touch it down, he almost got to it while being pushed, never mind if he hadn't been.
Mike May 16, 2011 5:13 pm
3 steps off his left foot. He stepped Donald too - Donald was unlucky and beaten by Aplon's skill, rather than making a mistake. If Aplon had not been so aware, Donald would have flattened him.
Great try.
Great try.
Anonymous May 16, 2011 9:30 pm
i would hate to play touch rugby against this guy
Anonymous May 16, 2011 9:32 pm
isn't it also weird how he never gets injured (touch wood)? And someone like Brussouw (who's built like a mini-tank) is always tearing something.
Although, admittedly, Brussouw is always in the most dangerous area of the game - where the entire pack of forwards are slamming in to you over and over again. Call me a sissy, but that's not my idea of fun...
Although, admittedly, Brussouw is always in the most dangerous area of the game - where the entire pack of forwards are slamming in to you over and over again. Call me a sissy, but that's not my idea of fun...
Anonymous May 16, 2011 10:43 pm
Ok. I thought I was the only one who was wondering the HELL Stephen Donald was doing? I know most people think he's a moron. I'm not on that bandwagon, but dang, that was just a dumb decision. I'm no expert, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say he should've tackled Aplon, especially since he was the only one who came close enough to tackle him. Kudos to Aplon though.
Anonymous May 18, 2011 10:40 am
9s fault, shouldnt have missed the first tackle. Donald made him self look pretty stupid though!
cheyanqui May 19, 2011 4:03 pm
those sidesteps... I thought I was watching some 1970s vintage videos of Phil Bennett
Gary May 21, 2011 9:30 am
Last year Brendon Leonard also missed a tackle on Aplon which also led to a brilliant try.
Gary May 21, 2011 9:34 am
I'm sure if that's was a penalty try for which Gio got sin-binned. If Aplon went for the ball instead of the man he could have prevented a try. How can the assistant ref then be so sure a try would have been scored?
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