Sean Maloney and the team at Rugby HQ have been churning out the Top 5 segments of late, providing the fans with a whole host of classic moments that, while they’re often from an Australian angle, are still great fun to watch for neutrals.
In the latest instalment it’s a look at some of the best setpiece tries ever scored down south.
In the list of five there is one try in particular that’s the stand out, and arguably the best setpiece try from a lineout ever, anywhere. It surprisingly only comes in at number two though.
The try in question is the Christian Cullen All Black masterpiece in the Tri Nations in 2000. It featured multiple players, dummy runners, and quick hands, and ended with Cullen dotting down.
It was another classic match between the two great sides, and despite the incredible try, the Wallabies won the game in dramatic fashion as lock John Eales slotted an extra time penalty to win the game 24-23 and retain the Bledisloe Cup.
One of the other interesting tries featured is Breyton Paulse’s in 2005, which included his trademark flick-flack. Paulse first did the celebration on his debut vs Italy in 1999.
He later explained that it wasn’t planned at all, but was just the first thing that came to mind as his family was there and he was beaming with joy. After that he did it on a few other big occasions, but said that despite doing a bit of gymnastics at school, the experts were probably laughing at him each time, as his legs were often hopelessly crooked as he went through the air.
He cited his first ever, in that game against Italy in Port Elizabeth, as the best.
Gymnastics aside, all of these tries are well worth watching, and there is also an amusing quick chat with in studio guest Drew Mitchell, who will be joining Toulon in France at the end of the season.
EXTRA: Rugby HQ were kind enough to share the other five contenders too, tries 6-10
As mentioned on the previous page, below are the next five that didn’t quite make it onto the Top 5 best setpiece tries list. Starting with number 10, scroll down to view the rest, and feel free to let us know which is your best as a comment below.
#10 – Israel Dagg scores vs the Highlanders from inside pass by Robbie Fruean
#9 – Adam Ashley-Cooper try from lineout vs the All Blacks
#8 – Sean Maitland finishes a Crusaders classic vs the Cheetahs in 2012
#7 – Colin Slade outstanding team try from setpiece vs the Springboks
#6 – Joe Rokocoko receives a gift from Brent Russell of the Springboks in 2003
Thanks as always to Fox Sports and the Rugby HQ team
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