Dramatic Quarterfinals

Quarterfinals are not boring. The World Cup is distilled to eight teams – eight top teams playing with dedication and determination. There are bound to be some that stand out.

1987

Fiji vs France

France won 31-16 but the match was much closer than that and nobody who saw it will forget Severo Koroduadua and that moment of laughter and tears, sunshine and showers – what some people call a monkey's wedding.

It was sunny Sunday afternoon at Eden Park when the Fijians decided that attack was everything, as Sevens came to Fifteens. The flair belonged to Fiji, making the French look stodgy. Imagine that.

It was above all the Fijian centres Kaiava Salusalu and Tomasi Cama who sowed havoc amongst the French. And then there was big Koroduadua at flyhalf, ball in one hand, taunting.

He taunted once too often as he pounded down the left-hand touch-line ball in one hand, head held high. A try looked certain till the ball flew from his grasp, and in that moment the Fijian challenge fizzled.

France used their forwards to batter their way to victory scoring two of their four tries from scrums and a third from a line-out.

The try of the match belonged to Fiji as Jone Kobu burst through, ball waving about in one hand, to send Jimi Damu over for a try.

Scorers:

For France:

Tries: Lagisquet, Lorieux, Rodriguez 2.

Cons: Laporte 3

Pens: Laporte 2

Drop: Laporte

For Fiji:

Tries: Samu, Qoro

Con: Koroduadua

Pens: Koroduadua 2

The teams:

France: 15 Serge Blanco, 14 Denis Charvet, 13 Philippe Sella, 12 Franck Mesnel, 11 Patrice Lagisquet, 10 Guy Laporte, 9 Pierre Berbizier, 8 Laurent Rodriguez, 7 Dominique Erbani, 6 Eric Champ, 5 Alain Lorieux, 4 Francis Haget, 3 Pascal Ondarts, 2 Daniel Dubroca (captain), 1 Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou.

Replacement: Didier Camberabero

Fiji: 15 Jone Kubo, 14 Jimi Damu, 13 Kaiava Salusalu, 12 Tomasi Cama, 11 Tom Mitchell, 10 Severo Koroduadua, 9 Paolo Nawalu, 8 Lilvai Kididromo, 7 Manasa Qoro, 6 Salacieli Naivilawasa, 5 Laitia Savai, 4 Koli Rakoroi (captain), 3 Rusiate Namoro, 2 Epeli Rakai, 1 Sairusi Naituku.

Replacements: Aisake Nadolo, Samu Vunivalu

Referee: Clive Norling (Wales)

1991

Australia vs Ireland

That was presumptuous day in Dublin when Ireland seemed to have the beating of Australia. In fact they were celebrating it before the final whistle went and when it did sound the end of the match summer garb became wet sackcloth and ashes, heads high in glee, dropped in bitter disappointment.

With three minutes to play Ireland led by three points. It seemed a done deal, and the manner of their taking the lead suggested  a win.

Australia were leading 15-12, two wonderful tries by David Campese and some points by Michael Lynagh's boot to four kicks by Ralph Keyes. The Wallabies were attacking but kicked and Jim Staples the Irish fullback gathered and booted it away down the left. Campese was intent on attack as Irish left wing Jack Clarke raced after the ball got it and gave it to flank Gordon Hamilton who appeared miraculously on his outside. Away Hamilton raced as the Australians covered in desperation. Hamilton scored and Keyes converted. Many of the crowd ran leaping for joy onto the field and the whole of Ireland erupted in joy as Ireland led 18-15 with time nearly up.

But Australia kicked off again and Rob Saunders did not kick out. David Egerton of Australia got the ball and also kicked downfield where Brian Robinson touched it before it went over the Irish line, conceding a five-metre scrum.

Irish hearts sank.

Australia won the ball and Michael Lynagh, captain in place of Nick Farr-Jones who had hobbled off in the first half, eschewed the possibility of a dropped goal and a draw. Instead he passed to his right. The ball went out to Campese who was tackled but got a pass away to Lynagh who dived over in the corner and scored the winner.

Irish hearts burst.

From that last-minute victory the Wallabies went on to win the World Cup.

