By Zolton
July 31st 2007 @ 12:31am
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Roar tip: the most cheered 'Roar of the crowd' article each day goes to the top middle column of the homepage. So cheer articles you like and keep the best floating to the top.
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Classic RWC match
With the RWC just around the corner, we thought it would be fun to look back during the next few weeks at some of the classic matches seen at the World Cup over the years. This video contains highlights from the France versus New Zealand semi-final encounter played at Twickenham, England in 1999. We’d love to hear your recollections of this match.
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swifty said | July 31st 2007 @ 12:46am | Report comment
I remember hearing the result on the radio on the way to work the next day and assuming that the newsreader got it round the wrong way. i had never even considered that france might win. only saw the whole game a few years later.
Matt Rowley said | July 31st 2007 @ 1:14am | Report comment
I had the privilege of being at this game - the most amazing game of rugby in terms of a crowd lifting a team that I’ve ever seen. All of the neutrals got behind France - even the English.
What’s interesting watching this again is that the AB strengths and weaknesses, and thus the game plan to beat them, hasn’t changed all that much. I’d forgotten what a good AB team it was that lost this game by such a margin.
Monty String said | July 31st 2007 @ 8:15am | Report comment
Jonah looks like he’s playing against a bunch of high schoolers. It’s not just his height and weight, it’s his speed and his lateral movement. His poor health was a huge loss to NZ and world rugby. Had he stayed healthy, he would’ve rewritten the record books as a winger, and probably could have been great as a converted No 8 when he lost a step. And oh, don’t the Kiwis wish they had somebody as good as Jeff Wilson at 15 this year.
Incidentally, Domenici made the current French squad. He’s still a flyer.
Jerry said | July 31st 2007 @ 8:24am | Report comment
Ahh, what I remember about this game was that I woke up at 3 in the morning and then went to bed really annoyed and had to wake up at 9am for an exam for my law degree. Not the best preparation.
Matt said | July 31st 2007 @ 10:40am | Report comment
My recollection of the game was waiting for the All Blacks to deliver the killer blow but it never coming…It was looking ridiculously easy for a time then something snapped…
The French just got better and if there was ever a more graphic illustration of the French at their irresistable best this is surely it (actually bracket that with the ‘87 semi as well).
I guess this game show how a form team can have an off day (or a off half hour) and lose a seemingly unloseable match and the cup. No matter how well you think you’re going it any team can jump out of the ground and surprise you.
I was actually talking to Marty Roebuck the other day about the ‘91 quarter final against Ireland. I commented that my memories were that we were cruising but Ireland just managed to keep within range and then the Hamilton try came and our world turned upside down. Just another illustration of hour a seemingly safe game can go wrong…
Paul W said | July 31st 2007 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Oh great stuff, on the eve of the latest campaign to win a trophy that’s eluded NZ for 20 years, lets rewatch this game and perhaps the 1991 and 2003 losses to the Wallabies or the loss to the ‘boks in ‘95! I’d rather just pull my toenails out with a jackhammer thanks…
http://backin15.blogspot.com/2006/11/best-team-one-year-out.html
Stu said | July 31st 2007 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
I’d forgotten just how devastating Jonah Lomu could be! What a powehouse! He was like a bowling ball running down the left win in the 95 semi versus England and in this one - It is a real shame that he got so ill.
I remember in the mid-late 90’s the big question in the bledisloe matches was always how can we stop Lomu.
Jason said | July 31st 2007 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
I went to the first semi the day before with my Australian ex-wife. We were bigging it up at the end saying “See you guys in the final” to her because it was a foregone conclusion, wasn’t it? Let me tell you, it was like a funeral after the All Blacks loss. I was so gutted I just walked back from Twickenham to the tube in Richmond so I didn’t have to talk to anybody (about an 1 hour in the October cold). The next day I stood at the tube on the way to work and thought “If I jump in front of this train it wouldn’t matter” It was the lowest point of my life…
The worst was going to see the All Blacks playing in Dublin the next year. All of a sudden they were behind again and I thought “No way, don’t do this to me” Thank goodness they got a spine and pulled through.
