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Wed 12 Sep 2012 | 02:20
Midweek Madness - Adam Ashley-Cooper's try saving superman double tackle

25
Comments

Finely poised at 16-13 to the Wallabies, the Springboks had a good chance of going ahead midway through the second half in their Test in Perth on Saturday. Adam Ashley-Cooper had other ideas, as he launched himself into an incredible double tackle.

The versatile back pulled off a miracle tackle which prevented a try that may have had a significant impact on the final result. He has since called it his 'two for the price of one' tackle.

Speedster Lwazi Mvovo looked to be in space and when caught by Ashley-Cooper, offloaded to Jean De Villiers, who the Wallaby back then dealt with too.

His simultaneous tackles were so good, referee Nigel Owens seemed to overlook the fact that either one could have been blown up as a high shot. 

"I was lucky I didn't get done for two high shots in the one tackle," he said after the game.

"There was a lot of desperation. Fitness probably got us over the line in the end and the desperation in defence was a positive.

"There's been a few jokes about it, two-for-one special. I can't explain it. I was a bit lucky. I committed to one and ended up making another," he added.

Do you think he should have been penalised, or were you happy with the call?

Posted By: Grant Constable

25 Comments

  • stroudos
    1:24 PM 15/09/2012

    Yeah, good point. Actually it looks like about 2-3 Boks who are in front of that kick then get involved in the maul. Also I think the pass to Mvovo looks a bit forward!

    Anyway, I tend to agree more with ruppansy that Mvovo was more at fault of the two for eating up all the wide space - he looked like he was anticipating JDV to switch inside but he'd have been running straight into two Aussies anyway.

  • ruppansy
    3:05 AM 15/09/2012

    Actually, Mvovo is an ass for not straightening and leaving space for De Villiers on the outside. Another good reason that Mvovo is not on the bench this week. He has legs and is decent but not of international standard.

  • guy
    8:29 PM 14/09/2012

    Isn't 2 green off side when the ball comes of Genia? If so, it should have been penalty to Aus.

    And De Villiers is an ass for not running the scissor line. It would at least have confused the tackler and would have made it impossible to tackle both.

    Greeeeaaaat piece of defense though...!!!!

  • pretzel
    7:10 PM 14/09/2012

    Yeh it was probably a bit harsh, I apologise to filth for the insults...

    But just because Nigel Owens does not mention it does that make it acceptable?

    I know the referee is always right, so therefore you could say "yes"... but at the same time, according to the LAWS they were high tackles, (unless my eyes deceive me) which are; as far as I am aware, illegal.... So in a sense, AAC does 2 tackles at neck height, flick through the law book, see neck tackles are dangerous, therefore illegal, = Penalty. No?

    I mean I have no issue with them, they weren't the worst high tackles I've ever seen, and it was a brilliant bit of effort to stop the two players... but if we want to be technical about it, they were penalty-worthy... if we want to enjoy ourselves and bring back some biff then I'll keep my mouth shut, and we can all enjoy the game we used to play :)

  • matt
    1:00 PM 14/09/2012

    I dunno mate, JDV got up pretty sharpish and had a work with the ref

  • matt
    12:42 PM 14/09/2012

    Agreed, does not make either of the tackles legal though

  • cheyanqui
    6:10 PM 13/09/2012

    I agree that the Boks are about as dirty as Tier 1 rugby gets.

    As for the play, I think the play was penalizable. That said, I think the referee's human element comes into play. He looks at the tone of the match (not a niggly, cynical match), and probably also has a look at the player (AAC is not one of his usual suspects), and just lets it go.

    If this were Butch James, he probably would have gone to the bin. But this is Adam Ashley Cooper. He's got a clean history as far as I can tell (and considering just how long this guy has been playing top level rugby, that's no mean feat).


  • stroudos
    3:54 PM 13/09/2012

    Pretzel to filth... "You tit, they can be penalties because they were high tackles, and high tackles carry a sanction of a penalty. It's not the most difficult thing to comprehend, but apparently you cannot put 2 and 2 together...."

    Bit harsh. Esepcially considering the fact that the referee is the arbiter of what's a penalty and what isn't. Nigel Owens the referee did not award any penalty, therefore they were not penalties. ;)

  • stroudos
    3:50 PM 13/09/2012

    bnations - yeah, that's the one! Mental. Awesome skill and athleticism by Offside Rich - or, as someone on your youtube link pointed out, "off his feet as usual!".

