Match of the year 2009?

thomond2006

Got the idea from the awards thread.

My choice is the 2nd test between the Lions and South Africa. A match that had everything: great tries, physicality, drama and controversy and an unforgettable finish.

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

Honourable mentions:
Ireland vs France, 6N
Ireland vs Wales, 6N
France vs Wales, 6N
Munster vs Leinster, HEC SF
Cardiff vs Leicester, HEC SF
Bulls vs Chiefs, Super 14 Final
Lions vs South Africa 1st test
New Zealand vs France, 1st test SIs
France vs New Zealand, AIs

What do ye think?

Try to post highlights where possible!

Size=everything

For me it's got to be Leinster v Munster semi final.

Stick_man

Size=everything wrote: »

For me it's got to be Leinster v Munster semi final.

Cmon! Its not the greatest performance of the year, its the match of the year. Has to be Lions v Boks second test.

shanagarry

For me it's definitely Wales v Irl 6N - it may not have been the best game of rugby, but for tension and excitement, it will be difficult to surpass.

Honourable mention goes to the Lions 2nd Test, but still haven't got past the extreme disappointment (I was there) so I can't exactly call it a good memory. I haven't even brough myself to watch it again yet, but I will over christmas.

For pure rugby, probably Bulls v Crusaders, S14 SF

corny

Has to be Wales V Ireland. You couldn't script the last 10 minutes and more importantly......we won:)

Risteard

The 2nd test as well.

The Irish match, while great and exciting for us, probably wouldn't have entertained the neutral that much and that's the view I'm taking into account when making this pick. As Thomond said it had pretty much everything and there was some exciting rugby being played too.

walshb

I haven't seen the match, but I heard the Irish win over SA a few weeks ago was superb

BTW, the Irish win over Wales for the Slam was utterly magnificent, and so so tense. Fairytale stuff!

Liam90

The best game i have seen this year was New Zealand versus France, easily.

thomond2006

walshb wrote: »

I haven't seen the match, but I heard the Irish win over SA a few weeks ago was superb

It was a good win for Ireland but poor as a spectacle.

To be fair, Ireland tried to play a bit of rugby while the Boks kicked, kicked, kicked and kicked.

Did I forget to say "kicked"?

Liam90

Liam90 wrote: »

The best game i have seen this year was New Zealand versus France, easily.

There were three, which one? I assume where France pipped them? That was a cracker

FridaysWell

Has to be Leinster Vs. Munster HEC Semi Final.

Or.

Connacht 12 Munster 6

:D

rockman15

leinster/munster HC semi for me.

i think this will depend on your own fetish...:D

myflipflops

Ireland v France in the 6 Nations was the best match of the 6N for me and maybe the best fo the year in terms of quality for me (1st half esecially was electric).

I didn't see any of the France/NZ clashes live this year though.

Stick_man wrote: »

Cmon! Its not the greatest performance of the year, its the match of the year. .

Performance of the year - probably Munster in the HEC quarter final against the Ospreys. Admittedly, the hairsprays rolled over but in terms of flawless execution against a good side (on paper!!), there were few better.


From a personal perspective, watching Leinster come of age when beating Harlequins in a dogfight in the Stoop was the highlight.

[Jackass]

From a personal point of view, I don't think I've enjoyed a match more than I did the semi-final v Munster...if nothing else, because of the manner of the victory and also the history of the tie and even the unexpected nature of it........Leo Cullen asked us to believe....we did, and now we're champions of Europe. Enjoyed the final immensely, but the sweetness of victory was sewn in the semi-final.

Also slightly from a personal point of view, but also I'd imagine to the neutral, Wales v Ireland 2009 will go down as one of the greatest 6 nations games and most exciting finally to the 6 nations in years.

phog

[Jackass] wrote: »

From a personal point of view, I don't think I've enjoyed a match more than I did the semi-final v Munster...if nothing else, because of the manner of the victory and also the history of the tie and even the unexpected nature of it........Leo Cullen asked us to believe....we did, and now we're champions of Europe. Enjoyed the final immensely, but the sweetness of victory was sewn in the semi-final.

I know exactly what you mean, I had the exact same feeling in 2006, I now know your pain and your joy.:D

BTW, for me, the game of 2009 has to be Wales V Ireland in the 6Ns for Ireland to win the GS.

