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Thu 9 Feb 2017 | 08:55
#TBT: Peter Stringer's brilliant low tackle on Jonah Lomu in 2002

11
Comments

This week the world of rugby remembers former Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen, who died on Saturday after a long battle with Motor Neuron Disease. The scrumhalf is well known for, amongst other exploits, his heroic tackle on Jonah Lomu in the 1995 RWC.

With it, the tackle brought back memories of another relatively diminutive figure renowned for occasionally beating the odds.

Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer surprised not only the big All Black himself, but probably the whole of Carisbrook when he made this terrific tackle in the first Test in 2002.

Seeing Lomu pouncing on a loose ball and running into space was probably every rugby player's worst nightmare, regardless of what size they were. But Stringer, of all people, showed that by getting your tackling technique right, it doesn't really matter how big or fast the opponent is.

At just 1.7m tall and under 75kg's, Stringer got his arms around the ankles of Lomu, making sure the winger was brought down immediately, stopping the typically threatening charge.

Unfortunately, this great story is ruined by the fact that Lomu presented the ball perfectly, allowing Aaron Mauger to stab a kick through and Leon Macdonald to pounce for the winning score.

The game ended 15-6, but Stringer's perfect tackle will go down in the annals of rugby folklore.

Posted By: Stephen Brunsdon

11 Comments

  • reality
    8:02 PM 19/02/2017

    Aside from one break against Biarritz and another against Scotland, I don't think Peter Stringer ever ran with the ball in his long, long career. And what were the incredible tackles? A tap tackle against Lomu, another against Jason Robinson...anything else? And yeah, a scrumhalf that passes well - that's not exactly a rarity. Just because I don't have a professional career doesn't mean he's a great defender or attacker.

  • drg
    8:40 AM 16/02/2017

    Well I've seen stringer run with the ball, make increbidle tackles and achieve his role of being the pivotal point between forwards and backs with diamond sharp passing, so to do that, to be a sneaky ferret and to tackle lomu, all at the size of a pint glass is pretty bloody impressive, especially at his ripe old age now.

    But sure, I bet your rugby career is far greater than this amateur....

  • reality
    12:32 PM 13/02/2017

    If to survive you just completely avoid running with the ball and defending except for the occasional tap tackle, then I don't think it's that impressive.

  • drg
    11:19 AM 12/02/2017

    What precisely is your point with B?

    Stringer stopped a man that many have failed to stop.... End of story..

  • 2:46 AM 11/02/2017

    A) no one period compares to lomu. Few athletes in the world, NFL included, combine his speed and pace to this day. Comparable athletes: Calvin Johnson, retired NFL wide receiver. LeBron james, gronkoski patriots, savea is nowhere near as big. Nadalo bigger but not as fast.

    Now that I got that off my chest

    B) lomu runs around stringer rather than at him, allowing a side on tackle, which is way easier than stopping 120 kgs coming straight at u. Nice to think that works all the time but it doesn't .

    Stringer has to tackle everyone low, it's true otherwise he wouldn't survive.

  • drg
    6:15 PM 10/02/2017

    I'm always impressed at how Stringer has survived the modern game, I always admired him when he was playing for Ireland, ROG was a worse tackler that this little man!!!!

    Awesome effort by the bloke in this video. Hope he keeps going strong!

  • drg
    6:12 PM 10/02/2017

    Also agree with you regarding the "just lost his footing"...

  • drg
    6:11 PM 10/02/2017

    I can see the point Stroudos is making though... Especially from Stringers point of view, there weren't a lot of people smaller than him, so all players have been taller and bigger than him, so Lomu was just another tallerer and biggerer player haha.

    But he was still a formidable man and I'd imagine most scrum halves would have preferred not to be the ones required to tackle the guy.

  • jimmy23
    10:57 PM 09/02/2017

    I'm not sure. Even though rugby had been professional for a few years by this point and players were generally bigger and stronger than when Lomu first arrived on the scene, he was still a formidable opponent no? Bare in mind he was still running over people like Phil Vickery in 2002!

    My guess is that a modern day equivalent would be something like Gio Aplon on Julian Savea.

    I didn't really start watching rugby properly till about 10 years ago though, so I could just be talking shite.

  • stroudos
    9:07 PM 09/02/2017

    Always annoys me hearing the commentator say "just lost his footing", but to be fair if you hadn't seen it very clearly that could be a reasonable assumption!

    I wonder if scrumhalves were less awe-struck by the idea of tackling Lomu, because they were already used to tackling people bigger than them? From their point of view Lomu would be just another rung up the scale?

  • mastersa
    5:22 PM 09/02/2017

    39 years old and stile going with Sale Rugby. Intelligent player!

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