George Smith Gives Panel A Lesson In Tackling During Disciplinary Hearing

The GOAT.

As far as rugby players go they don’t come much bigger and better than George Smith. The Wallabies legend is widely regarded as one of the best flankers to have ever graced the game, in a professional career that has spanned almost TWENTY years.

The 38-year-old is still playing at the highest level with Premiership side Bristol Bears and is without doubt one of the greatest rugby minds in the game today, especially when it comes to the breakdown.

England head coach Eddie Jones even brought him in last year on a consultancy basis to teach his players some poaching mastery, so it’s pretty safe to say – George Smith knows his sh*t.

So when he appeared before a Premiership Rugby panel yesterday following a controversial red card for a hit on Saracens’ Jackson Wray, Smith gave the committee a lesson in rugby.

While pleading his case, the Australian went as far as demonstrating the tackle, explaining why the position of the ball was so important, and how the tackle developed, resulting in a hit that looked a lot worse that it really was, and not worthy of a red.

“The player explained his actions in detail and assisted the panel by demonstrating how the tackle had been carried out. He demonstrated how the position of the ball was important as to how the tackle situation developed, as it created an effect whereby it caused Wray to bounce backwards in the collision.” Panel chair Gareth Graham said

“The panel concluded on the balance of probabilities that the initial contact did not involve any direct contact to the head of Jackson Wray. Wray was off-balance in the tackle and the force of the tackle and the effect of the ball being between the two players caused Wray’s head to ‘whip’ backwards.

How many players can say they went to a disciplinary hearing and ended up give the panel a few lessons in rugby? What an absolute legend. Hat-tip to Telegraph rugby writer Charlie Morgan for pointing this out.

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