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Tue 12 Apr 2016 | 08:47
Courtney Lawes demolishes Owen Farrell with another trademark tackle

20
Comments

Exactly two years ago, almost to the day, Northampton Saints second rower Courtney Lawes made a thumping hit on Saracens flyhalf Owen Farrell at Allianz Park. This past weekend in their Champions Cup Quarter Final Lawes got Farrell again.

As has often been discussed, Lawes' line speed is phenomenal for such a big man, as many number tens can testify too. He shot off the line and levelled Farrell just as the ball was passed.

Saracens won the game 29-20 and while Lawes scored a consolation try on full time, it was this brutal tackle that will be the contribution we remember most.

View the match highlights » 

Saracens will face Wasps in an all-English semi final 23 April at the Madejski Stadium.

"We know we'll have to improve a lot of things against Wasps in the semi-finals," said Mark McCall.

You can see more trademark Courtney Lawes tackles in the Related Posts below this

Posted By: Grant Constable

20 Comments

  • jimmy23
    10:50 PM 12/04/2016

    "HMS Limited Vocabulary"

    Amazing!

    DanKnapp, all I can say is I hope this is the start of some form of nicknaming trend on this forum.

  • eddie-g
    10:05 PM 12/04/2016

    Dear Mr Knapp,

    You have the wrong person.

    I have rugby in my blood. League, Union, it's all good as far as I am concerned. I appreciate you taking the time to write to me on behalf of the keyboard warriors, but assured, I am not one of them.

    And in case you were wondering, the reason Owen is as tough as you see is because I drop-kicked the little shit into bed every night. Fact.

    Sincerely,
    Mrs Faz

  • colombes
    6:04 PM 12/04/2016

    A perfect "make the 10 think" tackle.
    Regarding Plisson or Farrell, i wonder why fly-halves never dummy and spin around, as Lawes always anticipates the first pass like a bull.

  • facepalm
    4:13 PM 12/04/2016

    Anyone else notice how weak Lawes' ball carrying seems these days? Destructive as ever in D no doubt, but bolt upright with ball in hand. Always looks like he'll get turned over.

  • jimmy23
    2:57 PM 12/04/2016

    Oh god don't open that edition of pandora's box again.

  • s_conner
    2:13 PM 12/04/2016

    If i get creamed at first receiver it would definitely make me think twice next time I get the ball. That's the whole point - good D

  • danknapp
    1:52 PM 12/04/2016

    My life is empty.

  • welshosprey
    1:38 PM 12/04/2016

    Really hope you copied that from somewhere and didn't actually bother to write all that.

  • eddie-g
    1:38 PM 12/04/2016

    As a member of the retired open-side club, I fully endorse this comment.

    I will add too that many of my people make point at the earliest opportunity of tackling the fly-half to let him know we're here. Often also having a word in his ear. Because if you can get a flyhalf watching defenders rather than the ball, standing a fraction deeper, playing with a little hesitancy, that's all good news.

    Obviously there are also tough blokes like Farrell who you can't get to, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be trying.

  • danknapp
    1:34 PM 12/04/2016

    Dear Mrs Farrell,

    We are sorry to hear you've experienced dissatisfaction with our clip of a human torpedo sinking HMS Limited Vocabulary.

    We hear at Rugbydump Self-Appointed Keyboard Warriors share your disappointment that, at the moment, Lawes isn't in the side because he isn't the complete player. We want you to know that we are listening and that your opinion really does matter to us.

    We can only assume that your lack of enthusiasm for this clip (a man who has 'nightclub brawl' written all over him being tackled by a man who is 95% chin), is due to you being the young scallywag's mother. Recent polling has indicated that many rugby watchers quite like seeing a smaller man being assaulted to within the inch of the law by a bigger man, but we applaud you for rising above it. If we may say so, your son is a credit to his species, whatever that may be.

    Your young man, if we may say, plays great rugby and it's always useful for the groundsman to see if the pitch is level by the way he dribbles out of both sides of his mouth. We also share your concern about the rounded-skill set of Mr Lawes, and agree that at the moment he should not be starting for England, given the high-calibre options there at the moment.

    We hope that your experience this time will not put you off watching videos of big man violating little men, either on this website or on some of the less-family friendly websites, myGodIveseensomevideos, that are available to you.

    Yours,

    Rugbydump Self-Appointed Keyboard Warriors

  • danknapp
    1:17 PM 12/04/2016

    The only thing that makes Faz Snr cry is the Lion King, because that makes everyone cry. Not afraid to admit it makes me weep like a baby. But afterwards Faz Snr would go out and punch some wildebeest to death to make Faz Jnr feel better.

  • 10stonenumber10
    1:15 PM 12/04/2016

    How many forwards do you see doing that to a back?

    The "haters" need to get back in their box. Like Fiji scoring a 90m scorcher, McCaw living offside or Pocock getting all Greenpeacey... Courtney Lawes committing ABH has become an accepted fact of rugby. Being dropped by England has given him a chance to rack up a few slower moving scalps, you won't smash an international if premiership foes are half a step of match fitness faster. Destroyers need confidence

  • drg
    1:10 PM 12/04/2016

    #JusticeforPlisson Another example of a brutal horrendous dangerous hit on one of my beloved untouchable Fren-oh, Farrell isn't French? Oh, nevermind then....

  • stroudos
    12:54 PM 12/04/2016

    Mr Horse, Welcome to these esteemed pages. Hope you'll stick around. Or are you a regular commenter who has rebranded?

    Either way, completely agree and I'd add that even if you don't dislodge the ball, next time that flyhalf gets the ball he's either going to be standing deeper so less attacking threat or he may crap himself in anticipation and ship the ball far sooner than he'd like. (Unless he's Owen Farrell of course, in which case apparently he just rolls with the tackle, jumps up and gets involved in the very next phase).

    Anyway, I only scrolled down to the comments on this one to look for "that guy" making the sort of comment you quoted. And the first one I saw was in fact your excellent pre-emptive strike. Well played sir.

    Ah, I see our Welsh comrade has now kindly indulged us. Reliable as ever. :)

  • danknapp
    11:03 AM 12/04/2016

    Shame this shortened clip doesn't show that Farrell was up on his feet and part of the next play. The clip didn't load when I commented - I'd already seen the clip on Facebook.

  • welshosprey
    10:55 AM 12/04/2016

    Lawes really is trash, no wonder he lost his England place. He's a youtube highlights guy, nothing more.

  • 10stonenumber10
    10:55 AM 12/04/2016

    Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy... they make then tough up north. Would you have dared to cry as a kid if Faz Snr was your dad?

  • danknapp
    10:49 AM 12/04/2016

    Farrell is one tough bastard. He rode that like a champion.

  • capnjax
    10:41 AM 12/04/2016

    I support Saracens, and think Farrell is a fantastic player, but I love watching Lawes attack him as if he owes him money.

  • warhorse
    10:33 AM 12/04/2016

    Every time Lawes makes a big hit on a 10, the band of merry keyboard warriors come out in full force.
    "Does he ever do that to a forward?"
    "Trade mark borderline late hit on unsuspecting back line member running across field"
    "Looked a bit late to me! Had to do it to the smallest man on the field, I bet he feels like a big hero, NOT"

    Making a big hit on the halfbacks is what all loose forwards are told to and supposed to do. If he dislodges the ball and prevents a pass being made, he's done his job and will make more of a difference than just charging at an opposition forward.
    Never understood why people criticise good defensive play.

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