We value your privacy

We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as to develop and improve products.

With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to object to such processing.

More Options

Sat 29 Jun 2013 | 02:14
George North picks up and carries tackler Israel Folau

16
Comments

Earlier in Melbourne George North did something that we've probably never seen on the rugby field at this level. Winger Israel Folau went in to tackle him, but North decided he'd counter that by simply picking up the big Wallaby and running with him. As you do.

North, a man mountain himself, lifted 6'4 Folau, stuck him on his shoulder, and with the ball in one hand he literally carried him back towards his own tryline.

As spectacular as it was, North actually ended up coming off worse for wear as he was dumped to the floor when the two players went to ground.

His head was driven into the turf WWE style, something followers on Twitter didn't miss. In fact the term DDT, which is an old wrestling move that looks pretty similar, was practically trending.

The good news for Lions fans is that North continued playing after a quick checkup, but he'll probably have a bit of a headache tomorrow, and might not try that move again in a hurry.

Highlights of the game are now up and you can share your thoughts on the overall result, and the predictions for next week's decider, here.

Posted By: Grant Constable

16 Comments

  • matt
    11:52 AM 01/07/2013

    They are only ever penalised if they aren't brought back to the ground safely, it has nothing to do with 90 degrees, and in this case he practically puts IF back on his feet.

  • drg
    12:55 AM 01/07/2013

    I don't think he really had much if any impact on the outcome of this event. I think if you took every other player away from this scene the outcome would still be exactly the same. GN had Folau in the air, Folau managed to use his weight (and perhaps GN couldn't sustain the lift and run) back to the ground, and as soon as he hit the ground he fell backwards (as GN still had hold of one leg) and GN went head first into the ground.

    I think the effect the 19 might have had would only be to concertina GN some more, or help bend him double, but by that point GN had already done his ostrich impression...

  • colombes
    11:21 AM 30/06/2013

    i tried to find ur observation
    but after 4 or 5 replays, my only conclusion is that north only put himself in a dangerous position with this weird move

  • 8:01 AM 30/06/2013

    IMO No. 19 had absolutely no impact on this whatsoever. GN was already falling and it was always going to be a risk that he would fall awkwardly whilst carrying another player on his shoulder. (Making him ridiculously top heavy.)

  • em95rwj
    7:18 AM 30/06/2013

    My observation was that the no 19 or 18 Australian player lifted up north's legs as he was landing with folau. This was why north went onto his neck. This player should be banned for a match. This was very dangerous play & could have resulted in a player getting injured in a bad way.

  • 8:09 PM 29/06/2013

    Well if we're going to look at it in detail. As in the act in general and not just this particular case. I'd say that any player lifting dangerously (tackler or ball carrier) has a duty to put the player down safely. Any injury brought about to himself by poor technique whilst it's not a what anyone wants to see is not a job for the citing commissioner.

  • benny
    7:54 PM 29/06/2013

    I suspect the reason we don't see this happen often is that most ball carriers realise that picking up a 100kg man on your shoulder can only end badly, probably for yourself. If anyone endangered GN, it was GN.

    On the topic of wrestling moves, did anyone see Same Cane do one earlier this year? He was also upright in the tackle and grappling with someone but couldn't bring them down completely. He kicked his own legs out, using his weight to bring the guy face first to the ground. Hard to describe but definitely looked WWF style. He always seemed like such a nice boy

    And then there was the intentional self spear tackle in the NRL, i forget which game, when a player flipped himself over int he tackle, winning a last minute penalty to take the game. dangerous but entertaining

  • drg
    6:35 PM 29/06/2013

    Hmm, true.

    As I said, I didn't wish to drag up a negative on this video, but I did out of pure curiosity and as perhaps an interesting point of conversation.

    I was once caught standing upright as a player with the ball had his head down, he ran into me, his shoulder in my stomach, I grabbed him round the midriff with my right arm and grabbed his shorts with my left hand and sort of lifted and rolled back, the guy landed on his head and a whole world of fuss kicked off about it being a spear tackle etc, nothing came of it (referee;an old schooler) blew up for potential injury but said the tackle was fine, I wasn't too sure myself...

  • 6:28 PM 29/06/2013

    On Folau - I don't think he had much choice in the matter once GN picked him up. (Like as sack of potatoes as someone else commented.)

    On the citing commissioner - This day and age every petty damned thing. Though I don't think there will be many recurrences of GN's feat. Just like we haven't seen anyone run over another player in a while.

  • drg
    6:02 PM 29/06/2013

    Can't read browners comment as it goes off the page, so apologies if this is similar.

    I was actually wondering how this could work in a legality side of things. I don't wish to detract from a highly amusing (at the time) piece of work by GN, or try and put any negativity onto Folau, but if one was to grab an opposition player around the midriff and roll backwards so that the player landed on their neck, would that not be some sort of illegal tackle/spear tackle etc...??

    Of course Folau was not exactly in a particularly dominant or dominating position, on GN's shoulder, so perhaps all he did was cling on for dear life so that his head didn't hit the turf. It all just looked wrong.

    But what does anyone think? I particularly like the idea of it just being something that isn't recommended, but is just ignored (in a citing sense) but with this day and age, does this seem like something which could be flagged by the citing commissioner??

  • 6:00 PM 29/06/2013

    (IMHO) He picked up a 100 kilo weight and ran with him and was always going to fall awkwardly. If anyone should be cited for anything dangerous it should be GN. But then seriously this is rugby. This is a freak incident next you'll want to start citing people for running over other people like Lomu did in 95.

  • browner
    5:37 PM 29/06/2013

    Despite massive respect for Folau [In my view the most exciting player on the park] I think that once North has 'ensured he landed safely [well done GN] that IF's action of dropping him on his head is very dangerous & is precisely why lifting tackles were outlawed...

    This should be referred to the citing commissioner to decide whether it was foul play.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/britishandirishlionsrugby/10150112/George-Norths-amazing-firemans-lift-on-Israel-Folau-in-pictures.html#?frame=2603691

    IMHO dangerous & subject to action.

  • swing
    5:32 PM 29/06/2013

    There's going to be a press conference in the morning (BST) for George North to apologise for making Folau look like a sack of spuds

  • welshosprey
    5:13 PM 29/06/2013

    Folau got absolutely beasted

  • waleswasp
    4:42 PM 29/06/2013

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BN8AIwbCIAEUqG4.jpg:large

  • guy
    3:47 PM 29/06/2013

    Impressive move...starting with some poor tackling.

Related Articles