Most heartbreaking match?

by GLove39 Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:09 am

I realise that its a very subjective category, with one fans heartbreak being another's joy. Being a Scotland fan, heartbreak is never far away...

The match that stands out most, and the one I still wake up in the middle of the night with a cold sweat..., has to be the Wales V Scotland match in 2010. Chris Patterson limping off on his 100th cap, Thom Evans lying prone on the pitch following his horrific collision. Despite this Scotland managing to score tries, only for everything to cruelly unravel in the final 20. Cumulating in Scotland ending the match with 13 men, before THAT try from Shane Williams Sad

Scotland-South Africa 2008, trailing the World Champions by 4 points with time fast ticking away. A bloodied and bandaged Phil Godman lines up a penalty from inside the 22 to make it a 1 point game. He sends it wide, the Boks sneak home. (this picture sums up the feeling at Murrayfield that day).
http://www.popeandswift.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/godman.jpg

Other notable heartbreaking matches for me include the Ireland-France game from 2007 with Clerc's last minute try. And the Blues-Leicester drop goal semi final shoot out.

Anyhow, I throw this one open to the V2 community, what is the most heartbreaking match for you?

by **Notch** Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:13 am

2007. Croke Park. Ireland's Grand Slam dream on the line. Don't gather the restart- Vincent Clerc. Ahhhhhh.... shoite.

by Suspicious lurker Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:13 am

You've already listed mine, 2007 Croke Park Ireland v France, I just sat there for about two hours unable to speak after that game, still upsets me thinking about it

Also Ireland v Oz 2003 Humphreys drop goal off the post, Sad

by Mickado Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:14 am

Notch wrote:2007. Croke Park. Ireland's Grand Slam dream on the line. Don't gather the restart- Vincent Clerc. Ahhhhhh.... shoite.

I was at that game. Easily the most heartbreaking rugby game I’ve been to. By a good bit.

by Draigoch Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:16 am

2007. Wales vs Fiji.

Ouch.

by **Notch** Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:17 am

hughie1986 wrote:You've already listed mine, 2007 Croke Park Ireland v France, I just sat there for about two hours unable to speak after that game, still upsets me thinking about it.

I was watching the game with a few mates- Scottish and English- don't think i talked to anyone for three hours afterwards Crying or Very sad

by robbo277 Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:18 am

Ireland game this year. All that build up and we just didn't turn up, or more to the point Ireland didn't let us into the game. I was in Dublin that day (couldn't get to the stadium) but I was just watching in disbelief.

Rugby World Cup final 2007.
South Africa 58-10 England
South Africa 55-22 England
South Africa 36-0 England
Surely England couldn't beat them in the big one? As it turns out, no. We couldn't. Sad

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:18 am

Notch wrote:2007. Croke Park. Ireland's Grand Slam dream on the line. Don't gather the restart- Vincent Clerc. Ahhhhhh.... shoite.

Was there too. There were people crying. Some too stunned to move. All ready to murder the first French person they met. What a tournament that would have been if we had won. That game, the one against England and the one against Italy were all classics. Sad

by red_stag Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:19 am

First 3 games that came to mind are:

Munster v New Zealand 2009
Munster v Wasps 2004
Lions v South Africa 2009

For some reason the Ireland v France in 2007 didn't bother me all that much. Neither did Tigers nor Quins beating us in Thomond.

by Boyne Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:24 am

Has to be, beyond all doubt, when Michael Lynagh went over in the very last minute in Landsdown Road to deny Ireland a place in the World Cup semi final.

by Boyne Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:25 am

..........and yes, I cried like a baby, even if I was 10 or somehting..

by TheGreyGhost Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:26 am

1994 : Australia 20, New Zealand 16. Famous for George Gregan's come from nowhere tackle on Jeff Wilson that dislodged the ball, in extra time as Wilson dived over for the winning try.

That, and John Eales's sideline penalty that stole the Bledisloe for another year some time in 2001, or 2002, I can't recall, all exact details were carefully blotted out by careful application of lager.

Those are the worst.

Other than that, I can't think of any heartbreakers, apart from maybe a couple of mildly disappointing losses in that recently created friendly rugby festival exhibition that takes place every 4 years.

by **rodders** Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:27 am

Notch wrote:2007. Croke Park. Ireland's Grand Slam dream on the line. Don't gather the restart- Vincent Clerc. Ahhhhhh.... shoite.

+ 1

by Boyne Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:28 am

Wait wait, so people look upon 1 loss to France at the begining of the 6 nations to Ireland being seconds from a WC semi final????

by **Notch** Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:29 am

A grand slam would have always meant more to me than a World Cup semi-final Boyne. Probably still would.

by GLove39 Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:32 am

robbo277 wrote:
Rugby World Cup final 2007.
South Africa 58-10 England
South Africa 55-22 England
South Africa 36-0 England

Interesting I can definitely see why the RWC 07 must hurt for an England fan. For me at least I'd say its easier to accept when your team gets hammered by a massive score. It means you've got most of the match to resign yourself to defeat. By contrast though, loosing in extra time, with the passage of play, that to me is truly heartbreaking.

by **rodders** Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:32 am

Notch wrote:A grand slam would have always meant more to me than a World Cup semi-final Boyne. Probably still would.

+ 1 again. Definitely still would. I'd trade a GS for a WC victory though...

by Guest Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:32 am

Wales v Ireland 2009, Stevo missing that last gasp penalty, that was horrible.

Wales v Fiji 2007 in the RWC - that really, really upset me.

Scarlets v Tigers in 2002 (I think? I admit I've blocked it out slightly) in the SF of the Heineken. That was just.... Crying or Very sad

by **Notch** Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:37 am

GLove39 wrote:
robbo277 wrote:
Rugby World Cup final 2007.
South Africa 58-10 England
South Africa 55-22 England
South Africa 36-0 England

Interesting I can definitely see why the RWC 07 must hurt for an England fan. For me at least I'd say its easier to accept when your team gets hammered by a massive score. It means you've got most of the match to resign yourself to defeat. By contrast though, loosing in extra time, with the passage of play, that to me is truly heartbreaking.

Agreed.

by Shifty Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:38 am

hard to say as a Welsh fan there have been so many over the years...

1) Wales u20 0 - 92 New Zealand 2011
Has probably been the worst Ive ever seen because the players looked so frightened and unwilling to fight for their country. to see people behaving in such a cowardly manner was shocking ive never witnessed such a gutless team at any level before regardless of the difference in class between the teams.

2) South Africa 96 - 13 Wales 1996
We all new something like this was going to happen, South Africa are World champions and we have half a team of new caps and players who cant even get into their club sides. I dont blame the players for this, they gave everything. But the WRU they threw these guys to the wolves. It was still heartbreaking to watch though, but it did lead to better things for Wales after learning some big lessons.

3) Wales 13 - 16 Samoa 1991
This game was sickening really, Wales should of won it but the referee gave probably the worst refereeing decision in history to Samoa. they kicked it long, Robert Jones dived on it over the try line then a Samoan player comes along and dives on it afterwards. Somehow the referee decides Samoa should get the try?!?!? It was a sickening decision and how there wasn't a riot in Cardiff with the referee being lynched is anyone's guess.

4) England 62-5 Wales 2007
World Cup warm up game with Gareth Jenkins taking a second string up to Twickenham, to play Englands first team, they smashed us off the park. I think Wales lost all respect for Jenkins after this shambles.

5) Wales 34-38 Fiji 2007
Another Jenkins shambles, how Wales lost this is anyones guess. They kicked Fiji up and down the park yet spun it wide recklessly gifting Fiji several tries from kamikazi mistakes.

by robbo277 Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:45 am

GLove39 wrote:
robbo277 wrote:
Rugby World Cup final 2007.
South Africa 58-10 England
South Africa 55-22 England
South Africa 36-0 England

Interesting I can definitely see why the RWC 07 must hurt for an England fan. For me at least I'd say its easier to accept when your team gets hammered by a massive score. It means you've got most of the match to resign yourself to defeat. By contrast though, loosing in extra time, with the passage of play, that to me is truly heartbreaking.

