Los Pumas hooker Agustin Creevy got the front-row union off their seats this weekend with two magnificent bits of skill in quick succession.
In the past, 37-year-old hookers would be looking forward to retirement with the lure of putting up their feet and adding that extra 10 kilograms that the conditioning coaches insist they do not need.
But throughout his career, Creevy has always been different. Despite being a professional for over 16 years, he continues to develop his game and surprise us by revealing another weapon in his arsenal.
On Sunday, we found out that Creevy has an educated right foot!
Touch of class
29 minutes into London Irish’s home Premiership clash with Sale Sharks, the visitors had a lineout just inside the host’s 22.
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Hooker Ewan Ashman was able to find his jumper at the lineout, with Jonny Hill only able to palm the ball back onto his side of the pitch.
The ball went to the deck and challenging his inner Javier Mascherano, Creevy was quickest to react and intercept.
His superb first touch from inside his own half beat the rapid Tom O’Flaherty across the touchline, completing a wonderful 50:22.
In doing so, Creevy earned his side an attacking lineout inside the Sharks’ 22 and became the first Premiership forward to complete a 50:22 this season – another win for the front-row union.
Usually, these kind of antics would put Creevy’s membership under threat, but what happened next meant that he wouldn’t even face a review panel.
The hooker’s work had just begun after the kick, as he now had one of the most challenging jobs in the game, finding that jumper at the lineout.
As he has done his entire career, Creevy made it look so effortless with a glorious 15-metre dart to Rob Simmons.
The Exiles formed the maul and powered forward with Creevy in position at the back of it.
Experience has taught the veteran hooker that timing is everything, and after timing his one-touch wonder kick into the 22 perfectly, he was not going to waste this opportunity.
When the moment was right, he broke off with some help from his fellow front-rower Facundo Gigena to secure the five points.
Inspired performance
An inspiring two minutes of front-row filth from the Argentine spurred the Exiles to a 36-18 victory over the second-placed side in the Premiership.
His fellow countryman Lucio Cinti was next over the whitewash as they took a 22-10 lead into the interval.
Further scorers from Cinti and James Stokes sealed the win and boosted the Londoners’ hopes of securing a play-off spot.
It was another victory for the front-row union on the same weekend that long-time member Cian Healy flourished at hooker for Ireland in the Six Nations.
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