The most brutal match in professional rugby history

This video shows one of the most brutal and violent matches that professional rugby has ever seen: the second test between the Springboks and Lions in 2009. It might not compare to the violent nature of the old amateur internationals but this has to be one of the most brutal games in rugby history. The collisions were immense and both teams desperately wanted to win.
Contact Details:
Email: [e-mail]
Instagram: @rugby_manual - rugby_manual
Disclaimer:
I must state that in NO way, shape or form am I intending to infringe on the rights of the copyright holder. Content used is strictly for research/reviewing purposes and to help educate. All under the Fair Use law. If you are the owner of the footage please contact me using the above information and I will be happy to delete the video.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use."

[@oshatlarge3870]

Truth is, Ref was absolutely awful, the amount of high tackles, this is life changing sort of stuff, there is a good reason why TMO's were introduced. And if you truly believe that changed the game for the worse than you actively neglect the well being of others

[@moosesnWoop]

No, it was just a time when rugby was way more aggressive with the likes of Bakkies and Burger among others. I mean, eye gouging at the :30 second mark.. lmao

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

Yea TMO changed rugby for the better not sure why Football didn't just copy paste TMO for VAR Anyway now I've heard a new yellow card red card rule is coming into world cup so If you get a yellow card yea 10 minute sin bin fair enough but during that 10 minutes it will be reviewed to see if it should be upgraded to a red card And if you get a red card next 10 minutes that will be reviewed to see if it around be downgraded to a yellow Honestly excited by that rule idea

[@thinkbig3384]

It was RFU at that time. I was playing stand off for my regiment at this time and it was brutal however, you expected it and took it, and "take him out before he takes you out" was very much the attitude

[@mpumelelobeyers957]

Nah.. You '1st world country ' people soft tbh

[@wernererasmus2334]

You can't compare it. Different era. Different rules

[@jksinorbit]

Epic series...the Lions fans were good tourists too, joining in with the festivities after every match. They are welcome back anytime!

[@EC23_10]

Such a shame the last South African Lions tour was during Covid so it's so long until the next one!

[@SMacCuUladh]

isn't SA a bit dangerous these days?

[@fredperry523]

​@@SMacCuUladh About as dangerous as London on a good day and a Bradford riot on a bad day.

[@brizzibutch]

"touch, touch, no try" … ref blows a try 😂

[@speleokeir]

Eye gouging is a clear red card offense and Schalk Burger should have been sent off. The only reason he wasn't is that it was only 30 secs into the game and the ref didn't want to ruin the contest. Like most fans I want to see a competitive match between two sides with 15 men on the pitch, but he really should have gone there's no question of that. However would we have had such an epic contest if he had?

[@steveevesson4867]

Every brutal game I've seen seems to involve south Africa eye gouging shoul be a life ban

[@damirhlobik6488]

The Springboks have a new admirer who is not a rugby fan at all, greetings from Croatia

[@robinwilliams9640]

That was the peak of rugby the game was professional and high quality but you could still have a fight and no tmo every 2 minutes.

[@Rodney0Brown]

The Brutal Natural instinctive & pure thrust of raw energy laid out for all to see. welcome to the Circus Maximus of the Modern Era...."Are You Entertianed?"😮

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Nah no fights in 2011. Maybe 1985

[@liambirch6333]

Facts, it was a merger between the clinical professional game we have now and the rough around the edges armature game from tha past, it was peak combination

[@offbrandsoup2579]

But you could get away with eye gouging and punching your opponent in the groin 🤦‍♂️

[@rhubarbtart]

2011?? This series was played in 2009.... ​@@Wolf-hh4rv

[@mauroger86]

"thats a great play from odrisscoll" says the commentator after he literally almost KOs a player by a tackle with no wrap?

[@davidlalor9464]

That commentator is still ruining games with his lake of knowledge on Sport . They have LOADS of these frauds commentating on SPORT . In Ireland, England ( England have the WORST commentators in the World ) Ireland a close 2nd . They all broke and WOKE .

