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Wed 8 Jan 2014 | 02:49
Benson Stanley demolishes Yoann Huget with biggest hit of the year

25
Comments

Benson Stanley made arguably the biggest hit of the new year when he smashed Yoann Huget with a great tackle at the Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday. Toulouse went on to beat the Top 14 leaders 19-12 as they maintained their excellent home record.

Toulouse have won all nine home games this season but have a poor away record, losing all of their seven matches on the road. They are up to fourth on the overall log now, while Clermont remain top with their losing bonus point.

"It's good to beat the leaders Clermont during this period where we weren't playing very good rugby," said Toulouse captain Thierry Dusautoir.

"That gives us a boost before the visit of Saracens (in the Heineken Cup this coming weekend)."

Benson Stanley, who forged a reputation for himself as a big hitter when still playing in New Zealand, made another trademark crunching tackle as he smashed Huget, who in fairness received the ball on a hiding to nothing.

Stanley is the smaller of the two players so as with Sam Tuitupou's hit in the previous post, it was nice to see good tackling technique prevail. It was also good to see no TMO intervention, as has become the norm these days when a dominant tackle is made.

You can view more great hits from (and on) Stanley in the Related Posts below

Credit: rencontresaxv

Posted By: Grant Constable

25 Comments

  • 9:21 PM 10/01/2014

    EPS means Elite player squad, once you're in it you train with England at every session, if you're injured the England rugby doctors will treat you (or send you back to your club doctors). You're probably also on an England diet regime...etc. So it's general, meanwhile the six nations squad is the squad 33 or 35 players often, picked to train together for the six nations tournament. Often most of them are in the EPS but...like Tuiliagi for example, he's is the EPS but injured so out of the six nations squad that will/ are prepping for the 6 nations. But it doesn't mean that every player in the six nations will get match time, like this autumn A.Watson was called up into the QBE internationnal squad to train with the squad and would have played if there would have been more injuries but never. Euh... So this 6 nations the only players that have a chance to play for england are the players in the six nations squad, annonced thursday. But if someone is ruled out because of injury or other, he will be replaced (often by a Saxon or maybe even under 20).

  • stroudos
    10:36 AM 10/01/2014

    Fair enough.

  • 7:00 AM 10/01/2014

    FACT

  • 6:59 AM 10/01/2014

    Bazinga

  • drg
    11:12 PM 09/01/2014

    ....definitely, FACT!

  • drg
    11:11 PM 09/01/2014

    I like the idea of including Cipriani, from what I saw, his game play in the SH was brilliant and he seems to have matured greatly.

    Plus he can take a big hit and come back from it too: http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/ay_108630380.jpg?w=650&h=670&crop=1

  • 9:26 PM 09/01/2014

    No this year when everything started going tits up during the six nations

  • stroudos
    9:15 PM 09/01/2014

    Was that the game when Martin Johnson was manager? ie a few years ago? Same one he got yellow carded and cameras cut to Johnno going fucking mental in the stands. Harsh to hold one error years ago against him, and he's matured and improved since then. Still my choice. Cipriani and Care is the most maverick option!

  • 5:30 PM 09/01/2014

    Yeah Foden's out injured sorry, well I would go for Nowell or Watson. Really glad he didn't pick Strettle! And looking forward to the french game! Can't wait. Shame about Cipriani but he might get a chance for the summer tour. And for Danny Care I think it's his pass to the left (so his right hand which is duff) anyway he's definetly got a bad side. And he done a box kick against Italy I think it was that actually went backwards....

  • stroudos
    1:20 PM 09/01/2014

    I thought Foden was out injured? If he's physically fit enough, I'd definitely have him in the team. Better wing than Ashton and Strettle, plus cover for full back.

    Also, I believe Barritt is only expected to join up from match 2 or 3 isn't he?

  • stroudos
    1:12 PM 09/01/2014

    OK, confession time - Rugbydump videos excluded, natch, I haven't actually seen a vast amount of rugby so far this season. However, every time I've seen Ben Youngs recently he's looked somehow out of sorts - he also looks like he's still got some of the annoying petulance that winds me up. But, I could well have missed him being awesome.

    I like care. Quick delivery and quick feet. I don't recognise that bit about him being slow off one side (presumably his left hand?), but there you go.

