Ranking the Biggest Hits in World Rugby for Weekend of January 15-17

If your name is Bryan Habana, you might want to watch this week's collection from behind your sofa.

The Springbok World Cup winner has made a living out of his searing pace and finishing ability, but neither could help him when he was collared, twice, by Wasps' bruisers.

And so flyin' Bryan features heavily this week alongside a second row with an unorthodox tackling technique, a clash between team-mates and a big bosh in the act of scoring.

5. Mike Phillips and Antonie Claassen

Not so much a hit as a collision between team-mates.

Mike Phillips proved he has a head as hard as they come after meeting brows with his Racing 92 colleague Antonie Claassen (2:01)

The South African back rower came off second best and was flattened by the accident, with the Scarlets racing upfield to score a try while he lay on the deck wondering how his own scrum-half had just managed to floor him with an unintentional headbutt.

4. George Smith

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Wasps' former Australian flanker George Smith was sin-binned for a late shoulder on Toulon wing Bryan Habana during the champions' last-gasp win over the Coventry men.

Smith has been mooted as a possible sounding board to new England boss Eddie Jones, per the Telegraph.

Jones will not be seeking his advice on timing on this evidence.

3. Uwa Tawalo

Oyonnax heaped more misery on Toulouse's woeful European campaign with a 32-14 defeat, and their second try saw wing Uwa Tawalo also put a sizeable dent in Timoci Matanavou's pride. (0:46)

The 23-year-old raced on to a well-judged kick and beat the Fijian international to the ball before bumping the No. 11 off and unceremoniously dumping him on the seat of his shorts in the act of scoring.

Insult, injury, in your face.

2. Dom Barrow

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Leicester lock Dom Barrow executed what commentator Ben Kay described as the "Jacques Burger-patented face tackle" after using his features to bring down Treviso centre Alberto Scarbi.

The second rower couldn't move his head out of the way after Scarbi's last-second change of direction, so tackled him with it.

1. Ashley Johnson

Poor old Bryan Habana must have left a few Wasps players off his Christmas card list.

The South African was smashed again, this time by Wasps' Ashley Johnson, who hit him so hard he couldn't keep his arms around his countryman despite making the attempt with both limbs.

Habana hit the deck at such a pace that it looked illegal. Referee Nigel Owens checked it. It wasn't.