ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Tuesday Jun 16, 2020

THROWBACK: It's been ten years since Jamie Heaslip deliberately kneed Richie McCaw's head

Ten years ago, Ireland stared down the barrel of a then record defeat at the hands of arch-nemesis New Zealand in New Plymouth. That’s because after just 15 minutes, Jamie Heaslip was red carded for a knee to All Blacks captain Richie McCaw’s head.

ADVERTISEMENT

While red cards these days are more common due to the crackdown by World Rugby around the tackle area, this incident was a clear example of reckless retaliation from the Number 8, which was even more surprising given Heaslip’s relative clean record and the fact that Ireland were within inches of scoring a try.

The Kiwis led 10-0 at that point, but Declan Kidney’s Ireland were right in the match, and a converted try would have made for an intriguing second quarter of the game.

Then came Heaslip’s moment of madness, as he lashed out on McCaw – who was typically lying at the bottom of the ruck doing his best to slow down the Irish momentum.

Referee Wayne Barnes wasted no time in showing Heaslip his marching orders; the back-rower became just the second Irish player in history to be sent off in a test match.

Speaking to The 42 in 2018: “Yeah, jeez, imagine doing that nowadays? A scary thought. Yeah, it was a stupid thing. A rush of blood to the head really.

ADVERTISEMENT

“You need to be on automatic pilot but that’s off the back of putting loads of work in and you can become quite deliberate with what you’re doing even though it’s split-second thinking. That was very much an emotional reaction. I was so riled up.”

Ireland did bag some consolation tries to make their own tally a little less disastrous, but the All Blacks let rip en route to securing a 66-21 victory, their biggest until two years later when they dismantled a 15-man Ireland 60-0 in Hamilton.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments




Related Articles

  • 86 WEEKS AGO

    Just Jonny Wilkinson smashing people

  • 87 WEEKS AGO

    New Zealand Rugby Brawl

  • 87 WEEKS AGO

    Must see all in brawl



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    The dummy that sold the whole of Perth - including the cameraman

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Bayonne score 'one of the best tries you'll ever see' in latest match against Exeter

  • 10 WEEKS AGO

    Baloucoune shows Andy Farrell what he's missing as the winger tears through Harlequins defence

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Seriously impressive Courtney Lawes compilation released after England player calls time on international career

  • 23 WEEKS AGO

    Fiji number eight Viliame 'Bill' Mata scores audacious try

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    The sending off that rocked the Six Nations opener

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Wrecking ball beats 10 players to score full length of the pitch try

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    Monster hit from Perrin leaves Bristol Bears player stunned

  • 20 WEEKS AGO

    Posolo Tuilagi's massive tackle lights up Top 14

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Christian Wade proves he still has the X-factor with 50 metre mazy finish for Racing 92

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Magical sevens try leaves defender stuck in the mud

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    The fan reaction to Georgia calling out Wales this Autumn

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    England player ratings: England wake Twickenham up with huge victory

  • 3 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible scenes as Italy shock Scotland in Rome

View All

Funnies

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Awesome scenes as Blitzbok fan throws down at the HSBC SVNS

  • 5 WEEKS AGO

    Mike Philips recounts crazy night Shane Williams tried to fight Warren Gatland

  • 9 WEEKS AGO

    Shaun Edwards leaves room silent in new Six Nations documentary with French to English transition

  • 18 WEEKS AGO

    Streaker causes major bust up as he tackles player

  • 22 WEEKS AGO

    Luke Cowan-Dickie left red faced after losing very costly bet

View All

Amateur

  • 63 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 63 WEEKS AGO

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

  • 86 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 86 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 87 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 17 HOURS AGO

    Northampton Saints brothers retire a day apart

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Christian Wade proves he still has the X-factor with 50 metre mazy finish for Racing 92

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Tributes paid as World Cup referee looks to hang up boots

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Statement: Danny Care calls time on international career

  • 5 DAYS AGO

    Fin Smith returns to face off against AJ MacGinty in Premiership restart

View All