Ranking the Biggest Hits in World Rugby for Weekend of January 1-3

This week's roundup includes a dubious challenge that went unpunished, a prime example of how much it can hurt to tackle a prop at full tilt and a cruncher from a centre on a hooker that proves size isn't everything. 

The mud is starting to slow players down as they charge toward their opponent, which is making clean, big hits harder to pull off, unless you are Steven Setephano, who timed this week's winner to perfection.

5. Charlie Matthews

Harlequins' Charlie Matthews escaped punishment for this hit on Worcester's Tom Heathcote despite the Worcester man being knocked out and an apparent lack of any meaningful use of the arms by the Quins lock as he attempted a charge-down.

It did not impress Warriors boss Dean Ryan per the Guardian:  

"If it was an outside back I’d say there was a fair chance he was challenging the kick-off but it was a second-row forward. He knocked the guy out, for heaven’s sake, while challenging a charge-down with his arms down by his side."

4. Francois Van Der Merwe

In their round up of the week's best tackles, the top brass at the Top 14 gave Dan Carter a mention for his tackle in the passage of play you can watch from 0:43.

But we rather think the handoff from Bordeaux Begles' Sekope Kepu that left his opponent Francois van der Merwe prone on the turf was more worthy of a mention in this ranking.

3. Camille Gerondeau

This is what you call a real effort from Clermont Auvergne No. 8 Camille Gerondeau (0:51).

He wrapped up Agen scrum-half Alexis Bales and smashed him to the the floor to cap a great afternoon's work that also saw him bag two tries.

2. Sam Tuitupou

Sam Tuitupou made his presence felt on Wasps hooker Ashley Johnson with a fearsome hit as the South African shipped the ball on in a move that ended with Wasps almost scoring a fine try

You don't mind taking one for the team if it ends in a five-pointer, but Johnson would have hauled himself off the turf only to see Rob Miller make a hash of the chance he had sacrificed himself to help create.

Hopefully, Miller bought him a beer.

1. Steven Setephano

Grenoble's Steven Setephano made a huge hit on Oyonnax scrum-half Fabien Cibray during his side's 42-17 demolition of the visitors. Check it out at 0:33 of this clip.

The big back-rower has been reared in the ways of Otago and Waikato rugby down in New Zealand, so he knows a thing or two about how to leave a mark on his man.