Tue 29 Oct 2013 | 07:51
Brock James sensational reverse flick pass sets up try for Napolioni Nalaga

12
Comments

Brock James produced a piece of magic to set up a crucial try as Clermont survived a scare at the hands of Brive on Saturday, eventually coming out 36-29 victors. A late dash helped them extend their unbeaten home record at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.

Brive were leading 26-23 with fifteen minutes left in one of the Top 14 games of the weekend.

Napolioni Nalaga had scored earlier in the contest but thanks to a piece of individual brilliance - or an incredibly lucky pass - he crossed for his second try with ten minutes left in the game. Replacement James, who made the wonder pass to free up the Fijian on the wing, then kicked them to victory.

The last time we saw this type of pass - almost a carbon copy in fact - was when Highlander Tamati Ellison did it against the Crusaders earlier this year. His reverse pass put Ben Smith away for a try, and was promptly called one of the greatest passes ever seen by commentator Scotty Stevenson.

This one is right up there, and in terms of significance in the match, was perhaps even better.

What was also impressive was that with such an apparent lack of control, and the nature of the flick, the ball didn't go forward at all so the legitimacy of the try was never in doubt.

Clermont are now second on the Top 14 table after ten rounds, two points behind leaders Toulouse.

The was requested with a tweet, so follow @Rugbydump and get in touch if there is ever anything you've spotted that you think should be featured here on the site or via our social pages

12 Comments

  • pedro
    4:14 PM 31/10/2013

    Still forward

  • jimmynee
    10:34 PM 30/10/2013

    It's a beautiful looking forward pass

  • armchairref
    9:24 PM 30/10/2013

    great to watch even if it did go about a metre forward

  • juggernauter
    11:23 PM 29/10/2013

    Technique-wise, probably Ellison's was better, as he stepped inside and changed the ball from hands while shifting his body to throw the pass, so it appeared to be more "intentional". However, there's no denying this is a beauty!

  • 10:14 PM 29/10/2013

    Who cares how u label it, skill or luck, pretty cool to watch and a match winner to boot! Certainly more entertaining than the inevitable 10 pick and go's at the line that would have ensued otherwise.

  • drg
    7:16 PM 29/10/2013

    Put it this way, he knows roughly where Nalaga is... (you can tell as he looks to his direction before the tackle) as he's tackled he uses his experience and skill to blindly fling the ball which LUCKILY travelled in a direction and manner in which Nalaga could catch it and make use of it (scoring)...

    As 45678 said, skill and blind luck...

  • 45678
    5:22 PM 29/10/2013

    nothing to do with hemispheres colombes. if you blindly fling a ball at speed, there is always going to be an element of fortune if it finds its intended target. the fact that his body is diagonally pointing away from the direction of the pass probably makes the feat much harder, because a pass lateral from the body would end up going forward. so its either skill or blind luck, or i suspect a bit of both

  • colombes
    5:05 PM 29/10/2013

    If Brock James had done that in the Super15, his pass would have been appeared in one of these fox tv tops, described as "the best pass blabla..." lol

    But it's top14 and unfortunately and fortunately for him, it's considered lucky.

  • pedro
    2:04 PM 29/10/2013

    Forward...

  • 1:29 PM 29/10/2013

    a wee bit fortunate and lovely to watch and something I'm surprised we don't see much more of when sides are well in front. But on this occasion, at this crucial time in the match when looking good for a score anyway, I don't think coach, team mates, fans would have been too pleased if it had gone wrong.

  • 45678
    11:58 AM 29/10/2013

    i think it was intentional, but the speed at which he flung the ball out makes me think the accuracy was a bit fortunate. nice try though!

  • totesmcgoates
    10:33 AM 29/10/2013

    Wowsers! Better than Ellison's against the Crusaders during the year?