Wynne Gray's 50 greatest rugby moments: No.23

Brian Lima hits Bakkies Botha hard. Photo / Getty

Some players have a knack for dealing out legitimate punishment. Think Jerry Collins, Jerome Kaino and Brian Lima, men who made rivals a bit edgy with the weight and timing of their tackles.

Lima was a bit different, a wing who hit like a cement truck and created all sorts of fear across back divisions throughout the world. To suggest he hit with more force than other fierce Samoan teammates gave you some idea about his potent timing.

He earned the "Chiropractor' nickname from an early age and if anyone doubted his credentials, they needed to ask Springbok five-eighths Derrick Hougaard for a reference.

Lima played five World Cups, starting out in 1991 as a teenage sensation and while he slowed and moved into midfield in the latter stages of his career, his mastery on defence stayed undiminished.

In the 2003 tournament at Brisbane, Samoa played the Springboks who had the experienced Joost van der Westhuizen at halfback and teenager Hougaard outside him.

The Springboks were leading easily at the start of the final quarter as the senior man was meant to guide and look after his young teammate instead of giving him a hospital pass when he ran out of room.

When Hougaard reached up and juggled the awkward looping pass, Lima smeared him - legitimately - in the ribcage.

For some minutes the winded Hougaard did not move as he counted his ribs, tried to breathe and worked out whether he should continue. Eventually he carried on but he was ultra-cautious and spent the rest of the game kicking or passing.

Lima was relentlessly fearless often with consequences for his opponents although he occasionally suffered, like in one Super Rugby game for the Blues against Transvaal when he was KO'd tackling a visiting forward.

His fifth World Cup ended early when he was suspended for a high shot on Jonny Wilkinson but not before the legendary Michael Jones said he was "mentally the toughest man he had ever met".