Monday, March 11, 2013
Julian Savea smashes Israel Dagg, Robbie Fruean, and a few others
The Hurricanes beat the Crusaders 29-28 in a Super Rugby thriller on Friday night. Wing Julian Savea had a large part to play in the home side's performance as he physically dominated and scored a try that was reminiscent of Jonah Lomu vs Mike Catt in 1995.
Dan Carter had a chance to snatch the win for the Crusaders late in the game, but a drop goal attempt sailed wide, allowing the Hurricanes to get back on track after two successive losses.
Savea was sensational on the night as he bumped hapless tacklers out the way, smashed others, and showed a deftness of touch that has seldom been seen in such brutal runners.
Comparisons to the great Lomu were hard to avoid, but what Savea perhaps lacks in size (when compared with the All Black legend), he makes up for in other areas of his game, clearly having worked on his kicking, passing, and option taking.
He made a statement early on with a big charge through All Black Israel Dagg, then smashed Crusaders powerhouse Robbie Fruean, leaving him on the floor wincing in pain.
In the second half and with the Hurricanes trailing, Savea lit things up as he beat one man, then lined up last defender Dagg and literally bumped him out the way for the second time in the game.
It wasn't quite at the same brutality level of Lomu vs Catt, but it was right up there and the impact he made on the night will live long in the memory as a defining moment in his young career.
Below is a clip showing the bumps, the try, and that big tackle on Fruean
Hurricanes vs Crusaders highlights
Posted at 9:39 am | 17 comments
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Posted in Big Hits & Dirty Play, Great Tries
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Viewing 17 comments
Canadian content March 11, 2013 2:59 pm
I know I'm gonna take some stick here but did anyone else notice all three players who got bumped ducks their heads? Perhaps poor technique but I also think trying to tackle that train with a traditional rugby tackle is the best option
yessir March 11, 2013 4:50 pm
Savea is an absolute beast, so I don't want to discredit him at all. However both Dagg's body position seemed all wrong when trying to tackle the big man. Probably just couldn't get into a good position to stick the tackle.
Anyway, monster guy! I'm sure Keith Earls was somewhere in Ireland twitching when he saw that...
dave March 12, 2013 6:29 am
dave March 12, 2013 6:38 am
dave March 14, 2013 6:21 am
apparently Jonathan Davies disagrees with you on how to tackle a player like tuilagi or savea
"Tuilagi and Brad Barritt are a strong pairing but Sam Warburton [the Wales flanker and recent captain] showed at Twickenham last year how you tackle Tuilagi. He took him low, around the ankles, and it was an effective approach
maddernhead March 11, 2013 10:08 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Savea
Guy March 12, 2013 9:38 am
Wayno March 11, 2013 9:58 pm
dave March 12, 2013 6:26 am
Jeri March 12, 2013 8:11 am
Kyle March 12, 2013 2:50 pm
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