England’s Courtney Lawes returned to Aviva Premiership rugby with a bang this past weekend, making his presence felt with a few trademark tackles, including this belter on Phil Godman. He admitted post match that he was pleased to make some big hits.
Northampton Saints, despite still missing some international players, beat Newcastle Falcons 18-0 at Franklin’s Gardens, with Lawes in more of a senior role this season, particularly at the lineouts.
He’s said that it’s quite different to get accustomed to Premiership life again, after the highs of playing Test rugby and being in camp with England for the last month or so.
“It’s quite tough to come from the tough international games straight back into the Premiership, hard to get your head round it. It’s different. There’s so much pressure on you (with England), then you’re relieved of that pressure and it’s hard to keep yourself mentally focused enough to put in a good performance,” he said.
“I worked really hard to get myself motivated this week. I thought I played solid with some good carries, didn’t make any mistakes, pressured the 10 and made some good hits.”
Newcastle’s Phil Godman was on the end of one of the biggest hits of the game, as Lawes used that quick line speed – never more evident than in the huge preseason hit he made against Bedford – to get up and terrorise the flyhalf with a trademark tackle.
This is a short clip, but worth sharing and adding to the growing archive of tackles from one of the most athletic second-rowers in international rugby today. There’s more in the related posts below.
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