‘Picture perfect!’ – Vincent Koch leaves fans in awe with stunning 50:22
Fans celebrated the prop's stunning kick against Gloucester.
Vincent Koch left spectators in awe on Friday evening with a stunning 50:22 during the Challenge Cup final against Gloucester.
The tighthead prop was named Player of the Match after producing a superb scrummaging performance but it was his softer skills that also caught the eye.
Vincent Koch’s 50:22
With the Sharks looking to exit their 22, Grant Williams hung a box kick up, which Eben Etzebeth chased and competed for in the air.
His pressure meant that Gloucester full-back Santiago Carreras spilt the ball forward and Koch was quick to lash onto it.
Spotting the space in the backfield, Koch brilliantly dropped the ball onto his boot and executed a stupendous kick into the Gloucester 22, with the ball beating Jonny May to the touchline for a superb 50:22.
The Sharks were unable to capitalise on the resulting lineout but Koch’s kick was still hailed on social media.
“Vincent Koch, you gem. What a kick,” one onlooker wrote on X, formerly Twitter, with some labelling it “The best 50/22 you’ve ever seen”.
Another added: “Vincent Koch with one of the best executed 50:22’s you’ll see there. Picture perfect!”
“VINCENT KOCH 50/22 – FRONT ROW MEMBERSHIP OFFICIALLY CANCELLED,” Tight Five Rugby added.
Eben Etzebeth reveals where Challenge Cup win ranks in his long list of accolades
His efforts also had many wondering whether another prop had executed a 50:22 before.
“I know hookers Theo Dan, Shane Delahunt, Agustin Creevy, JJ Kotze, Maxime Lamothe and Rhys Marshall have all put in 50:22 kicks. But not seen one from a prop before. Vincent Koch is some player,” Simon Thomas wrote.
The prop also provided an assist before executing the 50:22 and shone in the scrums, earning the Player of the Match as he added yet another title to his tally after winning two Premiership and two Champions Cup trophies with Saracens.
Special victory
He also won two World Cups and a British and Irish Lions series with the Springboks.
“This [trophy] is probably the most special for me,” Koch said after the match.
“Being in South Africa and playing for a South African team, haven’t won any trophies in South Africa so being with the Sharks, first year back is unbelievable.”
The Sharks went on to claim a 36-22 victory over Gloucester to become the first South African team to win an EPCR trophy.
It also means that they qualify for the Champions Cup next season despite a poor URC season that has seen them win just four of their 17 regular season matches.
