Diego Ormaechea turned 40 just prior to the 1999 Rugby World Cup, making him the oldest player in the tournament’s history and third oldest in all Test matches.
The 98kg no.8 captained Uruguay in ’99 and it was a successful start, with Ormaechea crossing for the country’s first try in World Cup history against Spain. Uruguay scored two late tries to cap an historic first win 27-15.
While they didn’t score another try for the rest of the tournament, Uruguay played to their strengths and piled on pressure at the scrum. Down 39-3 against South Africa, Ormaechea tried everything to crack South Africa’s line. Even when given penalties right in front of the posts, Uruguay continued to take the scrum option and edged the ball forward inch by inch.
All up they had six scrums in a row, using enormous energy to go for glory. They couldn’t quite score the try, but it was an admirable effort that had South Africa gasping for breath, the Springboks limited to just 12 points in the second half against the spirited amateur side.
It turned out to be Ormaechea’s final Test. He played 54 matches in his whopping 20-year career. He went back to his day job as a vet for race horses but returned to rugby to coach the team in the 2003 World Cup.
The Roar’s World Cup Countdown:
30. Grant Fox’s record 30 conversions from the 1987 World Cup
29. All Blacks claim the 1987 World Cup, 29-9
28. Tonga stun Italy with Sateki Tuipulotu’s boot, winning 28-25
27. 27 per cent of tries came from scrums in 2003 with Canada showing the value of the set piece
26. David Pocock made 26 tackles in a fantastic performance against South Africa in the 2011 quarter-finals
25. South Africa’s 25 wins from 29 matches at the World Cup
24. Wales scores 24 points in the first half against New Zealand but still lose in 2003
23. Nick Farr-Jones 23 wins as Australian captain including an historic 1991 World Cup win against England
22. The Wallabies notch a cricket score with 22 tries in a 142-0 thumping of Namibia in 2003
21. Georgia’s David Dadunashvili becomes the youngest (21) to start at hooker in a World Cup match
20. The first World Cup classic finishes 20-all between Scotland and France in 1987
19. 19-year-old George North becomes youngest World Cup try scorer in 2011
18. Since their first and only win Japan has gone 18-straight World Cup games without victory
17. New Zealand coaching staff present 17 alleged refereeing errors to explain 2007 loss
16. George Gregan and Jason Leonard involved in 16 wins each at World Cup level
15. Jonah Lomu’s 15 tries in 11 matches
14. Jonny Wilkinson’s 14 World Cup drop goals including his most famous one in England’s 20-17 win over the Wallabies
13. Philippe Sella’s fantastic career at No.13 with 13 starts for France at Rugby World Cups
12. The Wallabies record 12-game winning streak from 1999 to 2003
11. Fiji win 11 out of 11 lineouts against Wales during a stunning 38-34 win in 2007
10. David Campese’s 10 tries for the Wallabies at Rugby World Cups
9. Matt Burke’s 9 points per game average after an amazing 1999 tournament
8. Diego Ormaechea, at age 40, was the oldest number 8 to play at a World Cup
7. No.7 Michael Jones scores the first ever World Cup try
6. Marc Ellis’ record six tries in a match against Japan
5. Jannie de Beer’s five drop goals in a match against England in the 1999 quarter-finals
4. Michael Lynagh’s four tries in World Cup matches including his match-winner against Ireland
3. Cardiff has hosted World Cup matches for three tournaments and will make it a record four in 2015
2. Christophe Lamaison’s two drop goals in semi-final blinder
1. The Webb Ellis Cup.
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