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Thu 27 Feb 2014 | 06:02
Jamie Mackintosh off the ball shoulder shot on Richie McCaw

35
Comments

Here's a quick video that includes a must see super slow-mo of a pretty nasty off the ball shot by Chiefs prop Jamie Mackintosh. The hit is on the indestructible man, Richie McCaw, who was left on the floor in a heap and must have been wondering how Mackintosh stayed on the field.

It didn't look like much at first but the excellent camera work and slow-mo replays show the shoulder making contact with first the chest, then McCaw's somewhat distorted face.

You can view more big shots featuring Mackintosh and McCaw in the Related Posts below

Posted By: Grant Constable

35 Comments

  • drg
    6:31 PM 03/03/2014

    I think instead of squabbling, can we all agree that it would be detrimental to the game and bad sportsmanship if you try and fool someone and get smashed because they fall for it, and then bitch and cry and want the penalty?

    I get it, we don't want defenders tackling too early and using the newly invented law by DrG and Matt which states - 'if someone fools you into believing they're getting the ball you can smash them' - to play the old 'I was fooled' card. So my point is, inventing a law wouldn't really work - it is better to give referee's the freedom to use common sense so that players running dummy lines are not 'untouchable'.

    But the fact still remains if you actually succeed in fooling someone, it is not very sporting to cry for a penalty when the buy it.

    Anyway, I know this video doesn't show McCaw charging up yelling for the ball in a traditional dummy run, but in circumstances where players are running up, I think it would be fair game if you come from an onside position and hit them.

    For the record, it looks to me, in this video that Mackintosh realised McCaw didn't have the ball and pulled out of the tackle part way through - which I would argue is fair enough.

  • 9:30 AM 03/03/2014

    Well the thing is you're allowed to run whatever line you want as long as you don't shield the person holding the ball.
    Defenders can't commit before they see the ball going to hand. You're saying it's fair game but the laws of the game state otherwise, you can't tackle a guy without the ball.
    We already have defences playing on the fine lines between on and offside when rushing up, if it becomes acceptable to take out possible recipients of the ball then we can say goodbye to running rugby and sit back and watch the up and under game....I hope they keep pinging it and defenders can spend more time getting their timing right.

  • drg
    10:39 AM 01/03/2014

    'Who said that? I can't see your comment!'

    He wasn't 'leaning forward' but watch his head, it snaps forward... hence why his chin bounces off the shoulder..

  • fatprop
    9:55 AM 01/03/2014

    Yeah its a hard one really when does it become running into the defender and taking someone off the ball. I think this one is clearer than most that its an off the ball tackle, but in the crusaders next game (you'll see if they show highlights) against the blues crotty smashes into the defender and opens a gap for slades try. So I guess you can't complain about being tackled off the ball if on your set plays you're just running into defenders to create gaps.

  • jmehrtens
    9:19 AM 01/03/2014

    Your opinion doesn't matter.
    The laws are pretty clear, your not allowed to tackle someone without the ball, dummy runner or not. (See law 7 & 10.4e)

    Having said that, McCaw is just as much running into Mackintosh as vice versa.

  • matt
    9:17 AM 01/03/2014

    I think we had a very similar discussion on the video of Ben Tameifuna's big hit on George Smith in last years super 15 final. My opinion is that if you put yourself there to commit a defender to the tackle, then you've made your bed, don't complain if it hurts

  • 2:05 AM 01/03/2014

    I hope your not an optometrist DrG cuz mccaw gets some definite chin music there and he wasn't even leaning forward.

  • drg
    1:03 AM 01/03/2014

    Think we'll have to agree to disagree - I can still see; what is in my opinion, an over reaction.

    But I do respect the fact that you don't think it is.

  • drg
    11:43 PM 28/02/2014

    If you're trying to fool the opposition with a dummy line then you cannot possibly complain if one of them buys it.. and to be totally honest I think it would be detrimental to the game if everyone started 'playing' to those sorts of penalties - Run the most convincing line you can and get smashed then moan to the referee, get someone sent off, get your 3 point penalty etc..

  • 6:51 PM 28/02/2014

    How does that work for possible recipients of a skip pass?

  • 6:50 PM 28/02/2014

    Good point badge, hadn't thought of the fact that he may have been referring to the writer

  • 6:48 PM 28/02/2014

    You're forgetting it's slow mo, look at it in real time and you'll see it's a fairly natural looking fall....well in my opinion anyway

  • 6:47 PM 28/02/2014

    No Joe, I wasn't comparing the impact, I was showing an example of "milking" a reaction

  • drg
    6:46 PM 28/02/2014

    I'd agree with that statement there. I think it looks like a charge because he stopped the 'wrapping/grasping' as he realised there was no point.. there was no arm tucked in to hit with the point of the shoulder, the height was fine as you said.

    I think a penalty is a fair outcome, however I'd be happy with no penalty because of the 'dummy catcher' thing.

  • matt
    4:27 PM 28/02/2014

    I don't see anything wrong with the tackle. He didn't have the ball, and that's an issue, but his tackle is low enough. The only reason there is contact with McCaw's head is because he wasn't ready for the tackle and his neck capitulated. It definitely is not a shoulder charge. We've had the 'wrapping' debate before, and he clearly has arms around both sides of McCaw, he's just pulled out of the tackle so doesn't drive through with the finish.
    Great hit, poor timing (/deliberate) and well reffed.

  • matt
    4:23 PM 28/02/2014

    McCaw had nothing to do with Du Plessis, what are you on about?

  • colombes
    3:53 PM 28/02/2014

    Poor defence anticipation by McIntosh,
    but sincerely, u can't really blame him on the action. His tackle intent became a reckless shoulder charge as soon as he saw the ball wasn't here.

