The Oyonnax tighthead gives us a worldy of a show-and-go
Is there anything in nature as beautiful as a prop dummy and then a bolt for the try-line? As majestic as it is terrifying, we all love to see it.
And at the weekend, during the ProD2 semi-finals, in a match-up between Bayonne and Oyonnax, Thomas Laclayat of USO gave us a special moment.
As the official ProD2 account said in their tweet abut the try, “After such a breakthrough some supporters must have wondered if this was a 13.” But no, everyone. It was a prop. A fantastic, flying prop.
Sadly for Oyo it was not enough as they lost out to Bayonne 32-20.
Related: A love letter to the crazy ProD2
In the other semi-final, Mont-de-Marsan defeated Never 26-15, securing a showdown with Bayonne to see who goes up directly into the Top14 – the loser will face one of Perpignan or Brive in a final play-off. The showdown next Sunday represents another fine day on the south-west of France’s rugby calendar. And these two were first and second in the league, so it’s a fitting finish to a fine league campaign.
Getting to a packed Jean Dauger to hear the Peña Baiona is definitely one for the bucket list
This was from the weekend's Pro D2 semi-final that Bayonne won against Oyonnaxpic.twitter.com/P5iM3cwfxF
— Paul Eddison (@pauleddison) May 30, 2022
Related: Thomas Gallo and the art of prop tries
But we came here to support the big fellas. And despite the loss, Laclayat gave us one of the tries of the ProD2 season – a hell of a feat in a league where anything can (and regularly does) happen.
We want your views – what’s the best prop dummy or long-range try from a front-rower you have ever seen in your life? Hit us up on social media with clips of your favourites, or you can send us in your thoughts at rugbyworldletters@futurenet.com
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