Scorers:

For Australia:

Triers: Campese 2, Lynagh

Cons: Lynagh 2

Pen: Lynagh

For Ireland:

Try: Hamilton

Con: Keyes

Pens: Keyes 3

Drop: Keyes

The teams:

Australia: 15 Martie Roebuck, 14 David Campese, 13 Jason Little, 12 Tim Horan, 11 Rob Egerton; 10 Michael Lynagh, 9 Nick Farr-Jones (captain), 8 Willie Ofahengaue, 7 Jeff Miller, 6 Simon Poidevin, 5 John Eales, 4 Rod McCall, 3 Euan McKenzie, 2 Phil Kearns, 1 Tony Daly

Ireland: 15 Jim, Staples, 14 Simon Geoghegan, 13 Brendan  Mullin, 12 Curtis, 11 Jack Clarke, 10 Ralph Keyes, 9 Rob Saunders, 8 Brian Robinson, 7 Gordon Hamilton, 6 Philip Matthews (captain), 5 Neil Francis, 4 Donal Lenihan, 3 Des Fitzgerald, 2 Steve Smith, 1 Nick Popplewell.

Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

1999

England vs South Africa

It was not just the winning but the manner of it that was remarkable, dramatically so, when England and South Africa met in the quarterfinal at Stade de France in Paris in a World Cup hosted by Wales but played in all of the five nations.

After reading the British press in the lead-up to the match one believed that England were certain to win. The only question was by how much.

The Springboks were much penalised and four were goaled by Paul Grayson to give England a 12-6 lead. Then down in the left corner Joost van der Westhuizen scored a try, which Jannie de Beer converted from touch. The Springboks led 13-12 and then 16-12 at the break but Grayson kicked number five to make it 16-15.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man, and the man was the Springboks' self-effacing flyhalf, Jannie de Beer. He broke the world record by dropping five goals, three in the space of five minutes, without missing one. It was an incredible performance. In all he scored 34 points with the boot that afternoon.

The Springboks capped the performance with a try by Pieter Rossouw, making South Africa 44-21 winner against tryless England.

Asked how he did it, modest De Beer said afterwards: "The Lord gave me the talent and the forwards gave me the ball."

Scorers:

For South Africa:

Tries: Van der Westhuizen, Rossouw

Cons: De Beer 2

Pens: De Beer 5

Drops: De Beer 5

For England:

Pens: Grayson 6, Wilkinson

The teams

England: 15 Matt Perry, 14 Nick Beale, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Phil de Glanville, 11 Dan Luger, 10 Paul Grayson, 9 Matt Dawson; 8 Lawrence Dallaglio, 7 Neil Back, 6 Richard Hill, 5 Danny Grewcock, 4 Martin Johnson (captain), 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Phil Greening, 1 Jason Leonard.

Replacements: 16 Jonny Wilkinson, 17 Mike Catt, 18 Austin Healey, 19 Tim Rodber, 20 Martin Corry, 21 Darren Garforth, 22 Richard Cockerill.

South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery; 14 Deon Kayser, 13 Robbie Fleck, 12 Pieter Muller, 11 Pieter Rossouw; 10 Jannie de Beer, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen (captain); 8 Bobby Skinstad, 7 André Venter, 6 Rassie Erasmus, 5 Mark Andrews, 4 Krynauw Otto, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Naka Drotské, 1 Os du Randt.

Replacements: 16 Stefan Terblanche, 17 Henry Honiball, 18 Werner Swanepoel, 19 Andre Vos, 20 Albert van den Berg, 21 Ollie Le Roux, 22 Chris Rossouw.

Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

2007

France vs New Zealand

Small moments had enormous consequences on this day of the forward pass in Cardiff. It was France's Rugby World Cup but this match between France and New Zealand was played in Cardiff.

There was a Beauxis conversion that went over off an upright, there was Vincent Clerc's tackle on Ali Williams at the corner flag that forced the lock's foot onto the touchline after a wonderful break by Luke McAlister, there was the sin-binning of McAlister early in the second half, there was France unpenalised for an hour, there was a desperate tackle by Jean-Baptiste Elissalde on Nick Evans and above all there was the "forward pass" to Frédéric Michalak that drove the whole of New Zealand to desperate anger.