Judgement Day

For excitement the final Tri-Nations match between the All Blacks and Australia would be a high point for me: http://rugbydump.blogspot.com/2009/09/all-blacks-end-tri-nations-on-high.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rugbydump+%28%3A%3A+Rugbydump.com+-++Rugby+videos%2C+tackles%2C+big+hits%2C+great+tries+and+more+%3A%3A%29

and for satisfaction, payback time for the Boks at Croke Park and the destruction of France by the All Blacks 39-12 ....sweet!!:D

efb

The little match in the millennium stadium earlier in the year...

j4supporter

Have to agree with most of them so far. My list would have to be:

For skill and flair: 3rd lions test was class.
For drama and commitment: 2nd lions test

But the Ireland v Wales match was on a different level. Had everything.

Paulw

I'd have to say Munster V Leinster HEC Semi Final. For the passion (of both teams), the noise in Croke Park, and the whole event.

lobber

Liam90 wrote: »

The best game i have seen this year was New Zealand versus France, easily.

Great game. France V South Africa had a great mix of excitement tries and hits as well

buck65

Paulw wrote: »

I'd have to say Munster V Leinster HEC Semi Final. For the passion (of both teams), the noise in Croke Park, and the whole event.

Munster didn't show up, what passion?

Game of the year - Ireland v France
Performance of the year - Treviso v Perpignan or Leicester v S africa

siltirocker

+1 buck65

Ireland v France.

RuggieBear

ireland france or Leicester Leinster for me.

justdoit

This was actually at the very back end of 2008, but I think is still worth a mention:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3StR2BNTGI

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/dec/14/heinekencup-harlequinsru

Podge_irl

Ireland v France was, by a significant margin, the best game of rugby in the 6N. As enjoyable as Wales v. Ireland was for us, the rugby in the French game was on another level.

That second Lions test was unbelievable. It was insanely good. I detest watching it again though, those first two SA tries were given away so absurdly easily.

irishbucsfan

My favourite moment as a fan this year (apart from the Grand Slam which has been said a few times) was Leinster beating the Quins in the Stoop. Coming out of that game I was so proud of the Leinster fans for their performance that day, outsinging the Quins fans in the Stoop. I think that game refreshed my love of Leinster rugby... despite its low score.

The best match of the year was probably the Lions match or the Grand Slam decider, both huge games that went down to the wire.

jamser89

Scotland beating Wallabies:D

flyingoutside

This years Currie Cup final between the Cheatahs and bulls. One of the best games i've ever seen let alone this year

myflipflops

jamser89 wrote: »

Scotland beating Wallabies:D

Our we talking about the BEST match of the year or our FAVOURITE?

The Scots/Oz game was terrible viewing in my opinion and the Wales v Ireland 6N wasn't a classic game of rugby. South African/Oz/England fans wouldn't rate it that highly as a stand alone game i reckon.

Offside

Have to say lions second test - absolutely unbelieveable test match, I remember how sickened I was at the loss but at the same time shaking my head and saying "That was one of the best games of rugby I have ever seen!"

Esto Fidelis

Yea, like most of the other replies I would have to say Ireland vs Wales. This match had everything, and especially for the shear tension in the last few minutes. And the look on Paddy Wallace face. The emotion and happiness pure mule.:D

danthefan

It was probably the HEC semi for me. Leinster were written off by everyone, half of Munster had their flights and hotel booked for the final, and it was a real coming of age, having been following Leinster for years with so many false dawns it was amazing to be there.

I was confident we'd beat Wales though.

Judgement Day

Munster v Perpignan 37-14 on Sunday 20th December 2009 for me - **** the pundits and the begrudgers. Ole,ole,ole..........:D

thomond2006

Judgement Day wrote: »

Munster v Perpignan 37-14 on Sunday 20th December 2009 for me - **** the pundits and the begrudgers. Ole,ole,ole..........:D

Ole, ole, ole, ole, olllllllleee, ole.. :D

phog

Judgement Day wrote: »

Munster v Perpignan 37-14 on Sunday 20th December 2009 for me - **** the pundits and the begrudgers. Ole,ole,ole..........:D

+ 1 for me, the best performance to date:D

chalkitdown

Historic...literally.