Five great World Cup knockout wins
Here are five other mismatches in the World Cup knockout stages (note: 1995 was the first edition when tries were worth five points):
1987 Semi-final: New Zealand 49-6 Wales
Wales had defied losing several key players to reach the semi-final but, against a formidable All Blacks side, were exposed badly. Their frustration at the measure of the thrashing got to second row forward Huw Richards who punched an All Black in a lineout but was himself then knocked unconscious. His bad day at the office made worse as he was given a red card as he was stretchered off.
Wales scrumhalf Robert Jones summed up the bitter experience.
"It is an extraordinary experience to play against a team which is so much better than you. Within two minutes we were in awe of them," Jones said.
The All Blacks went on to win the inaugural title, while the Welsh bounced back to beat Australia in the third place play-off.
1995 Quarter-final: South Africa 42-14 Samoa
Samoa had upset the established order for the second successive World Cup in reaching the last eight. However, the fairytale ended abruptly against the hosts, for whom Chester Williams was the star of the show, scoring four tries on his World Cup debut.
He was the first Springbok to pull off such a feat and would share in their remarkable win against hot favourites the All Blacks.
1999 Quarter-final: South Africa 44-21 England
South Africa found their diamond in Jannie de Beer who tortured England, and their coach Clive Woodward who had said publicly "judge me on the World Cup."
The god fearing flyhalf scored 34 points with his boot – including a record five drop goals which only added to the humiliation. Ironically the Boks were to lose to Australia in the semi-finals through a long range wonder drop goal by Stephen Larkham. It was also the final Test de Beer ever played.
Fortunately for Woodward, he survived his bold statement and four years later England won the trophy…thanks to a drop goal.
2003 Quarter-final: France 43-21 Ireland
A far happier memory for mercurial Frederic Michalak and a French side coached by Bernard Laport. This was the game where a 21-year-old Michalak announced his great talent in destroying the Irish – led by their 2001 World Player of the Year Keith Wood – as he toyed with them in open play and kicked 23 points.
However it was not to be a sign of things to come, as he disappeared in the semi-final loss to eventual champions England, who were to deny Laporte again in the 2007 semi-finals.
2007 Semi-final: South Africa 37-13 Argentina
Argentina had been the surprise package of the tournament and in Juan Martin Hernandez, a player of mesmerising talents and trickery.
However, his magic deserted him and the Pumas were put to the sword by the eventual world champions. Their hero from Saturday's nail-biting win over Wales, Fourie du Preez, was among the try scorers but it was another of their present squad members, Bryan Habana, who scored two tries – including a stunning individual effort chipping ahead and, despite being obstructed, collected the ball and touched down.
Argentina bounced back to beat hosts France for a second time in the tournament for third placed.
AFP
