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Thu 5 Jan 2017 | 12:21
More Maro Itoje brilliance on display as he blocks a kick with his foot

10
Comments

Maro Itoje's unique skill set has caught the eye again, this time after he blocked a kick with his extremely large boot. Why not? Referee JP Doyle needed to check the laws, but it turns out that the Saracens kingpin was well within his rights, and executed it perfectly.

A few months back we saw him produce a piece of wizardry to steal the ball in a tackle, now this.

We haven't seen this type of 'charge down' happen too often, and there was no contact with the boot, which is perhaps why it was allowed.

As mentioned in commentary though, in football (soccer), going in with studs up is clearly outlawed due to how dangerous it can be. Aside from the brilliance of the effort, are you of the opinion that it was dangerous play, or is that a bit of a stretch ?

Either way, it's incredible agility for a big guy. Oh, and apparently he can slam dunk rugby balls, too.

Posted By: Grant Constable

10 Comments

  • 2:35 AM 21/01/2017

    Gawd some over reactions here no? Do u really think this will
    Become a trend? I doubt it. A great athlete, who obviously has played a little football, reacted instinctively and made an unique play on the ball. Never seen it before in 25 years of rugby, doubt I will again. WR please pay no heed. Maro you go with your bad self. Haters, keep hating

  • 12:31 AM 12/01/2017

    But that is his choice. He chooses to either dive and put himself at risk or use his foot and put another player at risk.
    NB - I am sure none of this entered his mind and he didn't want to injure anyone. Just would prefer not to see this.

  • jimmy23
    9:31 AM 10/01/2017

    Considering how close he was, if he dived for it I think he would have been susceptible to a boot in the face.

  • 2:36 AM 10/01/2017

    I have watched it quite a few more times as it is intriguing me now. At full speed he has the timing perfect, but as I said it is only a fraction off being mis-timed and dangerous and could have got him in trouble.
    Another question entered my head and rattled around amongst the space inside, why didn't he just dive and put his hands out as he may have reached further?
    I hope this doesn't catch on.

  • drg
    9:32 PM 09/01/2017

    illegal to kick it out of the hands of an opponent...

    (question, does this apply during an attempt to score a try??)

    But in this instance the ball was kicked and therefore in open play, if Maro wants to stick a boot on it then he is entitled to.... like I said, any policing of this will end up leading to chaos...

  • 8:47 PM 08/01/2017

    I'm sorry because we cannot say any wrong against him, but that is a really dangerous and stupid thing to do. A slight (very minor) mis-timing and the kicker's leg snaps in 2. I didn't think you were allowed to kick an opponent or at the ball when the 9 picks it from a ruck, is this any different?

  • browner
    4:58 AM 08/01/2017

    It's not soccer, & lunging into block a kick like this has no place in the game. I shuddered when I saw this, it's a high risk action, MI is very fortunate, coz if he gets his timing wrong then a straight leg challenge like that to a kickers leg could easily end up with a serious injury (broken leg)

    I would hope (expect) WR to issue a clarification soon that "you cannot charge down a kick by leading with your feet first" or something similar. I hope they ban this quickly before a kid / player less skilled than MI attempts it and SNAP! ..... #NoPlaceInTheGame. Hurry up WR!

  • misterdavid
    4:51 PM 05/01/2017

    Maro's nuts would burst the ball.

  • danknapp
    1:43 PM 05/01/2017

    I can't wait until someone tries it and gets the ball right in the nuts.

  • drg
    1:26 PM 05/01/2017

    It's one of those things that is fine for now, but shortly we'll see players "being shot" to feign a injury due to contact, someone will eventually get yellowed for it... Then red, then there will be some sort of law brought in to combat it..

    Of course I could be wrong and maybe all will be well, but given the way things seem to be heading I've just become more skeptical...

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