[@gert_vC]

I have rewatched clips of this game many times over the years and I still can't believe the commentators said that's great play

[@geo_brooknor2785]

@@davidlalor9464I’d argue the Welsh have the worst commentators due to their constant bias but it could go to any of the home nations

[@davidlalor9464]

@@geo_brooknor2785 Im not going to back any commentator up here . They are helping ruin all Sport's .The only one that waz good was the late Great Bill McLaren . The rest put on fake voices , talk over the referee , didnt mind listening to Jonathon JIFFY Davies . He used to tell the COMMENTATOR to stay quiet while the ref is explaining . Now he talks over them . The refs ???? Who is employong these frauds ???

[@robertpirsig5011]

Not sure if those rules were implemented at the time. O Driscoll almost got knocked out himself. It was an accidental clash of heads.

[@mattie372]

Happy to say i was there. Great match, great memories.

[@aidanmasterson50]

As an Irishman, I enjoyed this tour and especially this game. Outside the physicality of it there was some super rugby but for me the most brutal match I seen was the .2002 Springbok v England match. It was pure filth with England playing all the rugby.

[@andrewbooth1420]

I love being a South African when it comes to rugby. No matter how many times they change the rules, the refs, or the venue, we find a way to win. We earn our respect, we don't sell our souls to the highest bidder.

[@jacqloock]

Underrated Lions team - best of the professional era IMHO

[@declanmccabe9063]

Just got their 1st test team selection all wrong. Whatever they saw in Lee Mears. Between that series and the 01 series they should have been the Lions.

[@jacqloock]

@@declanmccabe9063 To be fair they came up against probably one of the best Bok teams ever, albeit utterly uncoached. If that Bok pack were coached by Rassie or anyone marginally competent (say, McGeechan, oof) they could’ve rivaled ca 2015 ABs or ‘74 Lions for best ever. Beat the ABs thrice that year and much less squeaky than either of the Lions wins. Robertson & O’Driscoll best center combo I ever saw and I submit that Kearney in 2nd Test best individual performance OAT. I’m a Saffa, BTW, and not wont to compliment Britishers but we’ll laud heroic hypermasculinity wherever we can find it in this post-civilizational hellscape.

[@paulcostello1807]

@@jacqloock it was the greatest lions series it had the lot. And yes the world has lost the plot 😢

[@gymfan7924]

My favourite match ever, the intensity and physicality was unreal

[@LukeMitchley]

That was one hell pf a game!

[@ZZKe7]

I had forgotten Fourie was in touch for that try

[@ljtheman7875]

Wasn't in touch laddie

[@jacqueshughes3085]

He wasn't.

[@JonSmith-uu7go]

Rubbish - he was well out, the replay showed it crystal clear, wasn’t even close to being not out but the ref and linesmen bottled everything that day

[@NasinuWarrior85]

This was the dream SA team that won the 2007 RWC. Almost lost to the Flying Fijians in that epic QFs match.

[@ryanwaugh1]

Yes the same one that won the world cup and beat England 36-0 in the pool stage. Same one that dominated the 2009 rugby championship too

[@NasinuWarrior85]

@@chris5240 that's a joke right? Which team doesn't play their first team in a RWC QFs? All the big names were in that Blitz Bokke team

[@user-ii5cw9pf3v]

blitz bokke is the name of our 7 s team @@NasinuWarrior85

[@CraigChadderton-kc7ed]

No red card for eye gouging. Great ref

[@RugbyManual]

One of the most exhilarating and brutal rugby matches of all time 0:30 20 seconds into the game Schalk Burger gouged Luke Fitzgerald's eye This was spotted by the linesman and Burger was given just a yellow card for the offence 1:17 Brian O'Driscoll exchanged shoves with Victor Matfield which provoked both sides 3:19 Rob Kearney was taken out late Bakkies Botha told Mike Phillips he had "sexy blue eyes" The second half was even more brutal Mike Phillips questioned the South African forwards as to if they were on steroids 3:48 Botha cleaned out Adam Jones from a ruck dislocating his shoulder 4:14 He then tried to wind up his replacement Andrew Sheridan 4:55 Sheridan caught Andries Bekker with a low blow in a maul (missed by the officials) 5:12 Pierre Spies charged at the Lions' defence sending Jamie Roberts flying 5:18 Brian O'Driscoll blindsided Danie Roussow knocking him out and concussing himself in the process O'Driscoll played a few more minutes and was replaced by Ronan O'Gara 6:22 On another charge from Pierre Spies, he knocked out O'Gara who then missed a crucial tackle on Jaque Fourie 7:14 Shane Williams on the counter-attack was smashed by Heinrich Brussow Hope you enjoyed the video!

