What is the biggest upset in the history of International Rugby Union?

Pisco Sour

Would it be Tonga's 16-11 away victory against Australia in 1973

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTSvWo4eh6U

Or would it be the South American Jaguars 21-12 victory over the Springboks in Bloemfontein in 1982, just one week after being stuffed 50-18 in the first test?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Jaguars

Or perhaps Western Samoa's 16-13 victory over Wales in Cardiff in the 1991 Rugby World Cup?

Thoughts?

subfreq

Munster beating the All Blacks when they did must also rank up there.

I know it was a mid-weeker but that AB team had some legends in it.

Stev_o

Fiji beating Wales in 2007 RWC.

Pisco Sour

Stev_o wrote: »

Fiji beating Wales in 2007 RWC.

That really wasnt altogether surprising. Fiji have many players playing at top european clubs, especially in France. When they have all their players available they can be quite a handful for anybody.

Besides Wales were woeful in the 2007 6 Nations. I wasnt shocked in the slightest that Fiji beat them.

Pisco Sour

subfreq wrote: »

Munster beating the All Blacks when they did must also rank up there.

I know it was a mid-weeker but that AB team had some legends in it.

I suppose. Llianelli beating NZ aswell. But I dont think it classifys as International Rugby as its not a test match.

[Jackass]

subfreq wrote: »

Munster beating the All Blacks when they did must also rank up there.

I know it was a mid-weeker but that AB team had some legends in it.

I think the Scarlets have beaten the All Blacks twice and Cardiff have a phenominal record against the Australians with 7 wins from 7 iirc...no one really cares except people from Munster. The mid week test games mean nothing...as was shown when NZ then went on to thump the Irish team a week later.

Pisco Sour

[Jackass] wrote: »

NZ then went on to thump the Irish team a week later.

Went on to beat Ireland by 4 points actually.

thomond2006

It could have been Georgia beating Ireland in RWC2007.

profitius

04072511 wrote: »

Would it be Tonga's 16-11 away victory against Australia in 1973

I don't think Australia were good back then.

profitius

thomond2006 wrote: »

It could have been Georgia beating Ireland in RWC2007.

That was the first thing that came into my mind and I think it would have been the biggest shock considering it was in the world cup.

Pisco Sour

profitius wrote: »

I don't think Australia were good back then.

They were still a hell of a lot better than Tonga and would beat the All Blacks from time to time and would beat most NH teams who would travel down to play. It was still an enormous shock.

myflipflops

Namibia beat us twice in 1991. That has to be up there.

Pisco Sour

pwhite587 wrote: »

Namibia beat us twice in 1991. That has to be up there.

Romania thumped France 15-0 in 1980 (they have beaten them many times actually but this was the most emphatic). It seems like a surprise now but at the time it was anything but. The Romanians were a powerhouse of world rugby at the time.

Not that Namibia were of that level but it probably wasnt a shock beating Ireland at the time also.

Canada beat Wales in Cardiff in the 90's, and Samoa hammered us at Lansdowne Road in 1996, but were these really surprises? Both teams were World Cup Quarter Finalists in the 90's.

Digifriendly

[Jackass] wrote: »

I think the Scarlets have beaten the All Blacks twice and Cardiff have a phenominal record against the Australians with 7 wins from 7 iirc...no one really cares except people from Munster. The mid week test games mean nothing...as was shown when NZ then went on to thump the Irish team a week later.

Scarlets have beaten the All Blacks just once - 9 -3 in 1972 hence the replica scoreboard at the new Parc Y Scarlets ground. Cardiff club have 6 wins over the Australians never losing. Last Tuesday's match that Australia won was against the Cardiff Blues regional side rather than the club side so club side's proud record stands. BTW 10-6 to NZ over Ireland on the following Saturday after Munster's famous win was hardly a thumping! I was at that game and NZ scored winning try in closing minutes, in fact according to Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1979/80 it was in injury time. They then went on to lift their first 'Grand Slam.'

Spore

Surely this biggest upset in the history of Rugby Union is McCaw getting IRB player of the year over BOD.





Just saying is all...

OldJay

Australia's defeat of the All Blacks in the 1991 RWC.

Steffano2002

How about France beating New-Zealand in 1999 after being down 24-10 at half time?

GiftofGab

Steffano2002 wrote: »

How about France beating New-Zealand in 1999 after being down 24-10 at half time?

I was just about to mention this. Phenomenal match. I was watching this on ESPN Classic the other day. That was said to be the best New Zealand team of all time. France were there just to show up and get beaten. At 24-10 down at half time, dont think anybody gave them a chance.

Judgement Day

The Springboks beating England in the 2007 World Cup final. Had to be said! Sorry, but it damn well upset me! Some would say England being in the final at all would be a good candidate too.