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Watch: Mataele miracle ball is an early contender for try assist of the year

By Online Editors
Manasa Mataele charges forward (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Crusaders wing Manasa Mataele delivered the definition of a tightrope act during his side’s convincing 38-22 victory over the Hurricanes on Saturday night.

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After finding some space down the right wing and bumping off Hurricanes loose forward Gareth Evans, the 22-year-old lost his footing in a Finlay Christie tackle before blindly flicking a ball to a charging Richie Mo’unga, who exploded through a hole and raced away for the Crusaders’ second try of the night.

 

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HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE. Cred: @foxrugby @superrugby

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Mataele’s Hurricanes opposite Ben Lam looks visibly stunned as he waits for a reaction from the referee, who rules Mataele was still in play.

The showcase of balance and body control in the set up is truly impressive and the assist should be remembered as one of 2019’s best.

Unfortunately, Mataele came off injured in the second half and was unable to leave the field under his own power after suffering what is assumed to be a serious knee injury.

“We have to have a scan on it but it didn’t look great. So he’s straight to hospital,” head coach Scott Robertson said post-match.

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The Crusaders would score three more tries before the visiting Hurricanes got on the board as they marched to a record 17th consecutive victory.

The back-to-back champions continue their quest for another three-peat when they meet a tough Reds outfit in Brisbane next week.

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Bull Shark 1 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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