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Thu 16 Oct 2014 | 10:44
Hard hitting Chris Hala'ufia crunches but then slaps Scott Wilson

11
Comments

Hard hitting number eight Chris Hala'ufia made this bone-jarring hit in the Aviva Premiership as he lined up and crunched Newcastle prop Scott Wilson. Unfortunately he then casually slapped him in the face, as if to further assert his dominance.

Hala'ufia only joined London Welsh two weeks ago, on a short term loan deal, providing injury cover for the Premiership new boys. The 35-year-old joined Scarlets during the off season but has yet to make an appearance, so the opportunity with London Welsh should provide some game time.

"Due to our mounting injury list we’ve brought in Chris to help fill the gap on a short-term basis," said London Welsh head coach Justin Burnell of the Tongan loose forward.

He put all of that at risk against Newcastle though, with the tackle perhaps viewed as borderline by some, but then the little slap afterwards all too unncecesary. It caused a bit of a scuffle but referee Wayne Barnes chose to only penalise him.

Barnes said that Hala'Ufia made initial contact below the shoulders, but slipped up high. It seems as though he didn't see the slap, because you'd think that if he had, he would have mentioned it.

Hala'ufia has a bit of a record for huge hits, sometimes illegal (see the Related Posts below this video for more), but in this case he probably got it spot on. The post tackle slap - albeit a soft one - on an injured player was totally uncalled for though.

Posted By: Grant Constable

11 Comments

  • browner
    5:55 PM 23/10/2014

    For those that don't already know .... Law 10.4(e)

    " A player must not tackle (or try to tackle) an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders. A tackle around the opponents head or neck is dangerous play"

    Where does the tackle end in this example ?

    Ironically had he not then face slapped, and ignited the protestations , WB might not have gone to TMO.

  • cheyanqui
    12:09 AM 23/10/2014

    Picturing if Nigel Owens been refereeing...

    The League pitch is about three hours north of here. I suggest you get a head start on the rest of us.

  • 07015678
    6:35 AM 20/10/2014

    There was nothing wrong with that hit, it was actually a superb tackle. However the slap afterwards was unsportsmanlike, childish and doesn't deserve any place in the professional game. If pro rugby wants to continue its reputation as a gentlemanly sport this kind of behaviour should be punished.

  • bunn
    8:05 PM 17/10/2014

    You could read it as Hala'ufia thinking the awkward arm was Wilson trying to hold him? We'll never know
    I do feel the right decision was made though, which is nice

  • owainc13
    9:07 AM 17/10/2014

    In my opinion, the hit is fine, it's the afters that are out of order. Hala'ufia twice forces the tackled players awkwardly folded arm into the side of his head and then slaps him. He's already smashed him with a hard hit, and potentially forced a knock on, no need to then rub it in.

  • 11:53 PM 16/10/2014

    Punk move the slap

  • stroudos
    8:47 PM 16/10/2014

    Judging from what he says to the captains, I surmise that Barnes gave the penalty for a high tackle. About 2:18 I think he mentions the slap so it seems he did see that.

  • stroudos
    8:45 PM 16/10/2014

    It does seem unclear, doesn't it.

    If you listen really carefully around 2:15, I think this is what Barnesy said:
    "He then slips high. It's just a big hit. But you don't get a [inaudible] for a smack in the face", then more inaudible stuff. That makes me think the penalty is indeed for the slap.

    But then, couple of seconds later: "It's going to be a penalty because he still slips high anyway. But the initial contact was below the shoulders". This sounds like he is penalising the high tackle but perhaps making a distinction between slipping up and actually making the initial hit high, (implying that if it were the latter he might have got a yellow card out).

    I think this is it, because then when he talks to the players, he makes no mention of the slap: "the initial contact is below the shoulders, but he's then slipped high, so it's a penalty to you (Newcastle).

    Seems a bit of a harsh penalty to me and slightly unusual for Barnes, who is usually a fan of the big hits.

  • jimmy23
    6:10 PM 16/10/2014

    Well, as it says in the description, he should have mentioned it no?

  • 45678
    4:53 PM 16/10/2014

    this doesn't make any sense. if he was being penalised for the slap, then he should be spoken to directly by the referee for unsporting conduct / foul play and a clear penalty given for foul play. it was also a knock on, so at some point the referee needs to make it clear why the decision was reversed. bad audio doesn't help

    he wasn't spoken to, which makes me think this is an appalling decision for a very good hit

  • jimmy23
    1:09 PM 16/10/2014

    Really?! There was nothing wrong with the hit at all! May as well ban any form of hard hitting tackle.
    The slap though wasn't needed, bit of a dick move.

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