    Love a good hard tackling 10, keeps the oppo honest. Farrell is definitely the man, it's just who is back-up. I'd go for either Myler or Ford. I was at Twickenham for Cipriani's debut and well remember the buzz of excitement, he had a blinder too. I also think the fuss about him is way exaggerated. If you look at what he actually does, rather than what the press reports, he's as dedicated an athlete as you'll find. Used to take on additional sprint/athletics training, for example. When he went abroad he didn't go somewhere that would pay loads of cash, he went to Australia, about as far away as you can get from the English spotlight. And played for the Rebels who were just starting out and were utter gash for the first season. And he stuck at it, so fair play to him.

    Wonderful prospect having Farrell controlling things for the first 50 minutes, then bringing on Cipriani to slice through the bastards for the last half hour. But is he playing as well as is being reported? I don't know, haven't seen much of his games - what I do know is a lot of the hype is coming from the same bitter and insidious newspaper pundits (Mick Cleary in the Telegaph, for example) who love nothing more than building sports stars up just to gleefully knock them down when they have one off day.

    Would be very happy to see him given another chance with England though. Seems to be working out OK for Quade Cooper.

  • guy
    12:31 PM 09/01/2014

    ...Unnecessary...

    BTW: writing 'fact' in capital letters doesn't support your opinion. At all. Ever.

  • 9:51 AM 09/01/2014

    I would give Cipriani a go, apparently his ego has dropped, and even if it hasnt wood robshaw and others will soon put him into place, he isnt the "star" as people saw him before so i think he would put more effort in. And he is talented! But if he's too cocky drop him forever.

  • 9:49 AM 09/01/2014

    Marler hartley cole launchbry lawes wood robshaw morgan youngs farrell foden 36/barritt burrell watson brown

    Vunipola (don't know enough about others) youngs wilson attwood vunipola care cipriani/ford eastmond

  • 9:43 AM 09/01/2014

    For number 3 Cole is brill, Wilson is an alright back up, but doesn't seem the brightest. No shouldn't be number one choice.
    Locks brill, I agree they are fit and hard workers, plus Lawes smashes everyone he can. Now I'm going to move to centres, Lawes to... burrell. Really want to see him. I recon he could be good. And also would push Tuiliagi a bit more. Eastmond wouln't mind seeing him as long as he tackles well. Barritt brill, but needs to be with a game changer like Tuiliagi or maybe Eastmond/Burrell. I wouldn't mind seeing Joseph again I thought he was almost a Fofana, but then Fofana has just progressed and progressed.... The french without him would be fuckkkkkkke*. For ten i like Faz. He' hard, but intelligent and wants to progress and he can tackle hard, not like Flood. Best tackler in ten since Wilko! He needs to keep form. Wouldn't mind seeing Ford against maybe Italy/Scotland if we're winning. Nine... I've always liked Youngs since 2010. Care is to slow of one side, and bloody keeps touching his hair!! Ridiculous. But he has got a bit of flair. He would be sub for me.

  • 9:33 AM 09/01/2014

    Brilliant team choice, apart from.... The wingers. Don't agree at all, I really think it's time to give wingers a chance quick because for me, we've seen three times that's Marland Yarde is good in attack but he can't tackle!!! He flys up and misses! No one has said anything about that, every critisizes Ashtons defence but he is just as bad. And if Yarde and Wade are our only choices, (for me both shite in defence) I would go for Wade because he can like Eastmond open up defences and slice through. For Ashton and Strettle, especially Strettle for me he is just a Flood/simpson daniel/monye/jordan crane/nick abendonan by that I mean, he's had his chance (s) tried and tested and he isn'tinternationnal. Full spot. Get rid of him and start trying some new young talent= May, Nowell, Watson! Really really hope they all get in they for me would need a year to get ready for the world cup! Only Tuiliagi can start playing internationnal games in a year and be class in a world cup the same year. I agree with Marler and Corbs both brilliant, hopefully they keep pushing each other some we get the best out of them. Both fit props! Vagipola (vunipola) isnt fit enough, I thought the Lions would have helped him a bit but still isnt fit enough for England I think. As for matt stevens.... Pff no comment, he should never play for England again.

  • stroudos
    8:17 AM 09/01/2014

    Reached maximum limit on post length, so obviously time for me to shut my cakehole. Anyway I reckon most of the rest of the team sort of picks itself.

