Highlanders' flyer Josh McKay comes up with the tackle of the year to deny Crusaders try
Highlanders wing Josh McKay has come up with the tackle of the year, putting on a last ditch try-saving hit on Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall.
The former Canterbury player and local Christchurch-product denied his hometown franchise after some magic from Richie Mo’unga.
The flyhalf sliced through the Highlanders around halfway and found Will Jordan with a no-look inside ball. With just one man to beat, Jordan put Hall away for what should have been a guaranteed five points.
As Hall was diving over for the try, McKay made a play for the ball forcing a knock-on to the disbelief of the Crusaders halfback who was subbed immediately after.
The try-saver kept a Highlanders led at 17-13 which was extended moments later when Highlanders centre Michael Collins drove over at the end.
Oh Dear! Josh McKay spoils the party for Bryn Hall #BUTCHERED #CRUvHIG pic.twitter.com/1Z152hCcQ6
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) August 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/theweekdaez/status/1292320073739198464
Josh McKay that is a crazy try saving tackle!
— Kooks (@Kookie_Kuhle) August 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/Connor_Klayman/status/1292319972555816961
Shit that damn tackle from Josh McKay holy cow!#CRUvHIG
— Eli (@PettittEli) August 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/DaveyJacobson/status/1292320150339719168
Holy shit if the 'Landers win this thanks McKay!! #CRUvHIG #SuperRugbyAotearoa
— Jamie 'Parody' Swain (@JamieswainJamie) August 9, 2020
One of the best defensive plays you will ever see from Josh Mckay #SuperRugbyAotearoa #CRUvHIG
— Stefan Edge (@stefan_edge) August 9, 2020
Bryn Hall butchers it on the line. What a contest by McKay??#CRUvHIG
— Mandi_N (@mandingqoza) August 9, 2020
That is why you pick Josh McKay! Need to put our kicking game away… #SuperRugbyAotearoa #HIGVCRU
— Nicholas Friedlander (@NicholasFriedl3) August 9, 2020
McKay’s amazing tackle kept the Highlanders in the game and allowed them to extend their lead, but a rampant period by the Crusaders with 20-minutes to go erased the nine point deficit in minutes with two tries to George Bridge.
With ten minutes to go, the Crusaders lead 25-22 with one hand on the Super Rugby Aotearoa trophy.
If the Highlanders get up, McKay’s tackle will take on more significance. If not, it will still be remembered for a very long time and go down as one of the best of 2020.
Josh McKay is a thief in the night ?
??: @skysportnz #CRUvHIG pic.twitter.com/12jnzPB7mW
— Super Rugby NZ (@SuperRugbyNZ) August 9, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Rest is for namby pamby sissies, I see. True men should overcome their trifling injuries by playing week in, week out. Bidwell’s stance reminds me of a Jon Gadsby character from the 70s, a rugby captain giving an after-match speech: “It was a very physical contest. One of our players caught a boot on the back of his head in a ruck, and he died, actually. But to his credit, he played on.”
1 Go to commentsI still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
1 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
27 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
27 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
27 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
27 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
27 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
27 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
91 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
27 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
27 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
27 Go to commentsHi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
91 Go to comments