Greatest Matches of All Time
High adrenaline, bone-crushing collisions, and thrilling goals, rugby has it all. Over the years, we have seen some incredible matches on the field where teams have engaged in memorable battles on the field. It is challenging to narrow down a few good matches because they are so many, but the ones on this list have stayed with fans for years.
Read on as we take a look at the greatest rugby matches of all time.
England VS. Australia
Event: 1995 Rugby World Cup (Quarter-Final)
England and Australia faced off against each other in the Rugby World Cup Quarter-Finals. The match held on June 11, 1995, in Newlands, Cape Town, saw England win 25-22 against Australia. England emerged from the lackluster pool of teams to confront Australia for this match, which had taken the World Cup from them four years before this match. The odds of both teams looked good, but tensions ran high as the match went into overtime. The game ended with the superb drop-kick by Rob Andrew. The ball traveled 45 meters to land the victory into England’s lap.
Ireland VS. Australia
Event: 1991 Rugby World Cup (Quarter-Final)
Ireland made an earnest effort to beat Australia in this match, which has gone down in history as one of the most famous losses in any rugby tournament ever. The Irish team had Gordon Hamilton on their side, who proved himself an unstoppable force. The player sprinted forty yards past the Australians, only to be caught by players and spectators in a bizarre scene on the field. The Aussies won with an iconic goal by Michael Lynagh that broke the hearts of Irish fans the world over and landed Australia one of their most famous victories.
France VS. New Zealand
Event: 1999 Rugby World Cup (Semi-Final)
Throughout the 1999 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand was the favorite to win the tournament, and according to experts, France never stood a chance. The two teams faced off in the second Semi-Final in Twickenham, where France beat all odds to win the game, 43-31. Christopher Lamaison proved himself a valuable asset for the French national rugby team, with the first try to kick things off for France. After 24-10 in favor of New Zealand, there was no hope for a turnaround. What came next was a surprising win due to the efforts of the French players Christian Dominici, Fabien Galthie, and Richard Dourthe.
Australia VS. New Zealand
Event: 2000 First Bledisloe Cup Test
The iconic game played in Sydney is still one of the greatest matches of rugby ever played. While New Zealand led with three tries and 24-0 within the first ten minutes, the score was made even by the break. The next half of the match remains one of the tensest and thrilling halves in rugby. Neither side was willing to give up their lead, and it boiled down to one player’s efforts that led the All Blacks to victory. Jonah Lomu scored at the death, bringing a 39-35 victory to New Zealand.
