Top 5 favourite international matches.

In no particular order:

1) Barbarians vs New Zealand 1973 - 23-11. Involved the greatest try i've ever seen started by Phil Bennett. I can still do the commentary off by heart. JUst a wonderful game, breathtakingly good.

2) New Zealand vs Wales rugby world cup 2003: 53-37. The huge underdogs outplayed the AB's at times in a thrilling contest. The match was much closer than the scoreline suggested.

3) Wales vs Fij rugby wolrd cup 2007i: 34-38: This match had everything. Non stop running rugby from both sides with a dramatic finish to boot!

4) Aus vs NZ tri nations 2000: 35-39. Brilliant topsy turvy match before the big man LOmu scored a last gasp winner, outstanding!

5) France vs New Zealand rugby world cup 1999: 43-31 The french on the comeback trail where they were at their brilliant best!

Over to you!

I have four.

1) Wales 32-31 England at Wembley Stadium in 1999 in the Six Nations.
2) England 20-17 Australia in the 2003 World Cup Final with Johnny Wilkinson's winning drop goal.
3) Australia 19-18 Ireland in 1991 World Cup. Ireland take the lead late on. Australia win the game even later on.
4) England 12-10 Australia in 2007 World Cup.

-Lions v SA 2009 2nd test.
-Ireland v Oz 2001 (still hurts)
-Ireland v England 2008, Croke park. There are very few Irish people who wouldnt have this in their top 5.
-Ireland v Wales 2009 (grand slam decider)
-France v NZ 1999 (Lamaison master class) or France v NZ 2007 (ambush)

Some others:

Ireland v France 2001 (Drico hattrick)
Ireland v England 1993 (Geoghegan magic)
Ireland v Oz RWC 2007

Best club games

Wasps v Munster 2004
Leinster v Northampton 2011

LuvSports! wrote:In no particular order:

1) Barbarians vs New Zealand 1973 - 23-11. Involved the greatest try i've ever seen scored by Phil Bennett. I can still do the commentary off by heart. JUst a wonderful game, breathtakingly good.

you mean Gareth Edwards??

GG was that performance vs England better than the first half vs NZ this year?

Nobody agree with mine? :P


SOrry meant to put started* by bennett. "chased by alistair scown, Brilliant, OH THATS BRILLIANT!"

The performance v England probably was better because we won.

I agree with your France game. A try, penalties, drop goals and conversions from Christophe Lamaison and a great performance from him and France.

Never seen the BaBas game and didnt watch the tri nations match.

most are on youtube i think.

My memory doesn't go back too far.

So in no particular order.

SA vs England pool round 2007 RWC
Ireland November last year vs AB's
SA vs AB's RC last year Ellispark
SA vs AUS last year in Australia
SA vs Australia 2009 in Australia, think it was in Perth.

LuvSports! wrote:most are on youtube i think.

I know but its not the same as watching a game live which for me is a criteria for a favorite match. Means more to me that way because it gives the game much more context.

My favourites in no order...
Ireland v England 03. Watched the game in a Gower pub full of 'Irish fans for the day' locals.
Wales v Ireland 09. Facsinating as a nuetral
Eng v Wales 2000. Writen off after 1999 WC, what a game to answer the critics. Especially Dayglos 'dragging the Welsh pack over the line for his try'.
SA v NZ last year. Outraegous rugby
France v England in the mid 90s. Underwood, Moore, Skinner et al.

1999 rwc france new zealand - switched off the 2nd half….mistake.
2005 Wales Ireland 6 Nations. Slam glory, watched in Hong Kong after 7s
2007 France new zealand - watched it in Marseille after England v Aus
2009 Lions 2nd test - in the stand on half way. Loftus, just incredible
2013 England Wales 6 Nations. Can't remember where i watched it, its all a blur.

Guns, Ireland's big win against England was 2007. Also, Ireland didn't play Oz in the world cup in 2007.

Gretgael1 wrote:Guns, Ireland's big win against England was 2007. Also, Ireland didn't play Oz in the world cup in 2007.

