AT THE VERY highest level, which is where we are with the Rugby World Cup, matches are made up of hundreds if not thousands of actions and interventions that can swing the flow of a game. (NOTE. There are gifs ahead, so you may feel the need to connect to Wifi)
Every Monday during England 2015 we’ll pick out some of our favourite flashes of skill, inspiration and straight-up boshfulness that made us ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over the last seven days.
Stick an extra Zero on Cian Healy’s shirt
He’s no ordinary number one, and Cian Healy proved it against Romania yesterday. After Jordi Murphy forced a turnover just outside Ireland’s 22, Cian Healy could have put the head down and steam-rolled the number 10 in front of him. Instead, he kept his back straight, planted the left foot and let fly with his right.
Look at that form: excellent follow through and great arm motion taking the ball in the direction he wants it to go. Most importantly, look at the 70 metre gain.
Sonny Bill, Born offloader
Getting smashed by Jacques Burger? No problem.
How do you say ‘You Shall Not Pass’ in Japanese?
Ayumu Goromaru knows how.
The Wembley Arch
Simon Zebo, you flippin’ magician.
Biggar balls
Kicking match, and potentially season defining penalties isn’t for everyone, is it? But Dan Biggar stepped up and slot everything his country needed him to. Watch his 49 metre clutch winning penalty in Twickenham at the 2.45 mark here.
Super Cooper
Quade did his best not to be out-done by Zebo’s zip-line pass. Running at pace after a line-break, this pass to Kurtley Beale was very special indeed.
Good hustle, Aj!
The USA’s Dublin-born out-half left Scotland’s South African-born back row red faced – at least, we presume he is under the beard.
The through ball that shredded England and kept the Pool of Death wide open
Lloyd Williams, who knew?