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Sat 20 Jun 2015 | 08:33
Andrew Horrell feels Malakai Fekitoa's full force in Super Rugby playoff

5
Comments

Chiefs playmaker Andrew Horrell felt the full impact of Malakai Fekitoa's hit in Saturday's play-off game against the Highlanders. The Highlanders have qualified, so will play the Waratahs in Sydney in their semi final on June 27th.

The Chiefs had a promising scrum deep in Highlander's territory after half an hour but Fekitoa read the play like a seasoned pro and absolutely smashed Chiefs fly half Andrew Horrell. 

Fekitoa, still only 23, has developed a bit of a reputation for his big hits in Super Rugby, as you can see below. His tackle on Conrad Smith last season comes to mind.

The Highlanders went on to reach the Super Rugby semi final for the first time in 16 years, beating Chiefs 24-14 thanks to two tries from Waisake Naholo.

They will face the Waratahs, while the Brumbies will face the Hurricanes in Wellington in the other semi final, following the Canberra side's win over the Stormers earlier today.

Posted By: c_gillon

5 Comments

  • 3:00 AM 23/06/2015

    Yes you and Kuz are fundamentally right, it's not as bad as when you take a knee to the head at full speed but using your head to win the collision is never good. Damage to the brain can be accumulative. Just because he wasn't knocked silly doesn't mean it was safe. He hits the ball carrier with his head in the right position and I guarantee with his timing and commitment it's still a huge tackle. And a lot safer one.

  • stroudos
    8:49 AM 22/06/2015

    I bloody love this tackle. Easy to get distracted by that decoy running nonsense, but he read it beautifully, as the commentator said, smashing Horrell way behind the gain line.

  • drg
    12:26 PM 21/06/2015

    As with Liam below, when you have the extra weight you've also got bonus attributes, however you can still get KO'd regardless.

    It is all a bit of a moot point as neither concussion nor KO, happened here and everyone came out a winner, apart from Horrell I suppose.

    Just re watched the video, and it looks like Fekitoa is coming across slightly, rather than it being more head on, so I suppose if he'd put his head on the other side the impact may not have been as fantastic as his body wouldn't be behind it..

  • kuz
    1:16 AM 21/06/2015

    Dr G

    The standard rule of thumb does not always apply. If you are approaching with more momentum then the runner of the ball, or if you are running laterally it doesn't overly matter where your head is, the main concern is where your point of contact will be and to make sure it's not the hip or knee. George smith is a great example of this. If he tackled from the side, his head would be in front frequently. He seemed to choose the tackles when he knew he would dominate and tackle in this way.

  • drg
    12:22 AM 21/06/2015

    Gonna be a buzzkill again...

    As wonderful a tackle this was, his head was on the wrong side... Obviously legally it makes no difference, but health wise it's not a good sign... Was he sort of wrong footed? Is there a new technique I'm unaware of where players are encouraged to get a face full of ball to stop an offload?

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