Kirwan lauds Finau’s monster tackle
Sir John Kirwan has launched an impassioned defence of Samipeni Finau, saying the Chiefs flanker should be celebrated not scorned for his massive hit on Waratahs first-five Tane Edmed.
“I have an issue that we are talking about it. It’s ridiculous that we’re talking about it and it’s ridiculous that someone across the Tasman is moaning about it,” Kirwan told The Breakdown on Sky Sport.
The one-test All Black rocked Edmed with a ferocious tackle three minutes into the Chiefs’ 38-22 win in Sydney on Friday night.
Edmed took a pass and just after he passed it away to his right, 115kg Finau flew into the No 10 and hit him shoulder height.
The tackle was deemed legal by the referee but it sparked intense debate online after it was shared on the official Super Rugby Pacific X account.
Many rugby fans were of the opinion that Finau’s hit was dangerous and should have earned him a trip to the sin bin.
Finau, who made his All Blacks debut against the Wallabies last year, is earning a reputation for targeting opposition firstfives as he has produced similar tackles on three other occasions this season.
Edmed required treatment after being flattened by Finau but he dusted himself off and carried on.
Speaking on The Breakdown on Sunday night, Kirwan didn’t see what the fuss was about and labelled the social media storm as “ridiculous”.
“If that was rugby league it'd be on the highlights and everyone would be going ‘how good is it?’”
Jeff Wilson had no issues with the tackle on Edmed but admitted there was a risk to what Finau was doing.
On the occasion Finau misjudged the timing and caught a player late, Reds No 10 Tom Lynagh, he was penalised for it.
“I think he’s running a risk if he gets it slightly wrong and he has to live with those consequences,” Wilson said. “He knows this but if he gets it slightly wrong there will be consequences but I have no issues with what he’s doing right now.
“Yes he got penalised [against the Reds for being late] but ultimately the contact is legal and the technique is legal.
“If Australia had a big blindside flanker going out and doing this I don’t think we’d be hearing about this.”
Added Kirwan: “We’ve been talking about trying to get a new Jerome Kaino since he retired and this guy is going out there trying to be physical.
“I don’t think there’s any malice in it. He’s technically correct. He’s physical. Let’s celebrate it. It’s legal.”