Except the final wasn't a massive score, it was 15-6. I notice you deleted one of my sentances from the quote, the key sentance ("Surely England couldn't beat them in the big one? As it turns out, no. We couldn't.") that explained that. I don't understand how it could have been an accident either, seeing as you managed to keep in the "smiley". None of those losses listed were the heart-breaking ones, just the final.

No-one seriously expected us to get to that final, (perhaps out of a combo of naivety and loyalty I tipped us to win every time in the prediction contest me, my dad and my brother had). It felt a little unbelievable that we were in the World Cup final, but we were there and there with a shot at winning. 9-3 down at half-time, Cueto's try gets (rightfully with hindsight) disallowed, Robinson goes off injured and South Africa turn the screw with a couple of penalties and we just can't get back into the game. I was almost in tears at the end of it.

by yappysnap Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:48 am

The Ireland game this year and the SA match last year.
Leading up to both the press were doing their normal hyperbole and you try to ignore it and just take things as they come, but there's a little part of you hoping believing that this may be the time to get the monkey off our backs against these sides, and you know what? No it's not, it's not even close.
And twice now in 80 minutes you see all those games before, all that hard work, all that change in playing styles and dynamics get utterly utterly crushed by a team that on the day are simply a level above us in every way, and even worse for weeks before that team have been shoite!

by pete (buachaill on eirne) Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:51 am

yappysnap wrote: And twice now in 80 minutes you see all those games before, all that hard work, all that change in playing styles and dynamics get utterly utterly crushed by a team that on the day are simply a level above us in every way, and even worse for weeks before that team have been shoite!

I'd say even worse the Nike advert still goes on the Internet

by yappysnap Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:51 am

Robbo's re telling of THAT game reminds me of another crushing feeling, the insane elation of watching Tait slip like an eel through the whole SA team, only to give the ball to the wrong player, the slowest wing about who is then taken off the pitch by one of the best cover tackles from a forward in history.

Insane elation to dispair in a tenth of a second. It can't be good for you.

Nearly the greatest scoregasm ever, nearly.

by disneychilly Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:55 am

I'm a New Zealander so you all pretty much know my answer.

by red_stag Thu Jun 23, 2011 1:56 am

disneychilly wrote:I'm a New Zealander so you all pretty much know my answer.

Yea that loss to Wales back in nineteen dickety two!!

by robbo277 Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:00 am

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:
yappysnap wrote: And twice now in 80 minutes you see all those games before, all that hard work, all that change in playing styles and dynamics get utterly utterly crushed by a team that on the day are simply a level above us in every way, and even worse for weeks before that team have been shoite!

I'd say even worse the Nike advert still goes on the Internet

I'd say it could act as a good motivator to the team as to how close they came, but it's a naff video as well.

by Suspicious lurker Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:01 am

disneychilly wrote:I'm a New Zealander so you all pretty much know my answer.

Which loss to France will it be??

by TheGreyGhost Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:02 am

3) Wales 13 - 16 Samoa 1991
Wales should of won it but the referee gave probably the worst refereeing decision in history to Samoa.

Hey! hands off! I have the copyright and trademarks on that sentence, and it doesn't start with "Wales" or end with "Samoa".

by RuggerRadge2611 Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:03 am

Losing to wales in the 2010 6N was a very very tough one to swallow, since we (Scotland) were the better team over 80 minutes.

Kudo's to Wales though, not a good performance by them by any stretch of the imagination but punished mistakes.

