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Mon 1 Dec 2014 | 01:40
Bloodied Brad Barritt happy to put body on the line in win over Wallabies

17
Comments

Brad Barritt left the field in a awful state as England ended their Autumn Internationals on a high with a 26-17 victory over the Wallabies. The centre took a number of knocks, but said post match that he is fine and it was all part of playing for his adopted country.

Barritt has played professional rugby at a high level since the age of just 19. Even back then, he very quickly became known for his unbelievable courage no matter who he was up against. His defensive effort was key in England's win over old foes Australia on Saturday.

The headclash with Quade Cooper, which can be seen in the video recap below, looked particularly bad. Barritt says that his face, despite being a bit of a mess, is doing okay.

"It's fine. I've spoken at length - I'm definitely not getting any prettier. To be able to do that and put your body on the line for England and for the team is a proud moment for me," he said.

Thanks to that gritty defence, two tries from Ben Morgan and 16 points from the boot of George Ford, Stuart Lancaster's side got one over the Wallabies, who lost three matches on tour. 

England's record over the last few weeks stands at played four, won two, with losses to New Zealand and South Africa, but wins over Samoa and then this latest victory over Australia.

"To get the win was extremely pleasing, but we know it's not all smelling of roses and there are things to work on and improvements to be made," said skipper Chris Robshaw.

"We know that when you get to a World Cup you can't afford to lose one or two games because then you are packing your bags and watching everyone else on TV."

credit: England Rugby

Posted By: Grant Constable

17 Comments

  • danknapp
    11:05 PM 03/12/2014

    Aaaah, I hope that's true. Thanks for the info.

  • stroudos
    11:35 AM 03/12/2014

    Nice one, cheers. Even if you don't give it full "off-the-ball" status, it's surely obstruction - at the least accidental obstruction.

    Good job Lawes was there to tidy up eh!

  • bnations
    9:27 PM 02/12/2014

    It appeared to me that he was slow to get up after the Cooper tackle because of a cramp in his leg. You can see him limping afterwards as well.

  • 10stonenumber10
    8:02 PM 02/12/2014

    Think of it like running through a deck chair. You send it flying, but are guaranteed a scratch or two.

  • vladimir
    1:23 PM 02/12/2014

    Like that? Head on the wrong side though.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePnda0HGfoc

  • danknapp
    1:12 PM 02/12/2014

    I can't believe that Barrett was able to play on until the end. Fair play to the man, but he was groggy as hell after one hit and struggled to stand up. Only one thing can cause that and it isn't a cut.

  • 10stonenumber10
    1:12 PM 02/12/2014

    My name is literal. You cannot beat the laws of physics, when 2 (or usually more) of you collide on the field, your cage is rattled. Most of these lads have 3 or 4 stone extra compared to the average human, keeping their joints locked in and bones somewhat protected. When you're skin and bone, it hurts. It is like undoing all the spot welds on your car bodywork and using zip ties to hold it together instead. Looks alright, but one smash and it is in pieces. It is crap running around unable to turn your head after a hit, or feeling like your spine has been compressed by 6", I'm short enough!

    It works both ways though, big players didn't hurt me in the contact, but did when we hit the floor. Big players used to get dead legs from landing on my hipbones/knees/shoulders. Smaller surface area = greater pressure when I hit. "It hurts when you slam a shoulder in, even if I run over you" - my old number 8.

  • guy
    8:45 AM 02/12/2014

    Agree with you there. I also had a feeling that QC lost conciousness for a brief moment.

  • danknapp
    8:29 AM 02/12/2014

    I didn't like hearing the commentator saying "There's no hint of concussion there" when clearly it was impossible to tell from distance, it feels to me that if you get knocked to the ground and don't get up immediately from a head injury, or get a blood injury to the head, that at test level a neutral doctor should assess you.

  • vladimir
    6:48 AM 02/12/2014

    I would also point at Halfpenny who again did stop a big fellow (Etzebeth) with the head on the wrong side. Again. Seems like some never learn.

    As a little pocket player myself, I enjoy it when contacts are hard but 'clean', and not feeling for the rest of the game like I did myself some brutal but silent bone break or whatever serious injury that might happen.

    God, do I admire this fellow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lT_BKXOjw0

  • stroudos
    6:13 AM 02/12/2014

    Yeah, but there's a difference "leaving it all out there" and recklessly using your face to tackle people. Especially when a tackle with the shoulders would have been more effective. I mean it's Quade bloody Cooper, he's hardly an immovable object that you're going to have to summon all your strength and commitment to stop.

  • eddie-g
    9:52 PM 01/12/2014

    Pssht, you backs still worry far too much about your looks.

    What I tell all my non-rugby in-laws is that there was no more satisfying feeling than at the end of a rugby game knowing you've left it all out there.

    Worst feeling is leaving a game injured, next worst is losing when you've played shite. But play a proper hard and fair game? No words for it. I usually needed an hour or so to clear my head, but the pub visit after that sort of a game was bloody magnificent.

  • stroudos
    8:54 PM 01/12/2014

    Brad Barritt: again, he's spoken at length about it!!

    Top bloke, got a lot of time for him. He's done us proud.

    Playing primarily centre myself, I generally feel my role in the team is to smash the the oppo backwards andthen worry about creating things in attack and this man epitomises that, with the proverbial body-on- the-line thrown in for good measure.

    But...

    As I said to my father-in-law, who's not a rugby man, but cooed in admiration as the bloodied Barritt exited the field: "kind of a badge of honour, isn't it, smashing your face up like that?"...

    " Maybe. But you don't split your face open if you tackle a bit lower."

    I tell you what, I'm becoming a wise fakir in my old age.

  • stroudos
    8:39 PM 01/12/2014

    Didn't see either of the those incidents. Let's be having them RD...

  • mattyj
    7:45 PM 01/12/2014

    Looks like a corker! Anyone know where I can watch the full test?

  • bunn
    6:12 PM 01/12/2014

    Still not good enough in attack for a team that feels that it has a chance at a world cup. Very brave and committed, but not talented enough

  • 45678
    5:22 PM 01/12/2014

    2 incidents I would like to see again please RD
    10 or so minutes in, Australia had the possession and an aussie player tackled an English defender (twelvetrees?) out of the defensive line. I've never seen an attacker tackling a defensive player before!
    a few minutes after toomua gave 36 a good right hook after a huge hit

    both were missed at the time by the officials and tv replays

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