Esterhuizen sends Vunipola flying in incredible feat of strength
Everyone in the Gallagher Premiership already knows by now that RPA players’ player of the year Andre Esterhuizen is a ball carrying monster. That is a simple fact. But the Harlequins inside centre produced a feat of strength on Saturday that may have come as a surprise even for his high standards.
It came in the Gallagher Premiership semi final against Saracens at the StoneX Stadium on Saturday, when Saracens No8 Billy Vunipola lined up a shot on the South African. However, Esterhuizen was able to bounce the 130kg forward, and send him straight onto his backside.
What is even more impressive about this is that Vunipola was subsequently yellow carded for making contact with the head of the centre, meaning a huge amount of force of the tackle went through the neck of Esterhuizen. He did not exactly bounce the Saracen with his neck alone, but it did have to withstand the force of a 130kg man tackling a 113kg man running at full felt into him.
While this was a disappointing day for Esterhuizen as Harlequins’ title defence came to an end with a 34-17 loss, he was recalled into the South Africa squad later that day after a long absence.
Take a look at his strength:
Springbok squad for International season:
Props:
Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks)
Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers)
Vincent Koch (Saracens)
Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers)
Ntuthuko Mchunu (Cell C Sharks)
Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks)
Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92)
Hookers:
Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux)
Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks),
Locks:
Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks)
Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks)
Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers)
Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls)
Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers)
Loose forwards:
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz)
Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls)
Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks)
Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls)
Evan Roos (DHL Stormers)
Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo)
Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers)
Utility forwards:
Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse)
Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers)
Franco Mostert (Honda Heat)
Scrumhalves:
Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks)
Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks)
Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers)
Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks)
Flyhalves:
Johan Goosen IVodacom Bulls)
Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes)
Handre Pollard (Montpellier Herrault),
Midfielders:
Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks)
Damian de Allende (Munster)
Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins)
Jesse Kriel (Cannon Eagles)
Outside Backs:
Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks)
Warrick Gelant (DHL Stormers)
Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon)
Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz)
Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks)
Utility Backs:
Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls)
Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers)
