Tue 19 Mar 2013 | 03:55
Vincent Clerc's incredible volley almost leads to try

14
Comments

If you watched France vs Scotland on Saturday night you will have seen this great piece of play by French winger Vincent Clerc, who managed to keep an attacking move alive via some impressive quick thinking. France went on to win the game 23-16

Freddie Michalak, who had an eventful game to say the least, put a cross kick in late in the first half as France looked to attack. He found Clerc, who realised that there wasn't much point in catching it so nimbly pulled off a perfectly placed kick ahead, as Scotland wing Tim Visser looked on.

The ball was eventually knocked on a few phases later, but it was a moment of brilliance. In fact it may remind you of another Frenchman who at times makes things look easy, Lionel Beauxis.

A few years ago Beauxis, while playing for Stade Francais, volleyed the ball with consumate ease, controlling it in such a way that the ball popped up perfectly into his hands.

You can view that in the Related Posts below, as well as another more recent moment of superb ball control as Welshman Tom Grabham kicked the ball up to himself at the Glasgow Sevens last year.

As commentator Andrew Cotter said, unbelievable tekkers.

View all archived Six Nations 2013 Highlights

14 Comments

  • browner
    7:52 PM 21/03/2013

    Eh.... Everytime what ............... ?are you serious, they celebrate his defection......


    That's as bad as George North singing at the top of his voice "land of my father'

  • browner
    7:48 PM 21/03/2013

    In which case all the other scottish defenders must've collectively all misread the ruck formed

    as they all went back to the offside line !

  • browner
    7:43 PM 21/03/2013

    Answer.... I'll tell you how, because it was bloody obvious & bloody cynical & one of the easiest YC decisions IMO

  • ithilsul
    6:09 PM 21/03/2013

    Another thing to take into consideration is that Clerc is left-handed. Skill++

  • askelkana
    3:00 PM 20/03/2013

    Fair enough, but it's with rules like these that we cannot but feel sorry for the ref. How on earth is he going to keep tabs on all involved players' all possible breaches of all relevant rules?

  • askelkana
    2:57 PM 20/03/2013

    Mama said the French team was like a box of chocolates...

  • yannoche
    1:49 PM 20/03/2013

    Too bad Huget didn't keep it.

  • rugbydump
    11:24 AM 20/03/2013

    You could be right - spot on either way

  • guy
    9:27 AM 20/03/2013

    To me it looks like het did the only sensible thing: take out Clerc.

    Have to agree with you on most of the rest of your post: defense is not his best asset. Not talking about the physical aspect, more about his positioning. I've got the feeling he is improving though.

    Too bad he (and Maitland and Hogg) have not been used more this tournament. Because when they did, Scotland produced some pretty exciting stuff!

    By the way: don't underestimate the importance of a player like Visser for rugby in the Netherlands. I know a lot of people moan about him not being a Scot and all. But everytime he scores a try, rugby gets media attention in the Netherlands. That can only be very good for the sport over there.

  • 12:29 AM 20/03/2013

    Great skill by the way,

    quel tire

  • 12:28 AM 20/03/2013

    Is it just me or does Visser look kinda wussy here? Not that i expect him to take a boot or the ball in his face, but he certainly looks to be much more concerned with self preservation than anything here.

    But maybe i am just pretty dissappointed with him overall. The way he was tearing it up in the Magners I figured for sure he was gonna be a star a test level, but other than a few moments where he's been put into space and benefitted, I have found him quite average. Not great defence, not much of a counter game, and kinda shaky under the high ball in general.


    Last summer I was syaing he's a lion for sure, not anymore I'm afraid.


    My lion wings ppicks: North and Cuthbert, Brown (cover 15 obviously) and Gilroy (a dark horse I know, but he's the new shane).

    I really hope they don't wuss out and take ashton, who's been poor or maitland because of his pedigree, the latter has played well but hasn't earned it over the other fellahs.

  • phunni
    11:32 PM 19/03/2013

    Hard to be certain, but I think it was Chris Patterson who said "tekkers". Not that it really matters.

  • danknapp
    9:50 PM 19/03/2013

    Class. This is why I can't help but love the French rugby team. You never know what you're going to get.

  • utilityback
    9:33 PM 19/03/2013

    True French flair