With fewer than ten weeks until the beginning of the 8th instalment of the Rugby World Cup, we turn the clock back to revisit ten of the greatest World Cup matches of all time.
With Ireland bidding for their first ever Rugby World Cup semi-final appearance, and Wales seeking only their first semi-final since 1987, the opening act of the RWC 2011 quarter finals was set to be an intense encounter.
Rugby World Cup Classics: #10 2011 RWC Ireland vs Wales
Wales made three changes to the side which had demolished Fiji 66-0 the previous week, with Shane Williams, Jonathan Davies, and Dan Lydiate replacing Lee Byrne, Scott Williams, and Ryan Jones respectively. Ireland, on the other hand, named an unchanged side from their victory over Italy.
It took only two minutes and twelve seconds for Shane Williams to dive over the whitewash and score his 56th international try. This came after Wales received kick-off and gradually marched to the other end of the field through slick hands, good carrying, and a wonderful Garry-Owen from Rhys Priestland.
This early try had vital implications on the match – Ireland were left shell-shocked and went into the half-time break 10-3 down, their only points coming courtesy of the ever-accurate boot of Ronan O’Gara.
After half-time the game opened up as both sides came out of the blocks rapidly. Keith Earls capitalised on sluggish Welsh defence by gathering a loose pass from Tommy Bowe and charging into the corner. After a brief TMO review, the try was awarded, and when O’Gara found the touchline conversion, the scores were level and the match was set up for a tense final half hour.
It had taken Ireland just shy of 50 minutes to find their feet in this quarter final, but it had zapped their energy – in the following 15 minutes, both Mike Phillips and Jon Davies broke through tired defenders to end Irish semi-final dreams.
Wales had exercised their strength, solidity and attacking ability in a perfect performance in a World Cup which had hastened the development of young starlets, George North, Jon Davies, and Sam Warburton, among others. Ireland had defended spiritedly, however in the end lacked the firepower to repeatedly cross the gainline and defeat the men in red.
It was an historic afternoon which acted as a building block for Wales’ future international success, but will Wales, or indeed Ireland, be able to learn their lessons from the 2011 World Cup and translate that into a 2015 victory?
