The Big Don't Argue: A Tribute To One Of Rugby's Best And Most Violent Plays

Jamie Wall unearths some classic rugby and league fends after Solomone Kata’s monster on Anthony Don in the Warriors vs Titans game on Sunday.

Rugby and league have come a long way from the days when matches were more like thinly disguised bar brawls that sometimes involved a ball. There is, however, one part of the game that remains a brutal throwback to that era. The fend, the handoff, the big don’t argue, the only legal way to make contact with an opponent’s head – call it what you like, it remains a sure fire way to violently humiliate your opposite number.

Anthony Don found that out the hard way on Sunday afternoon. After tracking a flying Solomone Kata for all of 60 metres the Titans winger ended up viciously levelled by one of the best fends you’ll ever see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbLip7RxuoI

So poor Anthony doesn’t feel too bad, here’s five more great ‘take a seat’ moments. Turns out he’s in good company when it comes to getting your dignity destroyed on live television.

Dean Mumm on Marcel Coetzee, Waratahs vs Sharks

The Springbok flanker is not a small man, weighing in at around 112 kgs, so Mumm must have temporarily gained super-human powers to execute this.

Pat Richards on Rod Jensen, Tigers vs Cowboys

Luckily for Rocket Rod, Benji Marshall’s pass is the thing that most people remember about this play. Probably doesn’t make him feel any better about it, though.

Hosea Gear on Keith Earls, All Blacks vs Ireland

With the scoreline already looking disastrous for the Irish, Earls might wish he had eased off and spared himself the ignominy of this vicious Hosea Gear fend.

Greg Inglis on Chris Sandow, Rabbitohs vs Eels

Sandow stands 1.73m and 80kgs. Inglis is 1.95m, 106kgs and KNOWN FOR HAVING A HUGE FEND. Sorry Chris, but you had this coming.

Sonny Bill Williams on Matt Saunders, Canterbury vs Southland

Sonny Bill Williams had only just switched codes and spent the first few games of his fledgling rugby career throwing well-timed passes and block-running. Matt Saunders probably wished he’d stayed that way as SBW decided to turn on Beast Mode with the Ranfurly Shield in his sights.