It is tragic I know, but as a Kiwi (especially living away from NZ) the All Blacks take an importance all out of proportion to what a sports team should.
mcxd said | July 31st 2007 @ 6:10pm | Report comment
Cant tell you much about the pain of that All black loss, im a Wallabies fan, but i will say the one thing that was devastating was Jonah Lomu running with the ball in hand !
Chris Beck said | August 1st 2007 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
With Lomu in that sort of form, how did they ever manage to lose a match? Just get him the ball. Anywhere. Holy mackerel.
He’d have been something to watch had he ever played in the NFL.
Sam Taulelei said | August 1st 2007 @ 1:36pm | Report comment
I remember watching it live at 3am in the morning and thinking at halftime that the All Blacks had it in the bag and then watching in amazement the French turnaround.
I was shattered that we had lost the game but still enjoyed the rugby played by the French, it was one of those moments that encapsulates all that is good about French rugby and leaves you wondering why they can’t play like that all the time. Must be that Gallic temperament.
One lasting memory I do have of that game is the sight of Jonah waiting on the ground to congratulate the French players after the game when the rest of his team had already left for the changing rooms. Jonah was pure class that day both on and off the field.
Matt said | August 1st 2007 @ 1:46pm | Report comment
Here, here Sam…
I remember that as well and actually wrote a letter to the NZRU commending Jonah for his sportsmanship.
What a champion he was…Just about the perfect rugby player. I kind of hope he doesn’t make a comeback because he’ll never be able to live up to what he was…Why mess with perfection.
Sam Taulelei said | August 1st 2007 @ 2:01pm | Report comment
Couldn’t agree with you more and he was my next door neighbour for three years when I was living in Wellington, top bloke and top car!!!
Matt said | August 1st 2007 @ 2:45pm | Report comment
I taped the game and watched it over and over…not because I enjoyed watching the All Blacks get beat but just because of the nature of the game. It was so frantic and the drama as the tide was turning was unforgettable.
Spiro…Could you make the next game featured the Australia v Ireland and I’ll see if I can get Marty Roebuck to log on and give us his thoughts???
Sam Taulelei said | August 1st 2007 @ 3:12pm | Report comment
If we can request RWC games to be featured can I ask for highlights from Samoa v England 2003, in my mind the best game from the last world cup and Brian Lima’s tackle on Derrick Hougaard.
It’s amazing that the chiropractor will be playing at his fifth world cup and it’s a feat that will be hard to equal and never bettered.
Matt said | August 1st 2007 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
Yeah,
Lima scares me…the nickname says it all. Maybe the Wales v Western Samoa from ‘91 where Apollo Perilini and Junior Paramore went beserk and busted a couple of Welshmen.
We had the misfortune of being pooled with a team containing Frank Bunce, Lolani Coco, Apollo Perilini, Pat Lam and Michael Jones at the Hawaiaan Harlequins 7’s in ‘92. They beat us 75-5. We were the first team to score a try against them in the tournament…they ended up playing the US Eagles in the final and gave them an absolute @rse whipping. I can still remember seeing Jones and Perilini up close and thinking “How are we going to stop that?”
That game you were talking about in 2003 was a hell of a game…
Mart said | August 1st 2007 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
I was at this game and the semi the day before. Agree with the previous comment that the entire crowd, expecting a NZ easy win, got behind the French in the 2nd half (even us Poms). Nothing against NZ but simply underdog day and enjoyment of the way the French play their rugby (or did back then). Great atmosphere, far surpassing that of the previous day which was a cliffhanger game.. This is probably the best live game I’ve seen along with the the 2000 Bledisloe in Sydney, the Eng / Samoa game at the last RWC and all of the Aus / Lions 2000 series. You don’t really care who wins (well, sort of) when rugby’s that thrilling. Sadly the game has become so sterile I wonder if we’ll see such games at the upcoming RWC ? I truly hope so…..here’s to (at least) France / Ireland and Eng / Boks being crackers in the opening round.
Stu said | August 1st 2007 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
You mention some great games Matt - I agree but would like to add the ‘97 Trinations between SA and the AB in SA, the 1998 Bledisloe in NZ, the Welsh Pool Match against the ABs in 03 and the Welsh Qtr against England (but just the first half)
Sam Taulelei said | August 1st 2007 @ 4:54pm | Report comment
Matt
We should create a blog on the most memorable test matches or test series played, some of them have already been mentioned in previous comments.
My favourite Bledisloe series was the 1992 series that Australia won 2-1 but were so closely fought and thrilling that both teams scored exactly the same number of points in the series.
The Wallabies won the first two tests by 1 and 2 points respectively and then the All Blacks won in Sydney by 3 points. It was some of the best rugby seen from both teams and really launched Bledisloe Cup games as must see fixtures.
Mart said | August 1st 2007 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
Good call on the blog ! Only matches you’ve actually attended mind ! I’d add the France / Eng quarter final in Paris in RWC 1991, and the Wallabies / ABs semi from that tourno in Dublin (who cares about the rugby when you’ve got Dublin !)…..
Matt said | August 1st 2007 @ 5:21pm | Report comment
I remember that ‘92 series…it got a fair workour in the VCR as well.
Probably my most memorable series though was the 2001 Lions tour of Australia…I did some serious “telly yelling” in the first two games and was fortunate enough to be there for the decider. Even though I needed an oxygen mask to see the game out it was an unbelievable atmosphere.
I guess a classic RWC game for us Aussies and I must apologise in advance Sam, is the ‘91 semi-final v the All Blacks… I did say sorry!
Sam Taulelei said | August 1st 2007 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
Fair call and completely understood.
Classic RWC match for me was the AB’s demolition of Japan in 1995 the rugby they played that day was breathtaking, better even than the semifinal against England.
At least we’re focusing on memorable rugby games now, all the negativity was starting to wear me down in the other blogs.
Matt said | August 1st 2007 @ 8:06pm | Report comment
Sam,
Totally agree…It says alot for the mindset these days that so many negatives make the press. It’s a hangover from all news…the feelgood stuff gets 5 minutes at the back of every bulletin, people are more interested in car wrecks…
When it’s all said and done there’s so much to celebrate in rugby, it gets me down that so much off field crap gets media time.
This will cheer you up..probably the best game of rugby ever was the “Game from Heaven” when that man Lomu beat Andrew Walker to score in the corner to win THE best game ever! All that in front of a world record crowd…RWC game or not it’s the best game ever played!
Mart said | August 1st 2007 @ 8:54pm | Report comment
Matt - agree. Great game, I woz there, glad I decided not to queue for that beer in the concorse like one of my mates and got to the seat 5 mins in with his beer but having missed 3 AB tries !
DF6 said | August 1st 2007 @ 10:01pm | Report comment
Agree Re Brian Lima
Imagine if Samoa had the playing schedule of say NZ or Aus, how many games would Lima have racked up, surely a lotmore than Gregan.
I will never forget watching Fiji play France 1987, Fiji went on to losethe game but the tries they scored and the way they played the game was a good 10 years ahead of their time i think and who will forget Koruduadua with no one in front holdingthe ball in one hand and just plaing losing it.
Another game has to be All Blacks v England 95, just the hype around the game and the pain the all blacks went through in their last meeting made the game a great one and the love hate relationship lomu started with them, he loved playing them, they hated tackling him
Sam Taulelei said | August 1st 2007 @ 11:38pm | Report comment
I loved that Fiji v France quarterfinal. Fiji had France on the ropes but failed to put them away and I’ll never forget Severo Koroduadua holding the ball in that giant mitt of his and then inexplicably losing control of it with the line at his mercy.
Samoa’s win over Wales in 1991 was something special for me and their performance at the tournament generated so much pride in Samoans all over the world.
Although not a classic match, who can forget Jannie de Beer’s amazing six drop kicks against England in 1999.
