Wed 12 Oct 2011 | 07:10
Radike Samo's big hit on Bryan Habana in RWC Quarter Final

17
Comments

Sunday's epic quarter final between the Springboks and the Wallabies won't be forgotten in a hurry, as there was plenty to talk about. The performances of Bryce Lawrence and David Pocock are two such things. There was also the Boks' inability to take their opportunities, and then of course the massive defence from the Australians.

One of the biggest hits of the game, and the weekend, came from veteran Radike Samo. As the tournament said farewell to legendary 38 year olds Simon Shaw and Mario Ledesma, Samo has continued to keep the old boys club going, and now finds himself in a Rugby World Cup semi final. 

Now 35, Samo has played all over the place, both position-wise, and globally. His career has been fascinating to follow and he's now reaching the cult hero status he first enjoyed at the Brumbies about seven years back. Against Russia he played on the wing, and last month against the All Blacks he scored a fantastic try from about sixty meters out.

This past weekend he played a fairly significant role too, as it was he who was taken down in the lineout, leading to the penalty against the Springboks that James O'Connor coolly slotted for the 11-9 lead.

His tackle on Bryan Habana earlier in the match also typified the defensive effort of the Wallabies, so many of you mentioned that you'd like to see it again. It was deemed legal, but another day he may have been in a bit of trouble for it, as Habana basically tasted shoulder-pie.

The impact was massive whichever way you see it. This coming weekend against the All Blacks he'll be a key man for the Wallabies, off the back of the scrum, in the loose, and of course, on defence.



17 Comments

  • 9to15
    5:01 PM 28/12/2011

    of course leading with shoulder! how else do you make a tackle? you don`t lead with your hands do you!?! as long as you make the attempt to wrap the arms and its obvious to the officials then its all fine!

  • rugbydump
    1:07 PM 26/10/2011

    Just seen that, thanks

  • katman
    8:51 AM 17/10/2011

    Far cleaner tackles have been penalised (and carded) than this shoulder charge. Saying that "he made an attempt to use the arms" is such rubbish. That's like saying you made an attempt to drive sober. Either he did or he didn't. Can't believe so may of you write that cliched reply with a straight face.

  • chino
    2:22 AM 15/10/2011

    Yea that tackle wasn't legal, didn't attempt to wrap the arms. You get away with some I guess.

  • fiji_mango
    12:14 PM 14/10/2011

    You guys misspelled samo for samoa.

  • zandberg
    4:24 PM 13/10/2011

    Look at 00:20 seconds and tell me that's not leading with the shoulder. His left arm is hanging by his side.

  • zandberg
    4:21 PM 13/10/2011

    The shoulder was always infront the arms only came after the hit. Also the way Brussouw got injured he was stuck in a ruck upside down with ribs exposed but had no influence on the ball presentation. A wallaby player came charging in breaking rule 10.4 (k) directly at brussouw's exposed ribs. There was no other motive than to injure. And he succeeded. Sad we didn't get a replay of that or a citing... Would love a clip of that 2. And then compare that to what bakkies did against the lions... just saying.

  • stroudos
    2:54 PM 13/10/2011

    Samo wasn't buying that for a second was he!

    Great tackle and Habana is one resilient bastard isn't he?

  • colombes
    10:59 AM 13/10/2011

    good and solid shock

    agree with i love bacon,
    habana was tough during the whole match. these aussies commentators are as embarassing as christian jeanpierre of the french tv :)

  • 1:54 AM 13/10/2011

    Haha, that's a pretty funny gif. I had missed that during the match. Just for his own sake, Burger ought to keep his hands away from people's heads. Better safe than sorry.

    I imagine he was a little frustrated with Pocock there...seeing as how the whole match the Aussie 7 kept disallowing the ball to be played. There's a difference between being the first man at the tackle and therefore being able to play the ball vs. not allowing the tackled player to place it and then release it.

    Either way, I think for the most part, you're right about Bryce Lawrence being equally poor for both sides - especially at the breakdown. The Boks never seemed to enter on their feet, and the Australians never seemed to let the ball be played. And Lawrence just let it all go by.

  • 1:46 AM 13/10/2011

    It should be said that Habana was tough as nails that match, though. At least three times, he was knocked back and the commentators (I think the Kiwi ones at least) kept speculating that "Ahh, he's not right." But he just took a minute, got back up, and went back in for more.

    After that fall by Brussow, it looks like SA's number 11 is tougher than it's number 6. ;)

    And I love it when Samo makes an impact - I think everybody does. That 35-year old plays as though he were 10 years younger. He and Beau Robinson are two of the more inspirational forwards on the Wallaby side.

  • uhtiger
    12:27 AM 13/10/2011

    Made an attempt to wrap so absolutely nothing wrong with it. Maybe if bakkies or burger weren't so widely regarded as dirty players they would'nt get pulled up so much.

  • murph
    12:27 AM 13/10/2011

    Bitter Zandberg? There's not a single ounce of dirtiness about Samo's play, ever.

    If your boys have 70% possession and cannot put away an opposition than there's only one to blame and it ain't the ref.

    If you all want to start talking about dirty play, why don't you go and watch Schalk's ophthalmological work on Pocock's face starting at 57:10 and lasting for about 15 seconds....

    http://tinyurl.com/3le43vb

    Bryce was rubbish but it was bipartisan rubbish. Learn to accept the ref's call, it's part of rugby. Otherwise go and play soccer.

  • anton
    12:16 AM 13/10/2011

    - Habana's hurt
    - So would you be

    ... EPIC :)

  • johndoe
    12:09 AM 13/10/2011

    Aussies are the masters (greatest overusers) of the inside pass. Probably best not to use it against them.

  • bnations
    11:51 PM 12/10/2011

    Samo!

  • zandberg
    11:24 PM 12/10/2011

    Leading with the shoulder... All I say picture Bakkies or Burger or Butch doing that? What the ref would say then.