Scotland's biggest loss from that match was losing Thom Evans

Sad

by Mickado Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:03 am

The loss to France ultimately cost us a grand slam, but in hindsight we might not have produced the goods against England the following week had we won. And that’s a match that will live on for years as one of our best games. Every cloud…

by GLove39 Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:03 am

robbo277 wrote:
GLove39 wrote:
robbo277 wrote:
Rugby World Cup final 2007.
South Africa 58-10 England
South Africa 55-22 England
South Africa 36-0 England

Interesting I can definitely see why the RWC 07 must hurt for an England fan. For me at least I'd say its easier to accept when your team gets hammered by a massive score. It means you've got most of the match to resign yourself to defeat. By contrast though, loosing in extra time, with the passage of play, that to me is truly heartbreaking.

Except the final wasn't a massive score, it was 15-6. I notice you deleted one of my sentances from the quote, the key sentance ("Surely England couldn't beat them in the big one? As it turns out, no. We couldn't.") that explained that. I don't understand how it could have been an accident either, seeing as you managed to keep in the "smiley". None of those losses listed were the heart-breaking ones, just the final.

:L My bad, I misinterpreted your post and simply thought you were just listing heartbreaking losses to South Africa. I did though state that I could "definitely see why the RWC 07 must hurt for an England fan" should probably have said this was due to the narrow nature of the loss.
The given that the other matches mentioned were all big losses, I just wanted to give my perspective on big losses as opposed to narrow last minute one's.

by TheGreyGhost Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:05 am

I'm still reeling from that moral defeat at the hands of England late last year. censored

by Thomond Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:06 am

The loss to France in 07 was horrible. Let's not forget Munster v Wasps HC semi. A fantastic match and we lost it. The rematch against the ABs in 08 was heartbreaking (Mafi fecking shooting out of the defensive line mad

)

by TBJ9625 Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:08 am

Wales v England, 19th Jan 1991
Wales lose to England 25 - 6 at home for the first time in 28 years and the first time in my life time!!!!!
I remember being a young 19 year old, stood on the old east terrace crying as the final whistle blew. Not sure if it was the beer or just pure emotion, but I got very drunk that night!!!!! Cry

by bedfordwelsh Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:09 am

mmmmmmm,

Where to start,

Nov 83 Romania 24 Wales 6

Dec 88 Wales 9 Romania 15 (though they did beat France to)

Nov 93 Wales 24 Canada 26

Sept 98 HC Toulouse 108 Ebbw Vale 16 (though we did beat them in retun leg).

91 WC Wales 13 Samoa 16 (start of our PI nightmare)

99 WC Wales 31 Samoa 38 (1st game I took my lad to)

07 WC Wales 34 Fiji 38 (Another PI nightmare)

by **rodders** Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:09 am

Hey Thomond what about Munsters loss to the allblacks at thomond a few years ago? That must have been a bit of a sickener because you were so close another historic victory? Amazing game.

by Shifty Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:09 am

red_stag wrote:
disneychilly wrote:I'm a New Zealander so you all pretty much know my answer.

Yea that loss to Wales back in nineteen dickety two!!

I think Wales were the first team to beat New Zealand, they started playing in 1903 but didnt lose their first game until 1905 against Wales.

Though you could argue New Zealands loss to Zimbabwe was probably their most shameful result in 1949, the second test was a 3-3 draw too, so New Zealand actually lost a series to zimbabwe, lol. Whistle

by Suspicious lurker Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:09 am

Munster v scarlets Heino quarter final, Munster just didn't turn up for it

by Thomond Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:11 am

roddersm wrote:Hey Thomond what about Munsters loss to the allblacks at thomond a few years ago? That must have been a bit of a sickener because you were so close another historic victory? Amazing game.

The rematch against the ABs in 08? I already mentioned it. Myself and my dad were in corporate sitting next to a bunch of Kiwis. I cried into my prawn sandwiches.

(Note: there were no prawn sandwiches)

by **rodders** Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:12 am

Sorry yes thats the one, didnt realise you'd mentioned it. Yeah it looked like history was destined to repeat itself there!

by red_stag Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:13 am

hughie1986 wrote:Munster v scarlets Heino quarter final, Munster just didn't turn up for it

I wasn't that depressed or heartbroken. The loss to Tigers before that had given clear warning signs.

by Boyne Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:14 am

hughie1986 wrote:Munster v scarlets Heino quarter final, Munster just didn't turn up for it

And that meant more to you than Ireland been beaten by OZ in the last minute in Dublin in the WC??