    Wing is another interesting one. Would like to have seen Yarde and Wade, but with them both crocked May, Watson or young Jack Nowell have a run. Unlike most people, I don't despise Chris Ashton, happy with him and Strettle, to start anyway, but do hope Lancaster uses this chance to blood some young flyers.

    Scrumhalf I'd have Care No.1 - most exciting scrumhalf we have and Lancaster has a soft spot for him too. Dickson 2nd (on proviso he does something about his hair). Youngs, on current form, would be 3rd choice.

    Full back has to be Mike Brown after his awesome autumn displays.

    So I propose:
    15 Brown
    Wings - Ashton & Strettle start but May, Watson & Nowell given plenty of game time

    13 - Eastmond (or Burrell)
    12 - 36 (Barritt backup)

    10 - Farrell (Ford next in pecking order for me)
    9 - Care (Dickson bench)

    8 - Billy Vunipola or Ben Morgan, don't care which, they're both excellent.
    7 - Captain Robshaw.
    6 - Tom Wood

    2nd row - Lawes and Launchbury. I like both of them and they seemed to be developing a decent partnership too. I'd like to see England emulate the old Scottish "Killer Bees" backrow and create a hilarious pun on the Double L boys. I vote for "the Fucking 'Ell boys".

    3. Cole
    2. Hartley
    1. Marler


    There you have it, that's the end of that discussion! ;)

  • stroudos
    7:57 AM 09/01/2014

    "If anyone wants to have a discussion about the England squad, I wouldn't mind talking about selection choices."

    Very generous of you sir. Here we go then.

    Disagree on Marler v Corbisiero. Corbs is easily the most effective scrummager in world rugby (yeah, that's a pretty hyperbolic statement but he's also one of the most under-rated players in the game IMO). He is excellent around the park too. When fit, he'd literally and tactically be the first name on my team-sheet. Moot point of course as he looks set to miss the whole tourny and very pleased that the excellent Marler is available to take his place. Big fan of him too. Less convinced by M Vunipola and don't know enough about the other props.

    Jumping around a bit and I won't comment on every position. Flyhalf - apparently Flood has sacrificed any chance of playing in the world cup and consequently will not be considered for this EPS. Bonkers on his part but not so massive a loss for England as we have exciting young 10s coming through - hey maybe even Floody's decided he's had a fair crack of the whip and is politely stepping aside (and trousering a load of French cash).

    Farrell has done nothing to warrant losing his place and still seems to be Mr Reliable so he's in. Last proper opportunity to really have a look at Plan B though, so hope we get to see 1 or 2 out of Myler, Ford and Burns (probably in that order for me) given a decent amount of game time.

    Centres - long-term I think it's Twelvetrees with Tuilagi, but with the latter out I'd get Burrell or Eastmond in. Eastmond's the one I really want to see - he was devastating on that Argentina tour, haven't seen that shit since Jason Robinson. Of course he could play wing and people will question if he's big enough for centre - personally I think that's bollocks, especially when you've got a monster like George north lining up on the opposite wing. Pace frightens defences and I want to see him unleashed in midfield.




  • 3:21 AM 09/01/2014

    What I like so much about this tackle is that it's totally clean and really not dangerous for either the tackler or the ball carrier (of course any rugby tackle is potentially dangerous). Head on the right side, point of impact nowhere hear the ball carrier's head, total wrap, no shoulder charge, brilliant timing, more of these please.

  • drg
    2:18 AM 09/01/2014

    ...hype...

  • 10:26 PM 08/01/2014

    Sit down! Wonder where he learnt how to play rugby...oh southern hemisphere, XD brilliant tackle! Ok Huget was of balance but still timing was perfect! Marler on North was also good, fair play to Marler but North did have 3 defenders in front of him and Marler hit him when he stopped but brilliant timing from Marler. I prefere him to corbs. If anyone wants to have a discussion about the england squad (before its annonced tomorrow) I wouldn't mind talking about selection choices.

  • jimmynee
    8:53 PM 08/01/2014

    "Monumentales!". Damn straight.

  • 8:52 PM 08/01/2014

    Benson Stanley imho is probably the best tackler in world rugby, mostly out of sheer disregard for his own safety.

  • vannrugby
    8:50 PM 08/01/2014

    Classic Stanley.

  • stroudos
    8:00 PM 08/01/2014

    Bosh. Love that. OK, Huget's sort of off balance and received the ball with no time to avoid the tackle, but it's always enjoyable to see a bloke literally knocked into mid-air.

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