Ranking the Biggest Hits in World Rugby for Weekend of January 8-10

A weekend cocktail of league and European action saw plenty at stake as we plough on through the January mud and rain.

This week's collection of collisions brings us some borderline challenges, a big hit from a bulldozer who has been away too long and, to top the lot, a bone-shuddering bump-off that shows why it might not always be a good idea for a scrum-half to try to take down a No. 8 travelling at full tilt.

5. James Horwill

There was much debate about the punishment handed to James Horwill for his swinging arm that knocked out Saracens' George Kruis (0:13).

The ex-Wallaby skipper was given a yellow card for this, which prompted Saracens boss Mark McCall to say, per the Guardian: "I don't know when a yellow becomes a red. For us to lose George Kruis in the first minute to a swinging arm...I don't know where the boundaries are."

4. Marco Mama

Worcester's Marco Mama's hit on Frank Halai (0:31) was reviewed by the officials after play had continued in the buildup to Cooper Vuna's try.

But the Warriors man was given the all-clear for this hard, legal dump tackle on the New Zealander, who may have had some training time devoted to his body angles this week.

3. Leone Nakarawa

Glasgow's Fijian lock Leone Nakarawa was outstanding in a losing cause, as the Pro 12 champions went down to Racing 92.

The big man from the Pacific island did not go quietly into the Parisian dusk, however, scoring a try for himself and landing this shot on Henry Chavancy (1:01), whose line off his wing was read like a book by the Glasgow defenders.

2. Manu Tuilagi

Manu Tuilagi made his long-awaited return to action as a replacement in Leicester's win over local rivals Northampton.

And the England man showed that his strength remains one of his biggest weapons when he stopped Red Rose colleague Courtney Lawes in his tracks as the lock went for the line.

A pleasing sight for all Tigers and England fans alike.

1. Billy Vunipola

A human dump truck was how Billy Vunipola was described in commentary after barrelling through Danny Care for a try. (1:08)

The Saracens No. 8 uses the Harlequins scrum-half as little more than a human speed bump after breaking off the back of a scrum, and he ploughed on and over the line for a score that, ultimately, wasn't enough to beat Quins.