Latham's Try - The best chip'n'chase ever?

[Nathan]

Well I was feeling a little down after the Crusaders win over the Canes, (not that deep down I didn't expect it to happen, but anyway) when on comes the next game - Reds vs Brumbies and in particular the first 22 seconds or so. I'll try and give a brief summary to those who haven't had the priviledge to see it for themselves yet.

Reds kick off at the start of the match in wet, squally conditions at Ballymore. It's a deep one to the right-hand corner from the Reds perspective. It's fielded pretty comfortably by a Brumbies back and he decides to kick it out. It doesn't go out though - in fact it goes straight to Chris Latham just behind halfway. The Brumbies backs come up in a straight line to meet him - probably expecting either an up-and-under or the conservative option of hitting the defence and setting up a ruck. Instead, this man does an absolutely perfect chipper of about 25 metres and runs straight through the defensive line. Ball bounces along a bit, so he hacks it foward brilliantly picking the wet ball up off his toes and dives over in the corner - unsurprisingly, that had the commentators in raptures.
The rest of the game was crap with the Brumbies eventually getting a lucky win 22-19 thanks to a couple of late missed penalties by Huxley.

But the try was absolutely magical. My question is, has there ever been a more remarkable solo chip'n'chase try in anyone's memory? I certainly can't think of one.

[Wobbly]

I can't remember any details, but I think Jeff Wilson managed one just as good every second game he played!

Ok, maybe not quite, but to me he was the master of the chip and chase.  He was always so balanced and calculated when he chipped.  A real natural.

Having said that, Latham's was bloody good, especially in the conditions.  The pickup and dive in for the try at the end was made to look easy, and it certainly wasn't.

Cheers,

Wobbly.