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Video: The Eben Etzebeth ruck clearout that has fired-up Twitter
There was no denying that Lyon were deserving winners in Friday night’s European Challenge Cup final, defeating Toulon 30-12 at Stade Velodrome, but the main talking point on social media in the aftermath was the 72nd-minute ruck clearout by Eben Etzebeth on Davit Niniashvili.
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The Lyon player had just dumped the Springboks World Cup winner on his backside in a tackle on the ten-metre line when he got up and chased back as the attack continued.
Having then taken down Toulon winger Cheslin Kolbe on the 22, Niniashvili found himself on the ground after the tackle and Etzebeth arrived to clear him out in a way that divided opinion.
Referee Luke Pearce and his team of officials decided there wasn’t an issue with the collision that unfolded but numerous rugby fans on Twitter didn’t agree and a debate ignited about the legality of the clearout by the South African.
Some comments from EK Rugby Analysis were typical of the debate. “My first reaction was that it was a cheap shot, but Pearce did have a good long look at it in fairness and said, ‘Etzebeth comes in, his right arm binds around the body […] I’m not seeing anything illegal at the moment.’ It definitely looks much more legal on slo-mo for me.”
Re my previous replies on this; realise my focus on whether there was clear head/neck contact may have come off poorly.
Genuinely wish Niniashvili well and was just thinking about the legality of the hit, but realise now that the dangerous play supersedes the height of contact.
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) May 28, 2022
He revisited the issue on Saturday with a follow-up tweet. “After a night’s sleep, my thoughts on the clearout: Etzebeth does try to leave a mark on Niniashvili when other options were available. Etzebeth’s clear out is illegal as Niniashvili isn’t in the ruck competing for the ball – it’s dangerous play.”
Other fans defended Etzebeth over his intervention. One wrote: “Etzebeth’s ability to do everything to impose himself physically but still fall within the laws of the game to not get carded could be his best attribute as a player.”
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Another suggested: “I just think the context played into this. If Etzebeth hadn’t been tackled five seconds earlier I don’t think this would have got the attention it did. The narrative has played a role.”
Eben Etzebeth clear out with a few angles and opinion https://t.co/jHzDHBZiSz
— Rugby Bits (@RugbyBits) May 28, 2022
“Moral” on the basis of rugby’s values etc.
Etzebeth’s ability to do everything to impose himself physically but still fall within the laws of the game to not get carded could be his best attribute as a player.
— Thala Msutu (@ThalaMsutu77) May 28, 2022
I mean sure, I just think the context played into this. If Etzebeth hadn't been tackled 5 seconds earlier I dont think this would have got the attention it did. The narrative has played a role
— Ryan (@Joe52192750) May 28, 2022
There also should have been a red last night in the Challenge cup final. Etzebeth lucky they only showed 2 real angles to Pearce, where you didn't see the shoulder smash to the head and knock the winger out cold
— Stephen Antill (@Stevros3) May 28, 2022
People calling for Etzebeth to be banned 🙈😂
— Tom Lloyd (@tommylad87) May 28, 2022
Eben Etzebeth comes from a distance and lands a shoulder to back of the head of Davit Niniashvili, this after Niniashvili put a good tackle on the South African lock.
Luke Pearce shrugged it off as nothing, but I'm sure the citing commissioner won't.#LOURCT #ChallengeCupFinal— The Rick Sanchez of Rugby 🏉🎯 (@RugbyRickSZ) May 28, 2022
Baffled by that one mate, can’t understand how there’s no card shown. He knows what he’s doing it’s blatant, I’ve always been a fan of the guy but that was completely unacceptable tonight. God knows what the Lyon medics were thinking either
— Matt (@mattbrown_10) May 27, 2022
You said everyone does those sorts of things. I was quantifying that etzebeth does more than most. He got embarrassed by a smaller player then seemed to get retribution on him
Regarding Farrell, his technique is often very bad. But he doesn't go to hurt players. Etzebeth does.
— Sam French (@AndSamFrench) May 27, 2022
He is amazing. So sad that Etzebeth knocks him out with a cheap shot and he isn’t even on the field celebrating at the end.
— DSan (@DSandr03) May 27, 2022
My 8 Yr old just said to me that "if he (Etzebeth) is supposed to be one of the best players in the world, he should be setting us children an example, and he isn't!"
I couldn't agree more. #LOUvRCT@btsportrugby
— Joe Wheeler (@WheelerJoseph) May 27, 2022
https://twitter.com/MBRugby/status/1530292559070826498
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https://twitter.com/virginmosquito/status/1530292261740847107
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments