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'It's ridiculous': Ex-All Blacks defend Samipeni Finau after Tane Edmed hit
By Ben Smith
Two former All Blacks have come to the defence of Chiefs’ blindside Samipeni Finau after his crunching tackle on Tane Edmed was put under the spotlight.
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The No.6 committed to the tackle while Edmed held possession and made contact shortly after the pass had been released. The hit rocked Edmed and the Waratahs’ flyhalf remained grounded after the tackle.
After having a series of late hits documented throughout the season by Australian rugby writer Christy Doran, Finau’s latest on Edmed was widely discussed and condemned by many on the X platform.
His shot that floored Reds flyhalf Tom Lynagh earlier in the year was widely criticised as being way too late, earning Finau the reputation with many as a rough and unfair player.
Three of Samipeni Finau’s hits this year. The latest on the weekend.
All three shots on the No.10s are late, but “timing is good” for two out of three. Apparently. pic.twitter.com/jxmWYWeQxI
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) April 9, 2024
Former All Black Sir John Kirwan took exception with having to discuss the legal challenge, calling it “ridiculous” that Australians were “moaning” about it.
He believed that Finau was becoming an enforcer type of the Kaino mould that should be celebrated.
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“I have an issue that we are talking about it,” Kirwan told The Breakdown on Sky Sport NZ.
“It’s ridiculous that we’re talking about it and it’s ridiculous that someone across the Tasman is moaning about it,”
“If that was rugby league it’d be on the highlights and everyone would be going ‘how good is it?’
“We’ve been talking about trying to get a new Jerome Kaino since he retired and this guy is going out there trying to be physical.”
💥 SAMIPENI FINAU
Absolutely enormous, and legal, SHOT.#SuperRugbyPacific pic.twitter.com/RqFh8I1Rn0
ADVERTISEMENT— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) April 26, 2024
Ex-All Black Jeff Wilson said that Finau is treading the line and will have to “live with consequences” if he ends up getting the tackle wrong, either high or way too late.
“I think he’s running a risk if he gets it slightly wrong and he has to live with those consequences,” Jeff Wilson said.
“He knows this but if he gets it slightly wrong there will be consequences but I have no issues with what he’s doing right now.
“Yes he got penalised [against the Reds for being late] but ultimately the contact is legal and the technique is legal.
“If Australia had a big blindside flanker going out and doing this I don’t think we’d be hearing about this.”
One significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
hit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
It might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin.
Was it late? Not quite, but borderline.
High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one.
Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder.
So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
Can we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass?
Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass.
Flawless skill.
Typical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
Sensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.