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'So smart': Eben Etzebeth's quick thinking stuns Harlequins with crafty runaway try
Sharks lock Eben Etzebeth came up with a cunning piece of play to stun Harlequins at the Stoop stealing the ball from the base of the ruck and streaking 40 metres away untouched to score.
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His unique try exploited rules around unbound players at the ruck which saw Harlequins prop Joe Marler detach early with an improper bind.
That meant the ball was live, allowing Etzebeth to stalk around the breakdown and pinch the ball out of the scrumhalf Danny Care’s hands.
Harlequins were setting up a box kick at the time and were left confused by the play, not reacting in time to be able to chase down the Springbok lock.
A counter-ruck push by a Sharks forward was the catalyst for Marler’s bind becoming unbound, with Etzebeth timing his poach perfectly.
Brilliantly smart play from Eben Etzebeth; he was going to get this spot on at some stage and has here! #HARvSHA pic.twitter.com/LJNW4usZ6W
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) January 21, 2023
Etzebeth’s quick thinking highlighted the dangers of caterpillar rucking if officials are going to enforce the binding rules properly.
Early in the second half a similar situation unfolded as Harlequins set up to exit via a box kick, but this time Marler made sure his bind was correct.
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Marler learnt his lesson from the 1st half!!! ??? #HARvSHA – even Etzebeth is laughing. pic.twitter.com/X3AeYm5S1s
— Brett Igoe (@brettruganalyst) January 21, 2023
Former England flyhalf Andy Goode heaped praise on Etzebeth and explained why the try stood after a review.
So smart from Etzebeth, Marler clearly wasn’t bound as his shoulder came away from the backside of the player in front so the ball was out, decent wheels to finish too! @ChampionsCup #HARvSHA
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) January 21, 2023
Etzebeth was widely praised by fans on Twitter for exposing the caterpillar ruck while England’s experienced Test duo Care and Marler were criticised for their lack of accuracy and effort on the play.
Well Danny Care may be playing his 350th game but he clearly does not learn from his mistakes!
Earlier Eben Etzebeth robbed Care of the ball at the base but knocked on.
This time he picks up cleanly & races away to score. The key is Care is not bound & had his hands on the ball— Ken Borland (@KenBorland) January 21, 2023
Austin Healey is gonna blow a gasket. Tbf, teams would be raging if that was given against them. As a fan, It's good to see the caterpillar ruck attacked by defending team. I don't understand why didn't Care play the ref & tackle Etzebeth rather than let him score. #HARvSHA
— Tadhg O'Ferrall (@tadhgof) January 21, 2023
I am SO GLAD that try stood. Finally a referee who understands that the player needs to stay fully bound to the ruck. Great work Etzebeth.
— Justin Vorster (@JustVorster) January 21, 2023
Lazy binding from Marler & then Care whinges to ref instead of making a tackle. Poor from two experienced players, while brilliant awareness and knowledge of the law from Etzebeth. https://t.co/j2uNXr7Crq
— Timmy Hancox (@TimmyHancox) January 21, 2023
That was one of the smartest scores I've ever seen by Etzebeth. His teammate engages the ruck to pull Quins players forward but Marler doesn't go with. He loses his bind and Eben swoops. SMART.
— Riaan Louw (@Ringo26) January 21, 2023
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The Harlequins outscored the Sharks by five tries to four in the end to secure a spot in the Round of 16 with a 39-29 win.
Comments on RugbyPass
This might turn out to be emblematic of a real issue in Irish rugby. Ireland have one of the best -if not the best - senior sides in the world, and one of the best under 20s sides as well, but don’t seem to be giving graduating under20s players many opportunities to break through into URC starting lineups. There is a risk that a lot of the junior talent they are developing will either be wasted, or lost to other nations.
1 Go to commentsYou ask good questions, Nick. The group who have put together the proposal to play out of Tarneit and participate in the growing of the ground’s capacity are not a bunch of white knights who have been dragged in post-crisis; they were around whilst the Rebels accummulated $23m in debt. Why do we come up with ideas that might make the franchise affordable after it’s broke and not when it might have prevented the trainwreck this offseason was? As for Gordon/Kellaway v Lolesio/Wright, they are both good options. I think the former are better rugby players but the goal kicking of Noah may be decisive when Schmiddy makes his choices. I know Harry Jones has the hots for Edmed but I think it’s one of his few poor choices and he and Jorgensen aren’t close to the other pairs. By coincidence, the wife and I went into town over the weekend to watch Brian Cox and Patricia Clarkson in Long Day’s Journey into Night. Beautifully acted but it was 3.5 hours in the chair and very hard work. Like the Rebels, there were only small bursts of joy to go with a lot of bad news and a depressing story line. In the end, I was hoping it would end and I could give my sore butt a break. Again, familiar.
37 Go to commentsGood decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
6 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
37 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
6 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
6 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
10 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
6 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
37 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
10 Go to commentsWowee!
10 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
10 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
10 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
37 Go to comments