It was a match that New Zealand was going to win but they reckoned without France's fighting spirit, for the French tackled and tackled, some 200 times with Thierry Dusautoir leading the way. The result was that New Zealand, the dominant favourites, battled to score, more so after McAlister went to the sin bin for obstructing Yannick Jauzion as the big centre chased a kick by Lionel Beauxis. France took the lead when Dusautoir scored a try from close quarters.

New Zealand got the lead back when Rodney So'oialo from close to the line ducked under Jérôme Thion to score. Significantly McAlister missed the conversion.

Then came that controversial winner. From a scrum, France went left with fullback Damien Traille up in the line. He gave a short pass to Michalak who raced clear. Hemmed in near the left corner the substitute flyhalf turned and gave to Jauzion  who raced over for a try to make  the score 18-all but Elissalde kicked the conversion that made it 20-18 to France.

All of New Zealand and most of the rest of the rugby world thought that the pass from Traille to Michalak was forward. The angry repercussions were  enormous, even to the point of accusations of match fixing.

Scorers:

For New Zealand:

Tries: McAlister, So'oialo

Con: Carter

Pens: Carter 2

For France:

Tries: Dusautoir, Jauzion

Cons Beauxis, Elissalde

Pens Beauxis 2

The teams

New Zealand: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Mils Muliaina, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Keith Robinson, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Anton Oliver, 1 Tony Woodcock

Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Nemia Tialata, Chris Jack, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Nick Evans, 22 Isaia Toeava

France: 15 Damien Traille, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 David Marty, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Serge Betsen, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Fabien Pelous, 3 Pieter de Villiers, 2 Raphaël Ibañez (captain), 1 Olivier Milloud

Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Sébastien Chabal, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Frédéric Michalak, 21 Christophe Dominici, 22 Clément Poitrenaud

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

2011

Australia vs South Africa

It was South Africa's turn to vent their rage against the referee after the Springboks refused to win the match against Australia in Wellington.

The Springboks dominated all aspects of the match, except the scoring of points. For example, they enjoyed 76% of the territory in the match.

By half-time the Wallabies were leading 8-3 but then the Springboks got to 9-8 and suddenly the Wallabies managed to get over the half-way line and had the throw-in to a line-out at which Danie Rossouw was penalised for playing the Wallaby catcher Radike Samo in the air. With a masterful, long-range kick by James O'Connor put the Wallabies 11-9 ahead with nine minutes to go – another period of Australian defence as solid as it had had to be all match.

After the match there was much South African shouting about the referee's performance and the illegal scope he was thought to allow the Wallbies at the tackle.

The aftermath of this was that Bryce Lawrence withdrew from refereeing Super Rugby matches in South Africa for the next Super Rugby season.

The Springboks did the early attacking but Quade Cooper kicked out five metres from the South African line. Victor Matfield won the ball and it was up to Schalk Burger to run it up. The Wallabies tackled Burger and won a turnover, and the next thing James Horwill was over to give his side the lead.

Kurtley Beale broke, the Springboks were penalised and O'Connor goaled. 8-0. That became 8-3 at half-time when Morné Steyn goaled a penalty.

In the second half Steyn kicked another penalty and then a dropped goal.

It was a match which the Springboks should have won, but for the courageous defence of the Wallabies and the Springboks' own errors. But it was the referee that bore the brunt of criticism – a man the Springbok management had asked for before the match.

There were factors contributing to the Springbok defeat which were clearly not the referee's fault.

The referee did not lose the ball near his own line, he did not pass forward to Patrick Lambie who had an open line, he did not knock on with the line open, he did not lose the ball forward right at the line, and he did not pull Radike down in the line-out.

Scorers:

For Australia:

Try:  Horwill

Pens: O'Connor 2

For South Africa:

Pens: Steyn 2

Drop: Steyn

The teams

Australia:  15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.

Replacements:  16 Tatafu Polota Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Anthony Fainga'a.

South Africa:  15 Pat Lambie, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.

Replacements:  16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 François Louw, 20 François Hougaard, 21 Butch James, 22 Gio Aplon.

Referee:  Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)