[@federicosuarez6832]

Make a pause at 1:33 Juan smit and bakkies botha Against 9 of them. This guys were asasins

[@dhall5785]

They’re scum

[@msg1711]

Boo Hoo. 😭

[@rhubarbtart]

Cheers bro for that summary, good work!!

[@Slappies007]

One of the best comebacks from South Africa.

[@nadiaswann7043]

One hell of a fight for 1 point. Must be the best, if its that close!

[@Lockdown335]

Helps if you injure and KO half the team your playing.....

[@jep1912]

Geech coached me at Fir Tree Middle School. Greatest inspiration in my life.

[@rhubarbtart]

O'Driscoll doing some kind of weak Mike Tyson impression near was brilliant. That skirmish seemed to set the tone. The battle began right there.

[@Rodney0Brown]

Pure Barbaric Ruthlessness Unleashed from the Fires of Pure Hell itself.😮

[@seansyddall7950]

The kick to win 😮

[@peteharry351]

How can eye gouging be a yellow?

[@partyguinness]

Yeah I remember that 2nd test very well…it was pretty brutal.

[@mazambane286]

The game which proved Sheridan was not the prop he fondly thought he was.

[@nadiaswann7043]

He was. Just not against these boytjies!

[@Rodney0Brown]

That Ground looks to Well Kept & Manicured, Your Not playing Pure Rugby unless its on Hard Thick as Concrete Dirt.

[@mazambane286]

@@Rodney0Brown The international stadiums have to meet international standards and requirements in order to accommodate the northern hemisphere softies.

[@Rodney0Brown]

@@mazambane286 Spot on Mate.

[@daaichommie708]

@@Rodney0Brown Agreed. In fact I'd go so far as to say that a fitting punishment for any criminal should be to play 60 mins of rugby against Grey Bloem in mid winter. That was the longest and most painful experience of my sporting life.

[@user-gd1bo8vv5o]

5:13 bru thats the biggest bounce i ever saw😂😂😂

[@philipkeeling8647]

This was one of the best SA teams I've ever seen.

[@marcelogomez9974]

Excelente partidooo

[@wernererasmus2334]

A different era in rugby. One can't compare. Back in the day shoulder charges wasn't only legal, it was considered a good tackle.

[@oldtighthead2459]

And twelve years later Steyn broke the lion's hearts for a second time ....rumor has it he will be up for selection in 2033

[@nadiaswann7043]

Yip, I agree. But please not in 2033. Thats a bit spiteful.

[@ljtheman7875]

@@nadiaswann7043 that's a joke in 2033 man 🤣

[@fuzzynut1991]

o'gara was hated for that,only made a cameo and killed the game

[@ptgigg]

I always thought O’Gara was overrated. Bloke from NSW dealt with him (albeit he got sent off for it) but O’Gara looked like he wanted his mummy after it.

[@Nieljoyceniel]

@@ptgiggyou are definitely a tan😂 o gara had more bollocks than any of your team. Imagine praising that rat for “dealing with him” when he went for him on the ground like a 🐈, suppose that’s how you lot fight😂

[@brucejp1]

@@ptgigg you know nothing about rugby you clown.

[@johnryan2636]

Roy’s tacking was never his strongest suit , Tommy Bowe should of made the tackle on the winger but got sucked in , Rog was right to kick in the air rather than touch , No rugby player would ever settle for a draw , you go out to win

[@fuzzynut1991]

@@johnryan2636 his run to make the tackle was so lazy though for a fresh player

[@chrisvernon5175]

Burger should have got a red and banned for life.

[@patrickfranke3819]

Quite right, if this was a game of croquet that would be the punishment however..........

