ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Nick Abendanon's Tuilagi brothers nightmare at the Rec

BY Grant Constable  ·  Tuesday Mar 29, 2011

Leicester Tigers gave Bath an almighty hiding in their Aviva Premiership meeting at the Rec on Saturday, scoring five tries to nil to come away 37-6 victors. There was one guy however who took the hammering more literally than others.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fullback Abendanon, who was courageous throughout, took some of the biggest and most frequent hits you’re likely to see this season. It actually became quite comical for the viewer, as whenever the fullback got the ball, there seemed to be a Pacific Islander sniffing him out.

First it was Manu Tuilagi who smashed him with one of the biggest, and possibly best, hits of the game. Not too much later older brother Alesana got in on the act, and from then on the England capped back was battered at regular intervals. As if dealing with the two Samoan brothers wasn’t bad enough, Tongan Steve Mafi also pounded him late in the game.

Abendanon did show tremendous courage though, as no matter how often they dished it out, he kept getting up for more and put in a few good runs and one fantastic try saving tackle in particular. He eventually hobbled off the field with just over ten minutes left but when a fight kicked off, he miraculously turned up again, in the thick of it.

“I saw someone take a cheap shot at one of my team-mates and I dived on to the pitch to try and separate a few bodies. It was not the right thing to do, but I had taken a couple of good knocks to the head and maybe wasnt sure of what I was doing,” he explained, and said he has since apologised to the officials for his out of character behaviour.

It was a physically devastating, yet brave afternoon of rugby for Abendanon. While he was able to walk off the pitch after the huge knocks, he was no doubt feeling worse for wear the next day.

“Wonder why we play this game when I wake up feeling like this!” he said on twitter. 

ADVERTISEMENT
Time: 04:47

Related Articles

  • 48 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji Drua player Lomani slapped with ban...

  • 58 WEEKS AGO

    The sending off that rocked the Six Nations...

  • 59 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Sensational score at the Stadio Olympico

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Flying frenchman scores tremendous try for Toulon

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Young England hopeful continues to impress with double against Stade Français

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Full throttle Premiership final rematch ends in heartache

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Wallabies wunderkind Sua'ali' and Scotland captain Tuipulotu clash

  • 17 WEEKS AGO

    Ireland 'steal' Argentina's opening try as debate rages

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: The biggest hit from week one of the Autumn Nations Series

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    'Cheap shot' from Leicester Tigers vs Northampton Saints causing a stir online

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Wild moment leads to all in brawl during Welsh derby between Cardiff and Scarlets

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    'A few nuts and bolts out' - Eden Park streaker sheds boxers to achieve goal

  • 7 WEEKS AGO

    SHOCK results in the PWR keeps top four race thrilling

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    Fans in awe as Kildunne finishes off STUNNING team try

  • 14 WEEKS AGO

    Supporters can't believe Saracens Sharp's UNBELIEVABLE finish

View All

Funnies

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    'A few nuts and bolts out' - Eden Park streaker sheds boxers to achieve goal

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Nightmare blunder from Exeter winger as try goes wanting

  • 12 WEEKS AGO

    'A dog with a mallet up its arse could’ve written Johnny’s book' Donnacha O'Callaghan

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    U.S. Army Special Operations Sergeant Major makes big claim about rugby

View All

Amateur

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Nightmare blunder from Exeter winger as try goes wanting

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Santiago Carreras scores a blinder in front of thrilled Kingsholm crowd

  • 113 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 114 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 137 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

View All

Player Features

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    The Capuozzo try that jump-started Italy's victory

  • 11 WEEKS AGO

    RugbyDump's top five backrows in 2024

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    ‘The knee slide was too much’ - Ben Earl reflects on THAT viral moment

  • 13 WEEKS AGO

    Marcus Smith makes big call on his future

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    'Eligible for England' - Fans react to South African star's contract announcement

View All