    But that move did make a mockery of both the lifting tackle directive (seeing as he's voluntarily pointed his head directly at the ground) and the high tackle law - you can't get much higher than going over someone's head and draggin him down by his neck from the other side. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed it, but thank God it was Captain Tackles and not someone like Mad Dog Moody or Schalk Burger, otherwise I can imagine the IRB quickly rushing in a new "not putting your entire bodyweight on a bloke's head while he's bent over" directive.

  • eggman
    3:36 PM 13/09/2012

    I was expecting the ref to blow the whistle, maybe even give a yellow card. Was happy though when that didnt happen ;)

    Apart from that: Amazing effort by AAC to save an almost certain try with those two tackles!

  • bnations
    3:15 PM 13/09/2012

    You mean this one? I believe that it was Fainga (sp?) losing the ball there?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quvezmBUVak&feature=related

  • pretzel
    2:23 PM 13/09/2012

    I recall the incident but I cannot for the life of me remember how exactly it happened or what happened.

    I don't think anyone is particularly "complaining" about this as such... I have said myself that I think it should have resulted in a penalty, but it is far from a complete travesty, and of course we all understand referee's do miss things from time to time, as well as it not being a cheap shot by AAC... it was a desperate tackle that ended up being high...twice...

  • pretzel
    2:20 PM 13/09/2012

    You tit, they can be penalties because they were high tackles, and high tackles carry a sanction of a penalty. It's not the most difficult thing to comprehend, but apparently you cannot put 2 and 2 together....

    No one is saying "it's the end of the world. we'll all be broken necked by December" or any other bullshit... but it WAS a high tackle, or two...

    Even AAC thought it was: "I was lucky I didn't get done for two high shots in the one tackle," he said after the game.

  • stroudos
    2:06 PM 13/09/2012

    Can anyone confirm this - remember that mental tackle Offside Rich did a while ago, I think it was in the world cup in fact, where he jumped over the oppo's head and over the other side, landing on his arse and dragging the player down by the scruff of his neck? Coincidentally I'm pretty sure that was on Adam Ashley-Cooper.

    Anyway, I don't remember anyone complaining about that one - then again of course it was Saint Richie and the usual ban on criticism was in force.

  • stroudos
    1:59 PM 13/09/2012

    @Rugbydump - in reply to your post at September 13, 2012 7:44 am - still can't click on "reply" - maybe it's just me though...

  • rugbydump
    8:44 AM 13/09/2012

    Still? Seems fine here. Let us know please. Thanks

  • stroudos
    6:25 PM 12/09/2012

    (Anyone else finding the "Reply" button not working?

  • stroudos
    6:25 PM 12/09/2012

    Cheyanqui at 4:18 - you're being sarcastic, right? Tell me you're not serious!

  • stroudos
    6:20 PM 12/09/2012

    ItalianRef said:
    one of the tackles was on a bokkie without a ball. second infringment.

    Watch it again in slow-motion/pausing. He tackles Mvovo when he has the ball, he tackles De Villiers when he has the ball.

    It really is quite a feat of athleticism and timing.

  • stroudos
    6:18 PM 12/09/2012

    Christ, I had no idea RugbyDump posters had turned into quite such a miserable bunch of bastards.

    This is awesome defending - hats off to the man!

  • pretzel
    5:27 PM 12/09/2012

    Brilliant effort summed up by "There was a lot of desperation" said by AAC. But yes, they were high shots and either could have/probably should have been penalised. But how many times have any of you guys done something "illegal" in order to stop the opposition.

    So really, penalty, no card, and enjoy the rare sight....

  • cheyanqui
    5:18 PM 12/09/2012

    You could argue for a third penalizable offense -- Adam Ashley-Cooper perhaps jumped / was in the air before making contact with JdV..

  • ando
    4:42 PM 12/09/2012

    I'm a big AAC fan - he's been such a loyal servant to the Wallabies over the years, quite the unsung hero in my mind.

  • ingmar
    4:15 PM 12/09/2012

    even though thats some great defense. i cant escape the thought that something, somewhere isnt completely legal, wether its a taking a man out without the ball or a high tackle.. wouldnt know what I would do would that ever happen in a game i'm reffing.

  • tex15
    4:15 PM 12/09/2012

    Definite high tackles, but brilliant nonetheless. Should have been penalised though.

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