Wales v New Zealand in Sydney was a spectacular game to watch with so many tries scored and Wales leading midway through the second half. The Welsh really thrilled the crowd with their performance that day.
DF6 said | August 1st 2007 @ 11:54pm | Report comment
Another Great 87 game was NZ v Wales, Remember how Gary Whetton was pulled out of a ruck by Huw Richards and just plain belted in front of everyone, it proved to be richards last memory of that game as he was knocked out cold by buck with a king hit
That game stands out for me as it showed the determination of shelford. It was possibly the last time wales were a true world class team
swifty said | August 2nd 2007 @ 2:50am | Report comment
i love that australia v ireland match in 91. not that i was there or anything but just the stories of michael lynagh’s composure after gordon hamilton’s try with five minutes to go. Telling the team exactly what they needed to do to win and then they just go out there and do it.
How good is that, losing a great captain like farr-jones and then you’ve got a bloke as cool headed as noddy to take over.
best one i went to was wales v england in 2003 at lang park. for a while a whole heap of blokes in white shirts thought wales were going to get them. when you look back on that game and then wales’ game against new zealand in the same tournament, the welsh really did put in a good performance that year.
Matt said | August 2nd 2007 @ 10:05am | Report comment
I saw some footage of the Fiji v France game the other day…The try Rupeni scores with that beautiful swerve/sidestep…unbelieveable.
I was at a coaching course where we discussing his sidestep, he is one of the few players that can do that without losing pace. He steps off the wrong foot (if there is a wrong foot) and so doesn’t lose pace or let the defender see which way he’s going. A skill that can’t be coached.
Just on Samoa…Imagine if they had been allowed their full playing roster at the 2003 WC. They pushed England with an understrength team, what would they have done at full strength? Nice to dream.
On the Australia v Ireland game we were discussing that game the other week in my running group…I likened it to a death in the family for five minutes. When Noddy scored an incredible feeling of relief swept our loungeroom. When you look back on it the composure that the whole Australian side showed was incredible, even Campo getting involved in the maul that forced the scrum feed ??? Even more incredible that the pass to Lynagh was really just another hail mary that sat up for him to scoop up and score…the gods really were in our corner that day.
Sam Taulelei said | August 2nd 2007 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
Hey DF6
There’s also the possibility that if Samoa had the same schedule as NZ or Australia that Brian Lima may not have survived to play his 5th world cup.
Not only because of the physical way he plays but also the toll those extra games would have taken out of him, being one of the few world class backs still playing for Samoa.
Matt I too wished that Samoa could have fielded their strongest side in the tournament. The game against England had the best atmosphere of all the games in Melbourne, it was like Twickenham when the French overran the All Blacks in 1999, all the neutrals were supporting the boys in blue and wishing them to pull off a famous victory.
The tournament came to life for me with that game.
Zolton Zavos said | August 12th 2007 @ 2:53am | Report comment
Hey Sam, and anyone else who’s interested, there’s some footage of that tackle of Brian Lima on Derrick Hougaard that you mentioned on one of your comments here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF8ctts9LOk
I have but one word for it: ouch!
Zolton
Sundo said | August 24th 2007 @ 3:34pm | Report comment
I sat in the stands at Twickenham, behind the posts under which the French scored their 2nd half points blitz. Behind me were half a dozen of the French soccer team in Tricolores rugby jerseys - who had just won the 1998 soccer world cup - and to my left was Yannick Noah. When the blue assault came, the sound of ‘allez le Bleu’ rang out around the ground, & my soccermates behind me kep whacking my shoulder & saying ‘hey, good game All Black…!’ I was wearing my trusty Frank Bunce number 13 Steinlager jersy from the previous great AB era. Anyway, a poor browbeaten Kiwi farmer burst into tears in front of me when the whistle went, & I went out in Richmond after the game with my Petersham Rugby mates & got soundly pissed. In hindsight, it was a great occasion to attend, one of the great games really, burt it was a bit devastating at the time.