Quins boss left in utter disbelief as Bok hero does the unimaginable
For the last few years teams have been desperately trying to work out how to stop Harlequins and South Africa centre Andre Esterhuizen, but it turns out that all you have to do is tap tackle him and let gravity do the rest.
That was Bristol Bears’ tactic in the dying seconds of their match against Quins at the Stoop on Tuesday. The 110kg centre was at his rampaging best all match, and looked as though he had snatched a win for his side in the 79th minute when he was on the end of an Oscar Beard break with the visitors leading 15-12.
But then it looked as though the Bok just forgot how to run, as he stumbled his way towards the line before crashing and falling just centimetres short. All he had to do was place the ball over the line and Quins would have the victory, but Tom Whiteley was able to slide over and dislodge the ball from his grasp.
It is only after watching the slow motion replay that it becomes apparent what happened. Bristol’s AJ MacGinty was able to get the slightest tap on Esterhuizen’s foot, but that was all that was needed to make him trip and fall. As far as tap tackles go, you won’t see a better one this season. Equally, a lot of credit needs to go to Whiteley as well.
All Quins coach Tabai Matson could do was stand there with his head in his hands as he watched his side spurn a chance to move into second place in the Gallagher Premiership. Meanwhile, the win lifted Bristol off the foot of the table. Quins will have to now regroup ahead of their trip to Northampton Saints on Sunday while Bristol have a weekend off.
Take a look at MacGinty’s tackle on Esterhuizen:
Can you believe it? 😯
André Esterhuizen comes this close to a match-winning try for Harlequins, instead @BristolBears earn their first #GallagherPrem win in three months. pic.twitter.com/PDDRN2BdLD
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 27, 2022