The six biggest Rugby World Cup moments

6. Lynagh's gamble pays off, 1991

Australia's first triumphant World Cup campaign almost came unstuck in the quarter-finals at the hands of Ireland. Having lost captain Nick Farr-Jones to a knee injury after just 18 minutes, the Wallabies still dominated much of the contest – with a dazzling David Campese scoring two tries and a young John Eales dominating the line-out.

But they fell behind 18-15 inside the final 10 minutes when Irish flanker Gordon Hamilton beat Campese to find the tryline. Given the chance to level the scores with a penalty three minutes later, Australian fly-half Michael Lynagh instead opted to run the ball, sending the Wallabies on an attacking foray that ended with Campese sending Lynagh over for a stunning match-winning try. The Wallabies would go on to win the Cup, and it would be another two decades before Ireland would beat the Aussies in a World Cup match.

5. The All Blacks choke... again, 2007

It was a bad case of deju vu for New Zealand in 2007, eight years after the team had blown a 24-10 lead against France in a World Cup semi-final. This time they faced the French at the quarter-final stage, and again dominated the early proceedings to take a 13-0 advantage.

But the curse that had haunted the Kiwis since their lone Cup win in 1987 came back to bite them again, with  Thierry Dusautoir and Yannick Jauzion scoring second-half tries for France as the underdogs fought back to claim a 20-18 victory. The defeat cemented New Zealand's reputation as rugby's great chokers.

4. Larkham makes his first drop goal count, 1999

With a place in the World Cup final on the line, Australia faced a world champion Springboks side who had just knocked England out of the tournament thanks to goalkicking master Jannie de Beer. The Wallabies met fire with fire, with fullback Matt Burke slotting a record-equalling eight penalties as the game went into extra time.

Australia's enterprising attack could not find its way through a sturdy Springbok defence, and in the end the game was left in the unlikely hands of Stephen Larkham – who had yet to land a field-goal in his career. But an audacious attempt from 48 metres in a World Cup semi-final wasn't a bad place to start, with Larkham's stunning effort taking the Wallabies into the final, where they would defeat France to take home the Cup for the second time.

3. Lomu becomes a legend, 1995

All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu had already scored three tries heading into the semi-finals of the 1995 tournament when New Zealand lined up against an unbeaten England side that was fresh from knocking out Australia. The English apparently weren't too worried about Lomu, with England fullback Mike Catt later admitting: "I hadn't really watched the New Zealanders during the tournament and I didn't realise what this Lomu bloke was about. I didn't even think he was that big."

But few would forget the 20-year-old giant after he etched his name into the record-books with a stunning performance against England, all but ending the contest inside the opening 20 minutes. Lomu's soon-to-be-famous "Maori sidestep" – whereby he would simply run over the top of English backs Tony Underwood, Will Carling and Catt – helped the winger to a stunning four-try haul as the All Blacks ran out 45-29 winners.

2. Wilkinson breaks Aussie hearts, 2003

Reigning world champions Australia met the old enemy England in the 2003 final in Sydney, with the visitors aiming to become the first northern hemisphere nation to win the Cup. Opposing wingers Lote Tuqiri and Jason Robinson both crossed for first-half tries, and Elton Flatley and Jonny Wilkinson traded penalty goals as the teams finished the 80 minutes locked at 17-17.

But Wilkinson would have the last laugh, clinching the victory with a dramatic field-goal 26 seconds from the end of extra-time. It's a moment that is worshipped by England rugby fans and one that Wallabies supporters are still trying to forget.

1. South Africa wins the Cup, 1995

One of those sporting events that is bigger than sport itself. Nelson Mandela, president of the newly united post-Apartheid South Africa, arrived at Johannesburg's Ellis Park for the World Cup final in a replica Springboks jersey as the home side took on an All Blacks outfit featuring Lomu at his rampaging best. Andrew Mehrtens and Joel Stransky traded penalties and drop-goals as the teams finished the 80 minutes level at 9-9. In the end, a Stransky drop-goal was enough to give the Springboks a 15-12 win and sent the host nation into raptures.

Recently immortalised by Hollywood in Clint Eastwood's Invictus, the image of Mandela awarding the trophy to Springboks captain Francois Pienaar is one of the most memorable in sport, and helped unite a nation.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of BigPond Sport.

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