Former England loosehead prop Mako Vunipola showed off a new skill while in action for his French club Vannes during their Top 14 match against La Rochelle at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday.
The experienced front-row, who is more renowned for his ability in the forward exchanges, is in his first season with newly promoted Vannes after joining them from Saracens.
Vunipola ‘stole the show’
With the score deadlocked at 14-14, the 33-year-old stole the show in the 54th minute of the clash when he got involved in a game of aerial ping pong with France star Brice Dulin.
The La Rochelle full-back initially kicked the ball upfield and Vunipola showed a deft touch as he trapped it football style before gathering and then delivered a chip kick.
🤔 Mako Vunipola:
Prop ❌
Fly-half ✅pic.twitter.com/2MNLVXdjTy
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) December 2, 2024
Dulin collected the ball and eventually booted into touch but it was the ex-Red Rose star’s brilliant skill which caught the attention of the spectators in attendance.
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While the piece of skill is something which backline players do regularly, it’s seldom done by forwards, especially props, and one rugby fan said Vunipola was “channelling his inner Beauden Barrett”.
Shock victory for Vannes
While the match was evenly balanced at that stage, Vannes – who are currently languishing in bottom spot on the Top 14 table – went on to clinch a shock 23-14 triumph which was only their second win of the season.
The result is vital in their relegation battle and they have now amassed 11 points from nine matches played and are just three points adrift of second from bottom Stade Francais.
Meanwhile, La Rochelle are in third position – behind frontrunners Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles – but their defeat to Vannes received an angry reaction from their head coach Ronan O’Gara.
READ MORE: ‘We failed in every area’ – Ronan O’Gara in extraordinary rant after shock defeat as players and referee in the firing line
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