Top 10 Rugby World Cup Moments

8 September 2023

The 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) kicks off on 8 September in France. Since the inaugural RWC in New Zealand in 1987, the tournament has become the third largest sporting event worldwide, only behind the football World Cup and Olympics. This year sees Ireland, France and South Africa as the most fancied sides going into the tournament.

RL360 looks back over the previous 9 RWC tournaments and picks out the 10 most memorable moments.

1) Mandela unites a nation, 1995:

Nelson Mandela saw the 1995 RWC as a way of uniting his still racially-divided people as South Africa came to terms with it's post-apartheid future. Mandela wore the Springbok green jersey to the final - at that time a potent symbol of white South Africa - and danced with delight as South Africa edged out the All Blacks to win a tight final. It was a significant landmark for the "rainbow nation", and was turned into a Hollywood film with Clint Eastwood's movie "Invictus".

2) Jonah Lomu smashes England, 1995:

Man-mountain Jonah Lomu became the game's first global superstar with a - literally - unstoppable performance against England in the 1995 semi final. At 6ft 5in and 19 stone and described as "a freak" by England captain Will Carling, Lomu simply ran through the England defence, memorably trampling over English centre Mike Catt on the way to his first try. Though injury blighted his career, Lomu is still the (joint with Bryan Habana) RWC leading try scorer with 15 scores.

3) Wilkinson's last minute drop goal breaks Aussie hearts, 2003:

England were locked at 17 all in the 2003 RWC final in Sydney against hosts Australia with just 20 seconds of extra time remaining. Scrum half Matt Dawson fired a pass to the ice cool Johnny Wilkinson who calmly slotted over a winning drop goal, with his weaker right foot! Wilkinson, the all time RWC record points scorer, became an instant legend and England remain the only northern hemisphere team to have won the RWC.

4) French brilliance inspires greatest come-back, 1999:

Everything was going to script as tournament favourites the All Blacks built up a 24-10 lead against France at Twickenham in the 1999 RWC semi-final. In the greatest turnaround in RWC history, the French went on an inspired scoring spree with 3 tries and 33 unanswered points to blow the stunned All Blacks away. Les Bleus made another - though less dramatic - comeback against the All Blacks in the 2007 RWC quarter-final.

5) Cherry Blossoms shock mighty Springboks, 2015:

Japan took on the mighty South Africa in a group match in Brighton, having not won a world cup match in 24 years. In a high-scoring and fluctuating game, the Japanese trailed by 3 points as they headed into injury time. Another fearless backline move saw Japanese centre Karne Hesketh crash over to seal a famous 34-32 victory and the greatest upset in World Cup history. It was the most humiliating day in South African rugby history – although they showed considerable character to shrug off this defeat to reach the semi-finals.

6) Western Samoa stun Wales at the Arms Park, 1991:

Wales, and the rest of the world of rugby, were stunned when huge underdogs Western Samoa pulled off a shock victory over the Welsh in their own back yard at the group stages of the 1991 tournament. As one Welsh observer drily commented: "Thank God we didn't play the whole of Samoa". The Samoans proved it was no fluke 8 years later when they defeated the Welsh again.

7) Lynagh break Irish hearts with last minute try, 1991:

No one gave Ireland a chance as they lined up in Dublin against tournament favourites Australia in the RWC quarter final. With 5 minutes to go in a tight match, Irish flanker Gordon Hamilton galloped over the line from 40 metres to put Ireland ahead, and the "green and golds" on the verge of elimination. With virtually the last play of the game, the Australians spurned a penalty chance that would have levelled the match, instead opting to run the ball. The decision paid off when fly-half Michael Lynagh dived over for the match winning score.

8) Kirwin scores greatest RWC try, 1987:

In the first match in the very first RWC, John Kirwin scored a stunning solo try for tournament hosts New Zealand against Italy. Arguably there’s been no finer try scored in the subsequent 309 RWC matches played since. Receiving the ball in his own 22, right winger Kirwin evaded 7 tackles before diving over the line at the end of a mesmerising 80 metre run. The try, which helped propel the All Blacks to the inaugural RWC victory, helped to establish the tournament around the world.

9) South Africa smash fancied England, 2019

After impressively despatching southern hemisphere giants Australia and the New Zealand All Blacks in the quarter and semi finals, England were favourites to complete a trio of southern hemisphere scalps when they faced South Africa in the 2019 WC final in Japan. South Africa hadn’t played their best rugby in the lead up to the final, and only just squeezed past Wales in their semi-final. But a hugely powerful forward display put South Africa firmly on top and they crushed a broken England 32-12 to win a 3rd World Cup.

10) Hastings misses sitter to let in the 'Auld Enemy, 1991:

A tight semi final between rugby's oldest of enemies was locked at 6-6 in Edinburgh in front of a partisan Scottish crowd. With the match in the final quarter, Scotland won a penalty right in front of the posts. Experienced Scottish full back Gavin Hastings took the kick but inexplicably sent the ball wide of the posts. England's Rob Andrew struck a late drop-goal to earn England a narrow 9-6 victory.