Jerome Kaino and rugby's most memorable 'big man' kicks
After Jerome Kaino’s whiffed conversion in his final game at Eden Park last night, we decided to compile a few memorable ‘big man’ kicks, for better or worse.
This one is dedicated to the forwards that practice sideline conversions after training.
Jerome Kaino’s last hurrah – Eden Park, 2018
This kick is made even better by the fact that Kaino’s former All Blacks and Blues teammate John Afoa pointed out that the big blindside played No. 10 once upon a time.
https://twitter.com/John_Afoa/status/1012627582985129984
Kaino signed off at Eden Park with this beauty that will capture the hearts and imagination of fans forever.
When Caleb Clarke crossed for his first career try just two minutes before the final siren, the stage was set.
In his 137th match for the Blues – bringing him equal with Tony Woodcock for second in franchise history in terms of appearances – the 81-Test All Black lined up the conversion and the rest is history.
The kick missed, perhaps a metaphor for how much the Auckland franchise will miss Kaino’s impact.
There was a little bit of confusion after Kaino’s lame-duck flew past the uprights as one assistant referee sheepishly raised his flag, but the kick unfortunately wouldn’t count in the end.
Adam Jones’ match winner? – Cardiff Arms Park, 2014
Wales prop Adam Jones launched an unexpected and ambitious drop goal attempt while playing a Pro14 match for the Cardiff Blues.
With scores level at 21 and less than seven minutes left on the clock, Jones took the ball at first receiver and calmly had a crack with his right boot.
After the referee put his arm out for a penalty advantage, the tighthead had nothing to lose. While his kick came up a little short, teammate Thomas Davies was able to turn the penalty into three points and a lead. Munster loose forward Paddy Butler eventually stole the victory with a 77th minute try.
Matt Dunning’s season ending three-pointer – Sydney Football Stadium, 2003
Former Wallaby prop Matt Dunning delivered what still remains as one of the least likely drop-goals in history.
In a similar situation to the aforementioned Jones, Dunning’s Waratahs had a penalty advantage in their favour.
Needing two more tries to pick up a four-try bonus point and earn a spot in the 2003 Super 12 playoffs, Dunning tried to save time and secure the penalty by taking a shot that he assumed would miss. Sounded simple enough. Miss the kick, win the penalty and have a lineout five metres from the try line.
But Dunning’s kick was perfect. From about 35 metres out, the ball sailed through the uprights and effectively ended the Waratahs season.
They ended up winning the match 25-14 but were unable to score the tries needed to advance, thanks in part to Dunning’s drop goal.
Jordan Crane and rugby’s first penalty shootout – Millenium Stadium, 2008
We return to Wales for one of rugby’s most famous finishes.
The second semi-final of the 2008-2009 Heineken Cup – played between Cardiff and Leicester – was thrilling, to say the least.
With scores tied at 26 at full time, the game was played for an extra period. Extra time consisted of two ten-minute halves, something that had only happened once before, ten years earlier in a match between Brive and Toulouse.
When no resolution was found after the extra period and both teams finished with the same amount of tries scored, things got weird.
The match would be decided by a penalty shoot-out.
Each team would alternately take five kicks, each from the same spot, 22 metres back and directly in front of the posts. No player could kick twice, and they had to have been on the field at the end of extra time.
When scores were level at four after the first five rounds of kicks, it became “sudden death”, with each team alternating until someone missed.
With all of the backs eventually used up, Cardiff sent former Wales and Lions flanker Martyn Williams out. When his kick missed left, it was all on Leicester back-rower Jordan Crane.
Crane lined up the shot and calmly sent his side into the 2009 Heineken Cup final. What a wild finish.
John Eales seals the deal – Westpac Stadium, 2000
World Rugby may never see another player quite like John Eales.
The two-time World Cup winner possessed an unparalleled blend of size and skill, of which he showcased on his way to securing a third consecutive Bledisloe Cup for Australia in 2000.
Trailing by two points as time expired, the Wallabies won a penalty from a kickable distance and had the chance to steal a famous victory.
Eales looked around for regular kicker Stirling Mortlock. When he realised Mortlock was off the field, the Wallaby captain took matters into his own hands, as he had done many times before.
The towering lock – all two metres of him – curled the ball through the sticks in front of a raucous Wellington crowd to give his side a 24-23 win and lock the Bledisloe Cup away for another year. The result also helped Australia claim the 2000 Tri Nations title.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
10 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
10 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
10 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments