Was this the greatest match ever?

Judgement Day

The Haka thread (see elsewhere) referred to the embarassing 1970s efforts and I had to check. The only thing I could put my hand on was my video of the 1973 Barbarians v All Blacks match at Cardiff Arms Park and, yes, the Haka back then was a sad shadow of the present day performances but the rugby...

Instead of putting the video away I found myself having to watch the whole match again - it's really compulsive viewing. All the greats were in this game: Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, David Duckham, Mike Gibson, John Dawes, Fergus Slattery, Willie John McBride, John Bevan and amongst the NZ players legends like Grant Batty, Sid Going and Ian Kirkpatrick. Played at a frenetic pace from start to finish the Barbarians eventually ran out winners (23-11) but a draw might have been a fairer reflection on the game. Stupendous running, intelligent refereeing, no kicking tees, very little aimless kicking away of possession, ground packed to capacity, teams swapped ends at half time and didn't leave pitch, pitch invasion at end - oh and Gareth Edwards try in the third minute, Fergus Slattery's try and Grant Batty's superb try which was booed as he had previously been involved in some argy bargy!

Rugby from a different age and if not the greatest match ever it was certainly one of the greatest from the pre-professional era. The good news is that you can still find it on VHS and DVD on eBay. Munster's win over the All Blacks in 1974 and their close shave against the All Blacks in 2008 would be up there in my all time greats - not forgetting Munster v Leinster in Thomond Park in April 2009.

PS Let's not turn this into a Munster/Leinster bashing thread despite my obvious bias.

thomond2006

Both Bledisloe Cup Tests in 2000.

They've been shown on ESPN Classic recently.

Two amazing games that show how poor in comparison this year's Tri Nations was.

I think France vs New Zealand Semi-Final in RWC99 must be mentioned too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdXqtYVynRU

P_1

Some interesting choices there. Can't exactly say I enjoyed Munster v Leinster in Thomand too much now;)

I'm not too sure of the best match ever, suppose I'd have to split it into matches I had a personal attachment in and ones I didn't.

-Wales v Ireland (2009) simply because the tension was so high
-HEC semi final and final (2009) obvious reasons
-Ireland v England (2007) enough said:cool:

Then I guess I'd go for

-Australia v New Zealand (2001?) Fantastic high scoring match played in front of 100k+. Its up on youtube in its entirety.
-Chiefs v Blues (2009) Tries all over the place in this one, both teams just attacked. Think it finished 64-32 in the end.

Judgement Day

Thanks for that Thomond2006 - could have done without seeing All Blacks humiliated but it was worth seeing again just for those two cracking Lomu tries!

Risteard

One of the best matches I remember seeing was Munster - Wasps a few years ago, even though we lost, it was one hell of a game.

Toulouse - Leinster would be up there as well.

Kenteach

THat all balcks v oz game that keeps getting shown on ESPN classic is awesome. Think its for '01, super game. Everything you want to see in rugby was on display that day.
That said, the U-18 leinster quarter final between Drogheda and Mullingar from '96 was some game!!

handsomecake

the second lion all black test in the cake tin in 2005.

my favourite part was the commentator shoutuing " what is the captain doing" as gareth thomas went over under the posts. ill tell you what he is doing,he is scoring the consolation try first!!!!
the all blacks were superb that day.ill never forget it

great game with loads of needle after they buried o driscoll the week before

Crash

Best quality of rugby i've seen live was the Barbarians South Africa just after the world cup - absolutely astounding running rugby for the entire time.

As an aside, while hunting for a youtube clip of that match, I came across this gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccQsyUk9vfs

jayteecork

Probably the Nz France semi final 1999 as Thomond pointed out.

Full match here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2690417996686378669&ei=hqj1SrCtIYek2AK-1omcBQ&q=new+zealand+france+1999#

(French commentry but it sounds pretty good)

Het-Field

Although it was lopsided, the All Blacks v England in the 1995 RWC Semi Final was superb. It was a masterclass from a team on a roll. Lomu made the game, and it was one for the neutrals, and those who had little understanding of rugby to go mad over !!

thomond2006

At least we can say it wasn't Wales vs NZ 2009.

The_Kew_Tour

For me its France v New Zealand from World Cup 99

That All Black v Oz game was right up there too though no question

Spore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdXqtYVynRU

[/quote]

Holy shit, that was the Dominici, Lomu, La Maison show - incredible stuff. Even the great Umaga looked like an amateur. Just reminds us how good rugby can really be. We flatter ourselves to think a meaningless Barbarians game from 1973 was the greatest ever in the face of that game and many others like it from the French. England can't touch that level of beauty, never could, never will. Even Wales in their hayday in the 70's weren't as sublime. Just a joy to watch.

Judgement Day

Well I posed the question WAS this the greatest match ever - I didn't claim that it was but I think to dismiss Barbarians matches as meaningless ignores the spirit of rugby i.e it's about how the game is played rather than the result.

Didn't realise some of the match is also on You Tube see here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMd7PQavavw

anyway the match was vastly superior to either of yesterday's 'professional' era yawns!

toomevara

Judgement Day wrote: »

anyway the match was vastly superior to either of yesterday's 'professional' era yawns!

+1. Bring back amateurism I say!

thebaz

another vote for the '99 France / NZ epic -

the world cup is the pinnacle , and I have a hazy memory of an Aussie / France semi final from the first world cup being a bit special -


you got to hand it to the French , they can perform magic on their day

Ciaran-Irl

Crash wrote: »

Best quality of rugby i've seen live was the Barbarians South Africa just after the world cup - absolutely astounding running rugby for the entire time.

As an aside, while hunting for a youtube clip of that match, I came across this gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccQsyUk9vfs

Awesome.

OldJay

thomond2006 wrote: »

Both Bledisloe Cup Tests in 2000

The first in particular. The greatest game of rugby union, by a country mile, I've ever been lucky to watch.
The finish to the next test was also memorable but as far as a game goes, its Stadium Australia 2000 all the way.

andrewdcs

Ireland France was the best match by a long stretch of the last 6 nations, the best 6 nations game for a few seasons. Stands up to repeated viewing, and not just because of the result.

Can't think of any game more entertaining to watch than that France NZ classic though. sublime start to finish.

pappyodaniel

Gareth Edwards try is probably the best try I've ever seen in the best match ever played. Great individual skills in this game.

OldJay

pappyodaniel wrote: »

Gareth Edwards try is probably the best try I've ever seen in the best match ever played. Great individual skills in this game

Yes but forward passes from Quinnell aside, the opening Bledisloe test in 2000 knocks shapes off the rest.

For a truly great try, see the Centenary ANZAC rugby league test. Thurston kicks over Inglis into the in-goal area. Inglis flicks ball from out of play over his head without touching down for Gasnier to instinctively take and touch down.

Digifriendly

Justind wrote: »

For a truly great try, see the Centenary ANZAC rugby league test. Thurston kicks over Inglis into the in-goal area. Inglis flicks ball from out of play over his head without touching down for Gasnier to instinctively take and touch down.

Have you a link to this?

OldJay

Digifriendly wrote: »

Have you a link to this?

A link? I saw it on TV.
You'll probably find it on YouTube or something. Look up Gasnier try centenary test or something like that.

Risteard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoiaECEyhgc

I first saw it on Rugbydump one of the few times they post a rugby league clip.

Pretty outstanding.

The kick after it was pretty good too.

Cool_CM

Not the best game ever, but one that springs to mind is the Guinness Premiership Semi between Gloucester and Leicester 2007/8 season. Finished 26-25 to Leicester, who came back from being hammered in the 1st half and being down to 13 men at one stage to win. Also had 2 injury time drop goals at different ends of the field. Can't find a video, but I'm sure there's one out there.

Blisterman

Fiji v Wales in the last World Cup
Each team made about 3 comebacks each, when you thought they were gonna lose it. It was incredible.

Digifriendly

Risteard wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoiaECEyhgc

I first saw it on Rugbydump one of the few times they post a rugby league clip.

Pretty outstanding.

The kick after it was pretty good too.

Have to say while I'm a massive union fan over league both the try and conversion were quite 'out of this world'.

Judgement Day

Hey - no Rugby League matches - you'll be posting tiddley winks next!

Munster Blogger

Munster v NZ last year was unbelievable just because of the atmosphere but ill go for, 99 France / NZ what a match

jpt77

Risteard wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoiaECEyhgc

I first saw it on Rugbydump one of the few times they post a rugby league clip.

Pretty outstanding.

The kick after it was pretty good too.

wow

jpt77

thebaz wrote: »

another vote for the '99 France / NZ epic -

the world cup is the pinnacle , and I have a hazy memory of an Aussie / France semi final from the first world cup being a bit special -


you got to hand it to the French , they can perform magic on their day

That is the match that stands out for me. Finished with a great try from Blanco in the left corner. The Gordon Hamilton Game just for sheer excitement at the end was great. It was my first game in Lansdowne Road. Some introduction to International Rugby

Fits Morris

I watched the France-New Zealand World Cup semi-final from 1999 back in its entirety last week.

There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that it was the greatest match of all-time.

It had everything you could ever want in a match - a huge shock, a great comeback, an unbelieveable standard of rugby, constant action from first minute to last, and all on the biggest stage possible (bar the final obviously).

Let's face it, rugby can often be quite an unattractive game to watch but when France are at their outstanding best like they were that day it's a thing of beauty.

France actually should have won by more. I will never forget the perfomances by the marauding Magne, the brilliant Benazzi, the gallant Galthie, the darting Dominici, and most of all, the masterful, commanding Christophe Lamaison at outside half, perhaps the best performance I've ever seen any player give in that position.

An utterly exhilarating watch over 13 years later.

Grimebox

Leinster VS Leicester heineken cup final would be up there for me

Fits Morris

Grimebox wrote: »

Leinster VS Leicester heineken cup final would be up there for me

Munster v Wasps in 2004 is the best match I've seen at Heineken Cup level.

I thought the 2011 Leinster v Northampton final was a far more exciting game than the 2009 Leinster-Leicester one.

In terms of Five/Six Nations matches, Wales v England 1999 at Wembley would take a lot of beating. 32-31 to Wales with a last minute Scott Gibbs try converted by Neil Jenkins to deny England the Grand Slam. Possible similar scenario set up for this year.

The 2009 Second Test was undoubtedly the best I've seen at Lions level.

Grimebox

Fits Morris wrote: »

Munster v Wasps in 2004 is the best match I've seen at Heineken Cup level.

I thought the 2011 Leinster v Northampton final was a far more exciting game than the 2009 Leinster-Leicester one.

In terms of Five/Six Nations matches, Wales v England 1999 at Wembley would take a lot of beating. 32-31 to Wales with a last minute Scott Gibbs try converted by Neil Jenkins to deny England the Grand Slam. Possible similar scenario set up for this year.

The 2009 Second Test was undoubtedly the best I've seen at Lions level.

I was actually thinking of the Northampton one. I dunno why I said Leicester

chris85

Grimebox wrote: »

I was actually thinking of the Northampton one. I dunno why I said Leicester

Was at that final and was epic. Northampton fans were brilliant in their humility in defeat. They were good craic the whole weekend.

Podge_irl

Fits Morris wrote: »

I watched the France-New Zealand World Cup semi-final from 1999 back in its entirety last week.

There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that it was the greatest match of all-time.

I find that match amusing in a way. Its always portrayed as this amazing comeback from France (which it was), but I thought France were very good in the first half and were very unlucky to go in 14 points down. They were the better team throughout that game.

thomasm

Have only been to a handful of live games but my first one was that Australia v New Zealand one in 2000 when living in Sydney. Amazing game and atmosphere. The sight of Jonah Lomu in full flight was incredible. Coincidently my future wife who I had not met at that point was also at the game.

fryup

how about France vs Australia in the semi final of world cup 87 in sydney

it was a foregone conclusion that Australia would be NZ apponents in the final but France upset the applecart with serge blanco scoring in the very last minute:) topping off an amazing comeback by them...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnzNxVpAXQw

totallegend

New Zealand v Wales in the 2003 World Cup was an absolutely fantastic match, final scoreline was 53-37 but Wales were right in contention for most of the game, some epic tries scored.

Best match I've ever been at was probably the HEC QF in 2010, Leinster 29-28 Clermont.

JustinDee

Aussie v NZ at Stadium Australia is best game I've ever seen. The win the following year thanks to Kefu's efforts at the death, comes close too.

Lapin

France V New Zealand in the RWC Semi in 99 for me.

Probably a bit biased because I was there.

Grimebox

totallegend wrote: »

New Zealand v Wales in the 2003 World Cup was an absolutely fantastic match, final scoreline was 53-37 but Wales were right in contention for most of the game, some epic tries scored.

Best match I've ever been at was probably the HEC QF in 2010, Leinster 29-28 Clermont.

I was at that as well. Absolutely incredible

.ak

totallegend wrote: »

Best match I've ever been at was probably the HEC QF in 2010, Leinster 29-28 Clermont.

Grimebox wrote: »

I was at that as well. Absolutely incredible

Really? It was great because of the atmosphere, but we defo didn't deserve to win that game, much like the Scottish game we only won because James couldn't hit a barn door on the day. Game was a bit of a mess for us tbh.