[@morrisanderson818]

Come on now there's been at least 5 most brutal Rugby match video's now

[@ianmartin1947]

Can south Africa play a game without playing dirty?

[@ljtheman7875]

Yes , you are just bitter

[@ianmartin1947]

Yes I am better thank you 😂

[@ljtheman7875]

@@ianmartin1947 No it looks as if you're still bitter

[@ianmartin1947]

Yep still better thank you 😘

[@ljtheman7875]

@@ianmartin1947 surely not with that attitude

[@johnmanning5568]

I have now seen over 20 videos where the title of the video is “most brutal rugby match EVER!!”.

[@business3867]

This is the actual one though.

[@johnmanning5568]

@@business3867 if the Lions and the animalistic South Africans are involved then there’s a pretty good chance!

[@moosesnWoop]

saw that scrum cap and knew it had to be Heinreich Brusouw

[@kitsch570]

Only 3 English players in this squad! May as well have been Ireland and Wales' tour of SA

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Quarter -final 2011 SA v Aus, the most controversial. Ref simply cancelled the ‘hands in the ruck’ rule.

[@tonycampbell1010]

Burger should have had a red and a very long ban. Disgraceful.

[@JonSmith-uu7go]

That Fourie try that was foot in touch and given - ridiculous

[@jameswyatt4443]

“The Lions have got the Springboks rattled” I think you’ve got that the wrong way round.

[@thomasvanaardt9707]

Wow what a crazy game....why we love the british and irish lions here in sa

[@Mr1in1000000]

The wing score's the try, the British want to cry horaah horaah!!🇿🇦

[@leewilliams2763]

By this series, we were 2 x RWC title holders but we still hadn't recovered from the 97 B & I Lions loss! So this sweet revenge for the Boks! This was a hugely competitive Lions series, a great Lions squad, unfortunately, they ran into a Bok team that had just peaked! We whitewashed the ABs after this series!

[@FireBladeTCO]

Lol, gotta love british commentators :D Small things SA do - "WOW!, not on"... but then O'Driscol runs head to head into Danie Russouw which would SURELY be a red card today - what do they say? "What a hit! The perfect tackle to inspire your team" :D :D :D - Just as one sided as their press always are.

[@jeremychandler3569]

I was thinking this as well. The Brit press also always like to say the South Africans are unfit LOL. The can't understand how such big men can be fit in the same way they just couldn't comprehend how a group of farmers could keep the most powerful army in the world busy for 3 years..... and often make them look very un army like!

[@samclegg6998]

They didn’t say that though did they? They said it had no arms and was likely illegal, which it was And said that it was the kind of tackle that would inspire your team, which it did I think you might live in make believe land

[@FireBladeTCO]

@@samclegg6998 you literally just said that they said it as well 🤣🤣... No matter how you try and twist the words, (just like British press does) it was still said 🤣

[@davidlalor9464]

Im from Munster . No i don't love the British commentators . The Irish commentators are worse . You can hear it in there VOICES . THEY know nothing about Sport. Fake voices and STILL they employ them . I used to listen to the matches on a South African and New Zealand channel .the punditry is PATHETIC . The 2019 World Cup . They. Nearly said England hsd just to turn up . I put me last 15 quid on South Africa to win . Anyone that knew anything knew the pundits were psid of ,,,, or do NOT have a clue . The refs and the offield refs will cause HAVOC in the World CUP 2023 . I hope's im wrong .

[@nigeljones8727]

Strange how nothing said that the Boks should have played with 14 men after Burger thought he was an otologist. Straight red for gouging

[@britishandirishlionsrugby7697]

Went to this game, apart from the result it was incredible.

[@SteveStella-gv5gl]

SA lucky. Clearly outplayed by the Lions.

[@Croft_Gundogs]

When are we going to ban South Africa from playing international rugby? Nothing but dirt

[@lucadean2055]

hell of a game

[@davidbeckett1565]

If the same game was played today, each team would probably finish with ~12 players with 4 or 5 red cards and someone always in the sin bin

[@jeremyreboul3429]

Je suis Français et j'ai adoré ce match. Un très grand combat entre les Sud Africains et les joueurs de la Grande Bretagne. Merveilleux duel , terrible intensité. Le top ❤

[@SK-tc2sf]

And Ireland

[@ostricks1983]

So glad the Boks beat them in this and the last tour!!