The mind boggles...

by Shifty Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:14 am

bedfordwelsh wrote:Nov 93 Wales 24 Canada 26

Oh god yes how could I forget that one...

Al Charron "looks like inbreeding has come back to haunt the Welsh"
The moron actually said that despite Canadas only 2 decent players Rod Snow and Gareth Rees playing for Newport and Gareth Rees's father is Welsh! Shocked

by Thomond Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:16 am

Hughie, really? I was disappointed yeah but they played Poopie and deserved what they got that night. I wasn't too heartbroken over it. Boyne,I wasn't around for the WC match so I can't comment.

by robbo277 Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:18 am

GLove39 wrote:
robbo277 wrote:
GLove39 wrote:
robbo277 wrote:
Rugby World Cup final 2007.
South Africa 58-10 England
South Africa 55-22 England
South Africa 36-0 England

Interesting I can definitely see why the RWC 07 must hurt for an England fan. For me at least I'd say its easier to accept when your team gets hammered by a massive score. It means you've got most of the match to resign yourself to defeat. By contrast though, loosing in extra time, with the passage of play, that to me is truly heartbreaking.

Except the final wasn't a massive score, it was 15-6. I notice you deleted one of my sentances from the quote, the key sentance ("Surely England couldn't beat them in the big one? As it turns out, no. We couldn't.") that explained that. I don't understand how it could have been an accident either, seeing as you managed to keep in the "smiley". None of those losses listed were the heart-breaking ones, just the final.

:L My bad, I misinterpreted your post and simply thought you were just listing heartbreaking losses to South Africa. I did though state that I could "definitely see why the RWC 07 must hurt for an England fan" should probably have said this was due to the narrow nature of the loss.
The given that the other matches mentioned were all big losses, I just wanted to give my perspective on big losses as opposed to narrow last minute one's.

Okay, no worries. I think I must have misinterpreted you too. I was just saying after 3 massive losses to South Africa it was almost like a hollywood "he's come from nowhere" story to beat the "big bad bullies" who keep beating us. Without the happy ending (from my perspective).

I can see why the Ireland/France game was so heartbreaking to Irish fans, especially after all the hurt for the previous few years against France. In away it was similar to England Vs Ireland in 2010. We were 2 from 2 at that point, at home to Ireland (a team that had the rub on us for the previous 6 years), didn't take the lead until the 70th minute, then about 3 minutes later Bowe ghosted through our defence to score what ended up being the winning try. All too easy.

by **rodders** Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 am

Ah Boyne that reminds me....Australia vs Ireland at the 2003 WC. Amazing performance by us and especially Wood and O'Driscoll. Feck we were so close to pulling of an amazing result. Still gutted about that one!

Also the GS decider in Dublin 2003 was a real heartbreaker. I really thought we had a chance but Johnsons men battered us around the place like schoolboys Sad

. Nightmare!

by brennomac Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:21 am

Notch wrote:A grand slam would have always meant more to me than a World Cup semi-final Boyne. Probably still would.

Sorry Notch, for me if Ireland get to a world cup semi final next September it will leave a 6N grand slam in the ha'penny place. Means you have beaten top teams (inclouding at least one SH team in shape of Oz) to be among the world cup top 4 and the possibility of being in the top two. I remember that semi in Lansdowne when we all went ballistic after Jackson's try and then were devastated by Lynagh's last minute winner. From elation to despondency in the space of a few minutes!

The grand slam was all very nice - but to compare it with a world cup SF - not a chance.

by Boyne Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:25 am

*Mannions try Smile

by **rodders** Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:27 am

brennomac wrote:
The grand slam was all very nice - but to compare it with a world cup SF - not a chance.

Sorry bren I disagree. As much as I'm desperate to have a good WC it's all about winning. A WC SF is only better than a GS if you win the subsequent 2 matches.

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