So it was.

and yes the WC was 2011, its Monday!!!!!!!

What are yours Gretgael1?

Ireland had a shocker in 07 wc. Played some of the best 6nations rugby ive seen (gutted they got pipped by the french) and then didn't turn up later that year for it.

Ireland vs All Blacks November 2013

Wales vs All Blacks 2003 RWC

Ireland vs Australia 1991 RWC

France vs Wales 1999

England vs Wales 1970 Barry John at his best..

Was that when he stepped inside like 3 players and bill mclaren was commentating?

I saw it on vhs, "wales - the crowning years", brilliant to watch.

LuvSports! wrote:Was that when he stepped inside like 3 players and bill mclaren was commentating?

I saw it on vhs, "wales - the crowning years", brilliant to watch.

Thats the one...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVK1XU8k2AA

England 26 - 26 New Zealand (1997) One of the games that got me hooked. Not really sure if I actually remember David Rees' try live anymore or just the video of it, but it was incredible either way.

France 43 - 31 New Zealand (1999) I was at the game with no particular interest in the winner, but it was brilliant rugby.

South Africa 28 - 25 Lions (2009) Heartbreaking obviously, but one of the most memorable test matches of all time.

England 38 - 21 New Zealand (2012) Of course.

Lions 41 - 16 Australia (2013) Ditto.

Damn ronan o'doormat!

sportform wrote:I have four.

1) Wales 32-31 England at Wembley Stadium in 1999 in the Six Nations.
2) England 20-17 Australia in the 2003 World Cup Final with Johnny Wilkinson's winning drop goal.
3) Australia 19-18 Ireland in 1991 World Cup. Ireland take the lead late on. Australia win the game even later on.
4) England 12-10 Australia in 1999 World Cup.

All your faves are over a decade old? That must be tough.

1987 RWC final
1995 RWC All Blacks v England
2005 Lions second test
2013 Ellis Park NZ v SA

One from each decade.

Best AB matches vs RC/ 6N/NH:
v Lions 2005 - DC's high point
v SA 2013 - Ellis- How rugby should be played- frenetic pace, tension filled, high skill levels
v Wales - 1980- the year we put the Welsh back out beyond our reach after some close 70's matches and a fab Mourie try despite a 10m forward pass by Loveridge
v England- 2012- best I've seen England play- ever.
v Ireland- 2013- close behind the Ellis match but an AB finish like that after such a huge year incredible.
v France- 1999- goes without saying
v Scotland- 1987 WC quarter final...30-3. Still remember Fitzy in white charging down the left.
v Italy- World cup 1987 opener- history making first ever world cup test, and a JK try still talked about today.
v Baabaas- 73. 23-11 capped by Edwards try. (I'm glad we dont do the Beegee centre kicks anymore...)...I thought Tom Davids pass was the making of that try- an offload to beat most of todays.
v Oz- semi final 2011. As complete as a side can get.

Best non AB match...Lions Aus 2013 3rd test, Wales v England 2013 (what a turnaround).

Is that more than 5? oops...

Lions

GE I thought the 87 final was a bit disappointing after the epics we had vs Scotland, Italy, Wales at Ballymore and especially after the Oz vs France semi, Oz vs Wales 3rd and 4th- all massive matches.

The final, the win, the tries were great but the match itself had a lot of dullness to it. (but in nooooo way compared to the Wales England quarter in 87- one of the worst matches I can remember- nothing seemed to happen the entire match).

Taylorman, are you at the ground with your orange T-shirt?

GloriousEmpire wrote:

sportform wrote:I have four.

1) Wales 32-31 England at Wembley Stadium in 1999 in the Six Nations.
2) England 20-17 Australia in the 2003 World Cup Final with Johnny Wilkinson's winning drop goal.
3) Australia 19-18 Ireland in 1991 World Cup. Ireland take the lead late on. Australia win the game even later on.
4) England 12-10 Australia in 1999 World Cup.

All your faves are over a decade old? That must be tough.

