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Beautiful Game

10 of our favourite tries from around the rugby world in 2016

Don’t worry about which is best, just enjoy.

WE HAVEN’T RANKED these because, to paraphrase Pat Lam, they should be celebrated and each of  these tries are beautiful in their own way.

Undoubtedly we’ve left out a number of great tries, so let us know your favourite score of the rugby year in the comment section below.

Iain Henderson v Clermont

We’re probably guilty of a little recency bias here, but it was thrilling to watch Ulster create the opportunity for their third try against the Top 14 leaders last weekend.

The score came not only from a pin-point Ruan Pienaar cross-field kick, a fine Tommy Bowe offload and Iain Henderson burst, but such a clinical finish after the breathless back-and-forth minutes beforehand made this extremely impressive. Watch it all and then get some fluids in.

GG Rugby / YouTube

Niyi Adeolokun v Leinster

We could have picked all three of Connacht’s Grand Final tries in this list, but their second of the day was just such an unbelievably perfect example of the exciting fare the western province offered up all season.

It wasn’t perfect, the ball hit the deck for one heart-stopping second, but the move was crammed full of invention, adaptation and the confidence to keep pushing on and trusting in team-mates.

PRO12 Rugby / YouTube

Amanaki Lotoahea v Wales

In a thrilling encounter at the Millennium Stadium, the replacement did superbly well to take a speculative pass above his head, step the last defender and finish off to help Japan pull level with Wales at 30 – 30 before the hosts eventually snatched victory with a late drop-goal.

WRU Official / YouTube

Jamie Heaslip v Italy 

The Six Nations was beyond Ireland when they faced Italy, but Joe Schmidt’s men were clearing their throats and showing the beginnings of the gameplan they would use to take down the All Blacks.

RBS 6 Nations / YouTube

TJ Perenara v South Africa

Everything great about the world champions’ attack in one quick gif, Beauden Barrett’s acceleration, basketball skills out wide and flawless handling from forwards.

tjp

Tyler Bleyendaal v Glasgow

Skip to 1.20 in this video for a scything run from a man who was forced to wait to make an impression with Munster and try that began an out-pouring of emotion at Thomond Park in the wake of Anthony Foley’s tragic death.

GG Rugby / YouTube

Matias Orlando v South Africa

Argentina lost a man to the sin-bin and were pegged into their own 22. But hey, they’ve got Latin flair to burn! Treat yourself from 0.52 in this video.

Rugby Montages HD / YouTube

Niyi Adeolokun v Toulouse

Back in the big time, Connacht played host to the one-time kings of Europe. After a difficult start to the season, they were struggling with French power until a line-out (at 3.14 in this video) set Bundee Aki away and changed everything.

Rugby XV / YouTube

Ben Smith v Blues

Apologies for the busy gif, but this try from the opening round of Super Rugby was far too good to leave out. Matt Faddes attacked the line off a midfield scrum, and once he gets the ball in his hands a second time he unleashed a little magic to keep a move full of slick offloads and passes going.

smith2

Watch that within a compilation of the best tries from Super Rugby here

Conor Murray v New Zealand

Aaron Smith sold a great big dummy! This was the moment we began to believe something special was possible in Chicago.

Jerry Beamo / YouTube

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