[@davesmith1457]

Every now and again they show a bit of rugby.

[@88ceaton]

You just know that try by Fourie haunts the poms not just because of skill but power as well

[@simondeaville6624]

You do know that it's the Lions playing?

[@edr001]

73 min it's o"gara time ❤🖤

[@izakroodt08]

Where did they find the commentators?

[@Hereford1642]

Never mind, AI is coming.

[@alanpartridge1385]

Great game but hardly the most brutal in rugby history. I've played in grassroots games that have descended into 30 man brawls; pretty common not so long back.

[@erniescullion8452]

Yeah I know. As long your giving as good as getting then it's ok. SpringBoks dont like getting it but want to dish ot out . That's what ALWAYS PUT ME OFF THEM

[@chrisgopsill3961]

I played my 30 years of the game in the amateur period and there was nothing like it!!! Refs missed most everything and what they saw was a ticking off. I was a blind side and loved leting my opposing flanker know I was on the pitch, within 5 mins I had him flat out and "tickling" him!!! Loved it, it but today, its a joke, @@erniescullion8452

[@sambog2635]

eye gouging, high tackles, dirty play by boks, again......

[@sachinbangaru737]

Best match ever

[@derekwalsh1315]

When does the brutality start or what am I missing?

[@spinynormanbest6410]

A brain

[@rh5466]

Does anyone know why O'Gara did that?

[@stevenfennell7020]

He`s a prick?

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

Concussion

[@marcelpatulacci2757]

The ref was Ben O'Keefe ?

[@user-kz1sx8oh8v]

Bakkies Botha should have been banned for the take out on Adam Jones, clearly rargetted his charge to break his shoulder. . A cowardly cheap shot.

[@lcoconstruction2660]

Corrupt video ref, his foot was clearly in touch!

[@derekallan1341]

you must be cross eyed and part of the clan that england scored that try in 2007. You people make me laugh

[@jacqueshughes3085]

O'Driscoll and Burger would have been red carded in the modern TMO game.

[@dhirshg]

Greatest test of all time?

[@anthonynorman1212]

Best Center of the 2000 decade - Jaques Fourie 06:27

[@jintsfan]

O’Gara ? did he have his hands in his pockets ?

[@malcolmaston8886]

Talk about one eyed commentary

[@lcoconstruction2660]

Appalling referring, foot clearly in touch, and eye gouging in a RED card, high tackles and dirty play by the Boks as usual!

[@ljtheman7875]

Ah look an anti Southern hemisphere rugby fan

[@lcoconstruction2660]

@@ljtheman7875 So sad to hear you have impaired vision!

[@KekeHimona]

@@ljtheman7875Don’t involve NZL, Argentina or Australia in the comment. South Africa played bully thug rugby back then. Many should have had permanent bans from the sport

[@paulwoolerton664]

The 99 tour was a lot rougher.

[@yvelf]

FUCKING BEAUTIFUL GAME!!!

[@Rodney0Brown]

For Supreme Purity at its Highest Level, That even the Gods themselves would gasp in awe & wonder. No one Rugby loving purist of any Nation, can muster the will, strength, power, durability, consistancy, wonder & beauty & not to forget pride, than those Sheep loving, Kiwi's. Can i Get an Amen in the House.😅

[@christopherlynch4347]

Well Ogara fecked that up

[@Jordskotts]

Imagine 2024 refereeing and TMO for this game. How many reds, do you reckon?

[@CevaQ]

The Boks sent 5 Lions players to hospital that day. The way they played was a beautiful thing to behold.

[@Geoffdam123]

Cheats.

[@prudeuncle]

​@@Geoffdam123sure pal

[@nigeljones8727]

@@prudeuncle So gouging is ok?

