Memorable World Cup moments

SA Rugby magazine relives unforgettable World Cup moments.

2011 WORLD CUP

HOUGAARD DOUSES DRAGONS’ FIRE
(SOUTH AFRICA vs WALES, WELLINGTON)
The Springboks were trailing 16-10 in their Pool D opener of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand when Francois Hougaard replaced Bryan Habana on the left wing in the 61st minute. Four minutes later, the Boks attacked inside the Welsh 22, taking the ball up on two occasions through their forwards. Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez drew a defender close to the ruck and gave a short pass to Hougaard, who burst through a gap and dived over under the posts for a converted try that gave the Springboks a one-point win.

PACIFIC ISLANDERS PAINT CAPITAL RED
(TONGA vs FRANCE, WELLINGTON)
Tonga led 13-6 at half time of this Pool A clash, thanks to two penalties from flyhalf Kurt Morath and a try to left wing Sukanaivalu Hufanga, who gathered Morath’s cross-kick and shrugged off a tackle to score in the corner. Morath added two more penalties in the second half and while France right wing Vincent Clerc scored a try in the last play of the game, it was Tonga who celebrated a shock 19-14 win at the final whistle.

ALL BLACKS’ TEABAG SPECIAL
(NEW ZEALAND vs FRANCE, AUCKLAND)
The All Blacks opened the scoring in the World Cup final with a lineout move, called the ‘Teabag’, which they had kept under wraps for three years and saved for when they needed it most. Hooker Keven Mealamu’s throw was taken by flank Jerome Kaino, who popped the ball down to loosehead prop Tony Woodcock. He burst through the middle of the lineout, handed off a defender and dived over to score.

2015 WORLD CUP

BRAVE BLOSSOMS SHOCK BOKS
(JAPAN vs SOUTH AFRICA, BRIGHTON)
The Springboks were expected to kick off their 2015 World Cup campaign in England with a convincing win against the 13th-ranked Japanese in Brighton. Yet, four minutes into stoppage time, the Boks found themselves down to 14 men, leading by just three points and desperately defending their tryline. Japan, who had turned down a penalty shot at goal just before full time that could have earned them a draw, attacked from a 5m scrum and seven phases later, the ball came back to Amanaki Mafi in midfield. The replacement No 8 handed off Springbok centre Jesse Kriel and put substitute wing Karne Hesketh away into the left-hand corner. As Japan celebrated the greatest upset win in rugby history, the ashen-faced Springboks stood stunned.

ROUGH CALL ROBS SCOTS
(AUSTRALIA vs SCOTLAND, LONDON)
Scotland were leading 34-32 with three minutes of this World Cup quarter-final at Twickenham remaining when they won a lineout outside their 22. However, the ball was tapped back by No 8 David Denton and knocked on by Scotland, with replacement prop Jon Welsh then playing the ball in what referee Craig Joubert deemed to be an offside position. While replays suggested Wallabies replacement scrumhalf Nick Phipps had touched the ball before Welsh, the penalty stood and flyhalf Bernard Foley kicked his team into the semi-finals. When the final whistle blew, Joubert raced off the field, without shaking hands with the players or waiting for his assistant referees.

NONU NAILS WALLABIES
(NEW ZEALAND vs AUSTRALIA, LONDON)
Having led 16-3 at half time of the World Cup final at Twickenham, the All Blacks struck a big blow within the first two minutes of the second half. Replacement centre Sonny Bill Williams took the ball into contact near the Wallabies’ 10m before offloading with one hand to midfielder Ma’a Nonu, who broke away, stepped past Kurtley Beale on the 22m line and outpaced Drew Mitchell to score.