    Let's take ur 3 points on penalty and move on.

  • badge
    2:28 PM 28/02/2014

    I think he meant the writer "milked it" a little. Which he didn't, it was a shoulder off the ball. It wasn't the end of days or anything though. I do love seeing old King Richie getting a bump or two here and there (bar injuries of course).

  • reality
    1:21 PM 28/02/2014

    Bah, not much in it. Sensationalist headline from Rugbydump. He gave him a bit of a shoulder into the chest and McCaw's head snapped forward and his chin hit off Mackintosh's shoulder. Mackintosh should be more careful but making it out that it's more than that is just silly.

  • guy
    12:44 PM 28/02/2014

    Yeah well...except that Bismarck did not get a red but a yellow and another yellow later on.

  • drg
    12:20 PM 28/02/2014

    Those arms flying in the air looked a bit unnecessary..

  • drg
    12:19 PM 28/02/2014

    Oh and FYI I don't think Mackintosh hit McCaw in the chest and road up to the face, he hit McCaw in the chest and his face made minimal contact with Mackintosh due to his neck bending.. two different outcomes entirely.

  • drg
    12:18 PM 28/02/2014

    Exactly, perhaps 'milked it' might not be the best choice of words, perhaps 'ham actor' or 'exaggerated fall' might be better - To avoid upsetting anyone.

  • 7:32 AM 28/02/2014

    bollox mate, no acting to be seen here at all

  • 7:30 AM 28/02/2014

    I disagree completely on the milking aspect. There's no point complaining about bias and then losing all objectivity yourself. Kudos to the man, he got straight back up, shook it off and played on without any complaints.
    Want to see milking? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJKZqB6jwRo the smile on Cowens face says it all.

  • 7:27 AM 28/02/2014

    he milked it??? Are you serious? He got straight back up as soon as he could. Have you ever taken one on the chin there fella? Lot's of rugby players have stayed down for less.

    I think it was well reffed, good common sense for once.

    I think big Mac was going in for a tackle and straightened up when the ball didn't come, didn't exactly "charge" him with his shoulder, just stopped his attempt at tackling. As hard as McCaw may be, if a guy like that went in to shoulder charge with any aggression he(McCaw) wouldn't have played on (in my opinion anyway)

  • hendrickpost
    3:01 AM 28/02/2014

    And poor Bismarck Du Plessis getting a red card for his attempt..Call it what you want McCaw should be an actor, think he will do good in soccer!!

  • pipo
    12:41 AM 28/02/2014

    Exactly, this was not a tackle, what did the 2 first commenter see? I don't know. I clearly see a shoulder hit with absolutely no attempt to wrap his arms around. Should have been a penalty.

  • drg
    10:38 PM 27/02/2014

    You're giving a hell of a lot of credit to Mackintosh, he is a prop you know...

    As for the swampland.. I dunno, something doesn't seem right about buying US land off a Canadian...

  • 10:34 PM 27/02/2014

    1) This isn't league, you're not allowed to hit someone in the chest and ride up into their face, easily a penalty for that alone.

    2) This is poor defence by Mackintosh, the ball goes nowhere near McCaw and if you think that's a good sell of a dummy, I've got some swampland in Florida you might be interested in.

    3) Mackintosh could have easily pulled out of the tackle and in fact helped his teammate. Instead, he takes the opportunity to take a shot at a basically defenceless player, believe me I am no McCaw fan, who is not expecting to get hit at all. I agree they may have bumped each other, or he may have even shoved McCaw out of the way, which I would have been fine with. But once he lowered his shoulder into his chest, you knew he what his intent was.

    Btw Joe, I'd like to see you take that hit from Mackintosh and get up and play on. Dude has gotta be at least 120 kilos.

  • drg
    10:32 PM 27/02/2014

    Either that or they're being careful not to bring on the wrath of King Richie lovers... look what happened to Cooper, he was practically outlawed in NZ.

  • totesmcgoates
    10:17 PM 27/02/2014

    I don't agree; McCaw was pretty flat footed and got smashed off the ball by the oncoming Mackintosh. I could see an argument for committing to the tackle if he was running at a gap with a full head of steam (in which case the attackers momentum takes him into the area where the defender would move to take up space).

    You can't tackle someone just because they might potentially get the ball.

    Well handled by the ref; quick word and a penalty.

  • fastmongrel
    9:52 PM 27/02/2014

    He milked it a little bit but the headline "Off the ball shoulder shot" oh come on RD I have seen worse off the ball hits in the Boxing Day sales.

  • drg
    9:47 PM 27/02/2014

    I sort of agree, I'm not sure we'll be massively popular on here for the opinion (especially not with our Kiwi brethren) but you can't run any dummy line and then bitch about being tackled if it's convincing.

    I get the argument against will be something like 'You can just run around taking everyone out, and claiming you thought they were going to receive the ball' but that is where referee's judgement has to come in I suppose.

    I can see an epidemic of players trying to get penalties in the future unless common sense prevails. I saw it once I think last year or something when Mike Phillips purposely ran into a retreating player (who I believe was not being lazy and genuinely retreating) to claim the offside penalty, by law it's fair enough, but personally I think it contravenes good sportsmanship

  • 45678
    9:26 PM 27/02/2014

    I personally don't even see a penalty here. The inside guy looked as if he was passing, McCaw is in the channel looking for the ball. All that doesn't happen is the pass. A split second later and it would have been man and ball

    I've always had the opinion if you run in the channel with the appearance of receiving a pass you are fair game to be tackled. Maybe a slightly old school attitude, but too many dummy runners are getting away with taking defenders out at the moment

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