The weekend’s action showed that while defences have made attacking a far more complicated facet of the modern game, moments of genius are still pretty much unplayable, with the right player.
And it wasn’t just New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett who produced a mesmeric offload in the tackle to set up a try for his team. Indeed, hours before Barrett’s moment of brilliance, French star fly-half Matthieu Jalibert served up a similar feat of his own.
Known as one of France’s most prolific attacking 10s, Jalibert had a sterling game for Bordeaux in their Top 14 victory over Stade Français, with the following offload just one of several superb plays from the out-half.
After a first 40 minutes punctuated by countless handling errors from both sides, Jalibert finally got going in the second half and, with Bordeaux on the front foot, the French international stand-off was subsequently able to showcase his attacking qualities to full effect.
His chip over the top of the Stade defensive line was key to creating a try for full back Nans Ducuing, while another half-break and offload in the tackle eventually set up another score for winger Ben Lam.
But Jalibert’s pièce de résistance was undoubtedly his reverse pass offload for Ulupano Seuteni which ultimately put a seal on what became a largely comfortable 37-10 victory.
The offload perhaps wasn’t as impressive as Barrett’s due to the latter’s travelling far longer for Luke Jacobson but the execution and precision given Jalibert was at full pelt puts this pass right up there with Barrett’s.
Who did it best?
That offload from @beaudenbarrett 😲
🎥: @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/BA7D4C9u3J
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 12, 2021
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