Mon 28 Mar 2016 | 01:32
Barnstorming Pierre Spies run sets up Bismarck du Plessis try

13
Comments

Montpellier moved up to third on the Top 14 table following a 45-21 victory over Agen on Saturday. Former Springbok number eight Pierre Spies had the run of the match, setting up a try for fellow South African Bismarck du Plessis with this powerful charge.

Du Plessis, who moved to Monpellier with his brother after the World Cup, actually scored two tries on the day, while Spies himself also scored in the bonus point win.

Last week Spies was also provider for the robust hooker with a neat lineout variation, but this week it was the kind of run that garnered him international attention many years back, showing his raw pace and formidable power with ball in hand.

Capped over 50 times, Spies' Springbok career fizzled out following long term injury and lack of form. He was unwanted at the Bulls last year, so when Jake White's Montpellier called, he made the move and now appears to be finding his feet again, showing glimpses of that potential everyone always knew a physical specimen such as himself possesses.

While Agen were within ten points with five minutes to play, two quick tries from Montpellier, including a second for winger Timoci Nagusa, stretched the scoreline and made it a more than comfortable victory in the end.

You can view the highlights wrap on page two, and the Du Plessis try below

13 Comments

  • stroudos
    10:43 AM 30/03/2016

    That's the one!
    Love a good vertical jump.

  • katman
    8:19 AM 30/03/2016

    Big calves are a load of bull anyway.

  • drg
    12:19 AM 30/03/2016

    Lucky he doesn't have big calves otherwise they'd need an open air gym!

  • danknapp
    9:08 AM 29/03/2016

    I don't know how he can run that fast with what are, presumably, massive balls between his legs.

    I feel so much less of a man.

  • danknapp
    9:06 AM 29/03/2016

    I think I'd do a Sexton instead.

  • katman
    8:24 AM 29/03/2016

    Something like this?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gWzI0ygrI4

  • katman
    8:08 AM 29/03/2016

    What a cracking good try. I enjoyed the way Spies utilised both the traditional and the Samoan sidestep in that run. Two very big BOOOMS in that try - one by Spies and one by du Plessis.

  • stroudos
    7:41 AM 29/03/2016

    What a lovely soft pass at the end of all that. I would say he put it on a plate for Du Plessis but to be fair young Bismarck still had a bit of work to do and finished brilliantly.

    As for the tackling, I'd be more impressed if any of them had managed to effect a decent tackle in a bloke that size moving that fast and then having the cheek to throw in some audacious sidesteps as well.

  • stroudos
    7:38 AM 29/03/2016

    Likewise. Good to see him back. As well as that sprint time, I remember one of those behind-the-scenes training videos where he was doing an insanely high vertical jump - bench set almost at ear-height.

  • elvis15
    11:26 PM 28/03/2016

    A big man with that much mobility waiting 30m downfield to counter against you if you kick is a very scary thing.

  • drg
    9:06 PM 28/03/2016

    That was an incredible run!

  • jimmy23
    7:44 PM 28/03/2016

    I wondered what had happened to him. Phenomenal athlete. I read his best for the 100m was like 10.7 seconds or something ridiculous like that.

  • canafrikaaner
    7:41 PM 28/03/2016

    Holy fuck