Number 4 was in the 2007 RWC. I put the wrong year down. I think they are more from a nostalgic view and I can remember where I was watching them. There were a few recent ones I thought of adding France-New Zealand, Argentina-France and Argentina-Scotland from the 2007 RWC. Italy beating France in the Six Nations last year, Tonga-France from the 2011 RWC.

One of my favourites just because I can remember watching it late at night was Argentina-Georgia in the 2011 RWC and the Georgians gave it a good go.

Of the ones i can remember.

1. NZ v Australia 2000 (Sydney?). Had it all.
2. NZ v SA 2013 (Jo'burg).
3. NZ v England 1995. Jonah on fire.
4. NZ v Lions 2005 (2nd test). Carter master class.
5. NZ v France 2009 (Marseille). Massive win in a traditional French fortress.

As far as it's possible to lose games and like them. Grudging respect for:
1. Australia v NZ 1991 (world cup) - Campese masterclass.
2. France v NZ 2nd test 1994. The try from the end of the world.
3. SA v NZ 2nd test 2009. Just had the feeling at the end of the game that boks just had the wood on us.
4. England v NZ 2003. A team that managed to to eek out a win through sheer determination.

As a neutral:
1. France v Australia (1987 world cup). Blanco..................
2. Samoa v Wales (1991 world cup). Welcome Samoa.
3. Argentina v France (2007 world cup play off). Argentina 3rd in the world.
4. Wales v England (1998 - Wembly). Drama.
5. Ireland v South Africa (2006 Landsdowne Rd). Ireland put both Australia and SA to bed and scored memorable tries in the process.
6. Tonga v France (2011). Boilover in Auckland.

For non rugby reasons
1. World cup final 2011. Walk to stadium and bar crawl, indescribable.
2. NZ v Wallabies (1996 - Wellington). Spent the night on the turps with the Wallabies. Great game atmosphere - Friggin cold, had to share food, alcohol and clothes to survive the game.
3. NZ v Ireland (2002 - Dunedin). Dinner with the AB's. Well, small bar/restaurant us and them and begger all else so I'll count it. B$%tards ate the place out of best desert though.
4. NZ v Lions (1993 Any test). On tour with British supporters in NZ.

Biltong wrote:Taylorman, are you at the ground with your orange T-shirt?

Will be on Friday. Front row. Tonights is in Hamilton. Going to hold cellphone or the occasional beer in one hand to make sure the other is free for the catch. Silly rules say you cant juggle it or catch with both hands. Looking forward to it.

Geoghegan try was 1994. Wales had just beaten France 24-15 and the Ire Eng score was announced on the tannoy just as the final whistle went and everyone went nuts.

Wales South Africa, Pretoria 1998
Wales Austrlaia, Brisbane 1991
Wales England, Twickenham 2007
Wales New Zealand, Hamilton 2003
Wales France, Wembely 1998

Honourable mention to Wales Japan in Tokyo last year

For me:
Scotland V England in 84
England v NZ 93
England v Aus 00 (I think it was 00 and not 01. Dan Luger's 89th minute try, which happened right in front of me)
NZ v England 03
Eng v NZ 12

Honourable mentions for the 03 and 07 RWC Finals. The latter not for being a great game, but because I was there in row 10 directly in line with Mark Cueto's knee

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Wales South Africa, Pretoria 1998
Wales Austrlaia, Brisbane 1991
Wales England, Twickenham 2007
Wales New Zealand, Hamilton 2003
Wales France, Wembely 1998

Honourable mention to Wales Japan in Tokyo last year

Oh yeah, Wales England in Wembley was class. Forgot about that one.

My favourite has to be the first ever international at the MS when we beat the Boks, just because it was the first game there, but the game that runs it very close for me was my first international ever I think it was 1987/88 when we played Scotland at the arms park and I went there with my old man, I remember the two teams lining up and the Scots looked huge compared to Wales, then we had Iuean Evans's try where he stepped inside and out of about three players to score and then Jiffy dropping two goals at the end to clinch it.

That last tri nations test between NZ and SA last year was probably the most complete Rugby match I've ever seen from a neutral point of view. It had everything.

I wonder if the word favourite instead of best, impacted people here.