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'I can't believe that worked': Five miracle plays that actually paid off

Lionel Cronje

In honour of Lionel Cronje’s slick wraparound grubber against the Force, Jamie Wall looks at five other players who managed to pull off a perfect miracle kick or pass.

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Oh, the irony. The weekend Super Rugby went through the turmoil of change and having to cut teams, one of the teams that’ll be certain to be in the firing line pulled off one of the most viral highlights of the season.

Lionel Cronje’s utterly ridiculous one-man wraparound pass and grubber through for Malcolm Jaer to score showed that the Kings are still capable of a few highlights. Even still, it arguably wasn’t even the top miracle play of the weekend when you consider Dillyn Leyd’s behind the back flick to set up SP Marais.

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In honour of these super Super Rugby plays, let’s have a look at some of the other inspired, crazy or just downright jammy moments:

Joe Roff vs England: Did we ever tell you how much we love retro jerseys? That is part of the reason this play makes the list, but mainly it’s because it features three epic passes in a row, each getting better than the last till Joe Roff throws a miracle ball to Ben Tune. The funny bit is the sky-blue throwback New South Wales kit (that’s what Australia wore as their original strip), given that none of the players involved in that movement played for the Waratahs.

Quade Cooper vs the Cheetahs: When he’s not injured or fighting overweight man-children for charity, Quade Cooper is capable of some pretty special things. Most of them came during the 2011 season, when the confidence of the Reds led him to try a cross kick in his own in goal that led to a 60m break upfield. Of course, it was this sort of thing that led them to their one and only title as well. Which seems a long time ago now, sadly.

Tamati Ellison vs the Crusaders: The man with one of the most notable surnames in New Zealand rugby has carved out a career that took him to four Super Rugby teams and a decent stint in Japan. He also was looking destined to be a one-test All Black after debuting in 2009, but form like this saw him recalled back over three years later. By then he was on his third franchise. After this season with the Highlanders he moved to the Melbourne Rebels, but didn’t produce any miracle passes there.

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Carlos Spencer vs the Springboks: As well as retro jerseys, we’ve also got a thing for Carlos Spencer. The cheekiest man in rugby pulled out this piece of improvisation in not only a match against the Springboks, not only a World Cup match, but a knockout quarterfinal. This play is one that All Black fans might not remember so well because the next week King Carlos threw a pass that didn’t quite go according to plan.

Lima Sopoaga vs the Hurricanes: This one deserved a try for the kick, though maybe not so much for the shocking forward pass that Matt Faddes throws after collecting it. Sopoaga is often looked at as the steady and sensible option at first five for the All Blacks, but stuff like this shows he can mix it up with the likes of Beauden Barrett if he needs to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVjtWILuG0M

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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