With fewer than ten weeks until the beginning of the eighth instalment of the Rugby World Cup, we turn the clock back to revisit ten of the greatest World Cup matches of all time.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup was an historic tournament off the field – anyone with a vague knowledge of politics could tell you that. Events on the field, however, inspired a universal rethink in rugby philosophy. That switch from brains to brawn can be attributed to one nation; the one rugby-playing nation that has historically catalysed union’s progress: New Zealand. In this semi-final, the 18 stone All Black winger who changed back-play forever, Jonah Lomu, bulldozed any Englishman clumsy enough to bother getting in his way.
RUGBY WORLD CUP CLASSICS: #6 1995 RWC New Zealand vs England
It was the Lomu show in the first half, and after only two minutes he had run around Rory Underwood and Will Carling, and powered through a courageous attempt by Mike Catt, to get the All Blacks off to a fantastic start.
Minutes later, the Kiwi inside centre Walter Little broke out from his own 22 and linked up twice with fullback Glen Osborne, confusing and bewildering the English defence in the process. Osborne was halted five metres short but popped the ball up to the onrushing Josh Kronfeld, who dived into the corner and put the score into double figures. Andrew Mehrtens then slotted the difficult conversion from out wide, and the scoreboard read 12-0 after only seven minutes.
Mehrtens then capitalised on English ill-discipline, and bizarrely, No. 8 Zinzan Brooke dropped a goal – the All Blacks had the game by the scruff of the neck and were totally in charge at 18-0. That dominance was evident further in the 24th minute as Lomu waltzed through untouched to score his fifth try of the tournament, breaking the usually firm tackle of Rob Andrew on his way.
The teams went in to half-time with the score at 25-3 – a 37th minute Andrew penalty ensured England went into the break with points on the board.
The second half began as the first did: a Lomu score after two minutes. It was created by a deft chip from the boot of Mehrtens which bounced once before landing in the grateful arms of Little. He offloaded it almost immediately to Kronfeld, who floated a delightful pass out to Lomu and the big man shrugged off yet more Englishmen on his way to the try line.
The All Blacks kept their collective foot on England’s throat and in the 51st minute, they executed a short-side set piece move with typical Kiwi precision, with scrum-half and cousin of Richie McCaw, Graeme Bachop, finishing off the try to make it 35-3.
The men in white replied with two tries of their own, the first coming from Rory Underwood (however replays showed his foot was clearly in touch), while the second was scored by Carling. Andrew was successful with only one conversion, meaning that the score was now 35-15 to the All Blacks.
The classy Kiwis responded instantaneously as Bachop, who had had performed immensely thus far, intercepted an inviting pass from opposite number Dewi Morris, and did as any sane man would do – he gave it to Lomu. The 20 year old proceeded to race beyond all the scrambling defenders and complete the rout.
In the remaining nine minutes, Underwood and Carling completed their respective braces, but it was too little, too late, as, when the final whistle was blown by Stephen Hilditch, New Zealand were advancing to the final after producing one of the most complete World Cup knockout stage performances in history. Final score: New Zealand 45-29 England.
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