This footage is of the last minute of the 1991 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final match at Lansdowne Road between Ireland and Australia. It’s interesting to hear how understated the commentary was back then. A far cry from the histrionics of today’s crop. Let us know your recollections of this gripping finale.
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August 16th 2007 @ 12:50pm
Spiro Zavos said | August 16th 2007 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Jools
I think it was Rob Andrew who John Eales, in his first season of test rugby, ankle-tapped and prevented a try and England winning the final.
Probably one of the great moments in Australian sport occurred not long after this incident when with minutes to go and the Wallabies holding a precarious lead they started to throw the ball around inside their half. Bob Dwyer, the Wallaby coach, suffered this excess of exuberance from the Wallabies for a few moments before he could take it no longer. ‘Kick it to the shit-house,’ he yelled out. ‘Kick it to the shit-house.’
The Queen sitting two rows in front of Dwyer and clearly within audible distance maintained a stony fixed stare on her face.
August 17th 2007 @ 12:35am
sheek said | August 17th 2007 @ 12:35am | Report comment
Spiro,
The Wallabies probably dominated this match (the final) for 50-60 minutes, before emotion & fatigue set in. The Wallabies felt they had played their “final” the week before, beating the all Blacks.
The English change of tactics were curious. Despite the critiscism, I thought they were right to change. They were thrashed by the Wallabies in Sydney, playing their traditional forward based style.
Obviously, the plan in the final was to catch the Aussies off-guard with a change of tactics. It almost worked. The fact that it failed in the end should not detract from the fact it was a bold manouver, deserving of a better fate.
But a superior team stared them down. Only just though……….!
August 17th 2007 @ 11:54am
Andrew Logan said | August 17th 2007 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Some mates and I were recently sitting in the Oaks at Neutral Bay watching rugby on TV when one of the “5 Minute Angels” came around giving shoulder massages etc. We were actually talking about the RWC, and when we got onto the Gordon Hamilton try she let go with a broad grin…when we asked what she was smiling at, she informed us that Gordon Hamilton was her uncle. Apparently people still stop him in the street and congratulate him on the try, and commiserate on Irelands loss!
Re the Wallabies vs England final, there was another great moment in that match where Poidevin took a short inside pass coming back towards the ruck, and was absolutely smashed by an England forward. Mike Teague is often given credit for the hit, but it was actually Mickey Skinner…..if you watch the vision closely, there is a wonderful moment a few seconds later where the camera zooms in on Skinner as he’s waiting for the scrum and he looks at one of the reserves on the sideline, surreptitiously points at Poidevin and sort of snorts….as if to say “What did he think he was doing coming back inside like that?”.
And as for Eales on Andrew…it was less of a jersey tag or ankle tap, and more of a mowing down.
The best thing is that there will be more moments like this to savour from this World Cup.
August 18th 2007 @ 10:47am
Phil said | August 18th 2007 @ 10:47am | Report comment
I was in year 10 at the time and because the whole form in general was misbehaving we were not allowed to watch the Ireland or New Zealand games.
Our form master was an awesome rugby coach, Peter Armstrong. He is back in England now.
August 21st 2007 @ 11:29pm
Keir Anderson said | August 21st 2007 @ 11:29pm | Report comment
I love those uniforms. The 1984 uniform was great as well. Why can’t we have outfits like that now. I’m so sick of these tight fitting tops that all the teams wear now
March 19th 2009 @ 9:26pm
Greg Murray said | March 19th 2009 @ 9:26pm | Report comment
Well, this thread is old, but it just so happens that it’s this game I’m trying desperately to buy a copy of. What a cracker. What’s sometimes forgotten is that it started with a bang. I haven’t seen it since watching it ‘on the day’, but I recall a lineout within the first few minutes. Clearly, the Irish Captain, Mathews (?) and co had decided to unnerve to Wallabies and went straight at Willie Ofahengaue. I think Willie O threw two punches and that was that. Back to the rugby. The Irish, both hard men to be sure, realized that this Wallaby could hold his hands up and hit like a hammer.
A fantastic game and, again, the one I’m most keen to get. If anyone can direct me to a DVD (online) retailer, I’ll be very grateful.
Oh, Campo had a fair sort of a tournament, too!