Tue 15 Oct 2013 | 07:29
Sean O'Brien gets rid of flyhalf Dan Biggar with huge handoff

18
Comments

Sean O'Brien has forged a reputation for being one of the strongest ball carriers in world rugby, and showed why against the Ospreys as he got rid of Dan Biggar in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately he did lose the ball, but it was great to watch. From far.

O'Brien also crossed for Leinster's only try of the match in their 19-9 victory at Liberty Stadium, and perhaps most importantly made a big difference at the breakdown, where he stole ball and counter-rucked to outplay fellow Lions tourist Justin Tipuric.

The Leinster flanker earned Man of the Match for his overall performance, and fans will be heartened by this improved aspect of his game. While the big ball carries and fends are impressive, the way he got to the breakdown ahead of Tipuric proved to be significant.

"We had a lot of possession but when you have that much possession and you turn it over as much as we did you don't deserve to win a game," said Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones.

Incidentally the top ball carriers in the match were Ospreys' Joe Bearman, followed closely by Jamie Heaslip, and to give poor Biggar some credit, he did make the most amount of tackles in the match with 17. Tipuric made 16, while the top Leinster tackler was Jamie Heaslip with 12.

Leinster and Castres sit at the top of Pool One. The two sides meet at the RDS next, in Round 2.

View highlights of Ospreys vs Leinster on page two of this post

Highlights from the Heineken Cup meeting between Ospreys and Leinster at the Liberty Stadium

18 Comments

  • aj_capote
    11:51 AM 16/11/2013

    As the Aussies would say...'DON'T ARGUE!'

  • drg
    1:49 PM 19/10/2013

    Any luck? I've been looking around but can't find anything on the interweb..

  • browner
    12:21 AM 19/10/2013

    No way was that a knock on or a throw forward

  • drg
    11:25 AM 18/10/2013

    if you say so...

  • 45678
    9:36 PM 17/10/2013

    This nicely demonstrates the strength and limitations of SOB. Immensely strong and powerful with the ball in hand, but disappointing handling skills and rugby brain. I think a move to hooker would have been sensible earlier in his career, but then he'd have to throw the ball in

  • foxxyboy
    4:21 PM 17/10/2013

    Any footage of Jimmy Gopperth's try saver right at the end? Textbook tackle if ever there was one!

  • drg
    12:41 PM 17/10/2013

    *clap clap clap* Well done Buzz Killington. Now kindly buzz off...

  • rugbydump
    8:56 AM 17/10/2013

    Yes, we had it posted in 2007 here, but it's since been removed. Can't recall if there is a backup anywhere but will do some digging.

  • irish_ape
    11:08 PM 16/10/2013

    No handoff will ever top Buckley's one on Shaw - he picks shaw up by the chin and dumps him flat on his back!

    Any chance of digging that one out RD?

    Tullow Tank is some sight when he is on the charge!

  • guy
    4:51 PM 16/10/2013

    That's how you charge in without lifting your elbow.

  • reality
    4:16 PM 16/10/2013

    I wonder whatever happened to the video of Tony Buckley's handoff on Simon Shaw. It was probably the biggest handoff ever in terms of the size of the two players involved, but it's nowhere to be found on the internet.

    Great stuff by the O'Brien in any case. Unfortunate knock-on, but it was actually the supporting player who knocked it on because the pass was a bit low.

  • drg
    12:59 PM 16/10/2013

    He was trying to offload, looks like the offload was either too low or the supporting player just missed it altogether...

  • connachtman
    12:21 PM 16/10/2013

    They don't call him the "Tullow Tank" for nothing!

  • hanji
    9:51 AM 16/10/2013

    Isn't he trying to offload?

  • stroudos
    8:57 AM 16/10/2013

    Love it. Sit down.
    Hate to be dull, but WTF is Biggar doing trying to tackle a monster like O'Brien standing upright? Disappointing tackle attempt by the No8 too.
    None of which takes away from a delightful "don't argue".

  • 4:48 AM 16/10/2013

    Well played sixto.

    Nibbles have u ever played the game?

  • ronan
    11:58 PM 15/10/2013

    the beast is back...... :)

  • nibbles
    11:15 PM 15/10/2013

    I'd be more impressed if he hadnt spilt the ball immediately afterwards