[@prudeuncle]

@@nigeljones8727 gouging isn't really cheating it's more foul play. And as for foul play both teams expressed that on the field that day. I love how many anti SA fans there are round the world as it's a clear sign we are doing something right. Can guarantee you lot wouldn't cry as much if we weren't beating your teams on the regular.

[@chuck9960]

juice boks have no respect in rugby. Go Abs!

[@ducati916SPS]

When the Lions arrive....there's going to be blood!!!! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@Stefaans007]

1:46 "The Lions has South Africa rattled" O'Driscoll pushed and shoved and immediately retaliated 😂 Physically this SA team was one the most powerful Springbok teams of all time! No one came close to rattling them in 2009!

[@pricejoss]

Not just the most powerful Boks team of all time, one of the most powerful teams of any nation in history. SA were unreal during this period. Totally ferocious. No wonder so many players from this era are suffering with early onset dementia. It was a war.

[@Garrett1240]

@@pricejoss Who is suffering from dementia?

[@pricejoss]

@@Garrett1240 Steve Thompson, Alix Poppham, Ryan Jones to name a few, plus the substantial legal case being brought against the RFU for failing to protect players. Or is your comment inferring that rugby related concussions aren’t a cause of early onset dementia?

[@dunlaoghaire]

O'Gara. A very ordinary player.... Literally lost the match single handedly

[@jep1912]

For all the plaudits he gets Ronan O’Gara really fooked that series for us, never forget that.

[@trevorbeacom6187]

He was concussed and shouldn't have been on the pitch

[@business3867]

He had just got absolutely obliterated by one of the most powerful and fast forwards SA have ever produced and then by Jaque Fourie again. You start playing dumb after that.

[@kurtpunchesthings2411]

I know it's been said here but ffs he had a fucking concussion the fact he could even stand at that point was nothing short of a miracle

[@Lockdown335]

The reffing is unbelievably bad lol

[@tommcglone2867]

If this were played today there would be 5 or 6 red cards at least. Different era. Different level. When stepping onto the pitch was when you as player went to war.

[@mr.t30]

A shame The Lions lost to the cheating (dirty bastards) South Africans... The ref should have been sacked after that game. I am all for a good battle no matter who is playing, but that game was not judged correctly.

[@ljtheman7875]

Dirty cheaters stop being a little baby .

[@mr.t30]

@@ljtheman7875 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ljtheman7875]

@@mr.t30 you are being a baby . It's false information you're giving here

[@mr.t30]

@ljtheman7875 i think you need a dictionary due to your lack of informative writing skills....

[@ljtheman7875]

@@mr.t30 btw springboks have one of the best discipline in the world cup so you are telling lies

[@tommyers2183]

Rather loose every game than be a saffer

[@bradders5974]

good.....but nothing like the 97 tour......

[@camelo1495]

Lions played the wallabies previously and same dirty game from the lions....

[@joshfullerton283]

O'Gara...

[@timobrown4907]

Commentators are so biased

[@davidlalor9464]

Commentators up here are ruining Sport's . Iv to go online to watch and listen to a MATCH. These tool's are still employed by itv , bbc , ch 4 .

[@Psk678]

so many high tackles ????? Ref needs glasses ???

[@richardsculley67]

See the standard of officiating hasn’t improved

[@arbsven]

The commentary hasn't improved with age

[@UK-ScOpE]

loved a good scrap in rugby, scrum down sneaky violent digs to get that natural testosterone out, it should be legal ingame and controlled. love to of been there.

[@partyguinness]

SA would have finished that game with 10 players in 2023…😂

[@cbarclay99]

10 minutes in the sin bin for trying to blind someone?

[@joewayper3568]

It's no state of origin, but for Union, it's not bad 😂......

[@djelalniyazi4090]

i want the lions to win all the time🦁

[@Lockdown335]

4:24 Ahhh so he did deserve to get knocked out later ahahaha

[@rohp1283]

A Brit taking on Bakkies lol

[@tonycampbell1010]

#DB

[@garethtichauer5153]

The arrogance from the Brits, even in commentary. So good watching them lose

[@ljtheman7875]

Yeah , they are sore losers some of them

[@garayjoseignacio]

bastante exagerado el titulo del video