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Watch: Former Chiefs midfielder Johnny Fa'auli's colossal hit in Japan League One
By Sam Smith
Former Chiefs midfielder Johnny Fa’auli delivered a colossal hit while playing for Toshiba Brave Lupus in his side’s clash with the Osaka Red Hurricanes in the second round of Japan Rugby League One.
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The 26-year-old put the 119kg No 8 Lui Naeata, one of the most powerful runners in the league, on his backside when the two collided during a lineout play that sent Naeata up for a midfield crash.
Tongan-born Naeata, a member of the Japanese national squad last year, had been a try-scoring revelation for the Kobelco Steelers in recent seasons before joining the Red Hurricanes this year.
Fa’auli’s rush defence met Naeata with full force, but earned him a red card after his tackle was deemed to be dangerous with no arms. In a double-carding, Fa’auli’s teammate Warner Dearns was yellow-carded for a similar tackle on the very next phase.
Dearns took out a Red Hurricanes player after a pass with another no-arms tackle.
Fa’auli, who made 17 appearances for the Chiefs between 2017 and 2018, was caught up in similar circumstances during his time in Super Rugby. He famously put a similar tackle on Reds No 8 Caleb Timu but escaped on-field sanction for the tackle.
The Toshiba Brave Lupus were already in control of the game at the time of their double-carding, ahead by 32-16, and went on to win the match comfortably 35-16 in a disrupted round of League One which saw multiple games postponed.
Why are most Tongans (and Samoans) so reckless and dangerous in their tackles? Not long before they critically injure an opposition player.
Both have always specialised in coat-hangers, head highs, shoulder charges and a huge amount of knock-ons at critical stages of games.
For me, it all comes down to intelligence. They know what they're doing is wrong, they just don't care. And this is why they're a constant liability.
I'm all for physical play so long as it's legal. Tongans and Samoans have made a bad habit of crossing the line for the past 30 years. It's time they get penalised to the extent where this type of dangerous play is stamped out for good. Or they're forced to choose a different career path.
A collosal hit is relatively easy if you don't use your arms...