Rugby World Cup 2015: Those who were there pick the memorable moments that made the tournament so special
As the dust settles on a great Rugby World Cup, we asked various coaches, players and former players what stood out for them
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By Tim Visser (Scotland wing)
The entire Scotland squad watched Japan’s match against South Africa in our team room and it was amazing when Japan had the chance to go for a draw but began playing again to get the win. They went through so many phases for that decisive last try and were so clinical. You wouldn’t have expected the best teams in the world to score there, so when Japan scored we jumped up and cheered before suddenly saying: ‘Oh no, we are playing them in a couple of days’ time!’ That brought us back down to earth pretty quickly. We were definitely fortunate to play them four days later – they were getting really tired after 60 minutes and that was when we unleashed and scored some tries. If they had been fully fit it would have been a tight game.
The biggest lesson for the future
By Warren Gatland (Wales head coach)
The beauty of this World Cup has been the performances of the tier-two nations – most obviously Japan against South Africa and Georgia against Tonga. Some tier-one teams were putting 40 points on other tier-ones but the gap between the two tiers is closing, now that the second-tier sides have more preparation time and more of their players are playing in Europe. I was at a Welsh Rugby Union meeting last week when I was asked whether Wales should be playing tier-two nations as part of the autumn series and my answer was ‘yes’ because it’s part of our responsibility to develop them as well. Virtually the only time New Zealand play a tier-two nation is at the World Cup. We have to think about teams like Georgia, not just those who will generate money.
The best young player
By Maggie Alphonsi (former England player and TV pundit)
Georgia’s scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze became the youngest player in World Cup history, playing at the age of 18 against Tonga. You could see the emotions written across his face; a mixture of nerves and excitement!
But my best young player of the tournament was Lood de Jager, the 22-year-old South Africa second row. I liked how one commentator described him – ‘a man with a baby’s face’ – and what got me most enthralled was the way he threw his body around with such physical aggression in defence.
It wasn’t easy for De Jager as he was filling the place of an all-time great, Victor Matfield, the captain who was injured, but he never lost his discipline. The Springboks’ midfielders Handre Pollard, Damien De Allende and Jesse Kriel will be around for years to come, too.
The best example of sportsmanship (and the worst)
By Eddie Jones (Japan head coach)
When I heard after our famous win over South Africa that the Springbok fans made a guard of honour for the Japanese fans at the railway station, letting them get on the train first, that – to me – was the difference between rugby and other sports. Imagine if that was football, they’d have been killing each other on the platform.
The negative aspect was what happened with Craig Joubert, the referee who had his penalty decision at the end of the Australia v Scotland quarter-final ‘clarified’ by World Rugby. No one deserved his treatment. World Rugby should have said ‘he’s made a decision, he was right to make it and that’s the end of the matter’. It’s no use speculating whether it was right or wrong – that’s the game of rugby. Joubert was correct not to go to the TMO, and after that we had to respect his decision. To say he was wrong hung him out to dry. He made a mistake. Goodness me, if we all got hung out to dry when we made a mistake it wouldn’t be a nice world.
Best record equalled (but not broken)
By Bryan Habana (South Africa wing, who equalled Jonah Lomu’s World Cup try record at this tournament)
If someone said I was trying too hard to score the record try, I’m not sure that was ever a problem. I’d rather try too hard and fail 10 times over than never to try at all. I’ve played in three World Cups, I’ve been able to score 15 tries and made some awesome memories along the way, and I’ve equalled Jonah’s record.
Jonah changed the game like no other player before, and as bad as it is for me not to score that last one, and I’ll look back on it as a missed opportunity, I’ll also smile pretty gently, knowing that Jonah’s name will sit there for another four years. That’s the respect I have for him. There’ll definitely be no regrets.
For me, it’s always been about leaving the Springbok jersey in a better place than I received it. I’ve been fortunate enough to play 117 times for my country and through the good times and the bad times it’s been a journey I’ll never regret.
I’ve laid it all out there, it hasn’t all gone well, but when I call it quits in two years’ time, when I am done with Toulon, I’ll look back and assess where I was. The game has definitely given me more than I have given it. When you get given that opportunity to play international rugby, on the biggest stage in the world, the humility that goes with that is something the game deserves.
Team of the tournament
By Nick Easter (England No 8)
It’s got to be Argentina. They don’t have a great playing base compared to the other major nations, but if you have the right intent and environment it just shows what you can achieve. They have taken their game to a different level, and when they fling the ball about they are just as eye-catching as New Zealand or Australia. The Pumas have their identity, and a strong tight five and set-piece is key to it. But they also have talented, gifted half-backs and back-three players. Nothing holds them back and they enjoy it. It has been a fairy tale for them again, like 2007 – but a very different way of playing. The manner in which they executed their first two tries against Ireland was as good as I have seen, and then they showed great fortitude and strength of mind in that game. They carried on with the same intent when just three points ahead, scored two more tries and won by 20 points. Watch out for them in Japan in 2019.
The best try
By Neil Back (ex-England flanker and Independent on Sunday columnist)
My top try thrust a dagger through my heart and into those of all followers of the England red rose. It was scored by the Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies in the England v Wales Pool of Death match at Twickenham and it set up the Welsh for their 28-25 win over us: the tournament hosts in our own backyard. Wales were falling apart both before and during the tournament, including in this match. They had to rearrange their entire back three because of injury and had put replacement scrum-half Lloyd Williams on the wing. Williams’ incredible cross-field kick was gathered by the starting No 9 Davies, who raced to touch down under our posts to put a massive nail in our coffin!
The best pass
By Stephen Larkham (Australia attack coach)
I’m picking our fly-half Bernard Foley’s pass for Adam Ashley-Cooper’s first try in the match against Argentina. Obviously as the attack coach I should say that all the tries this year have come from my work! But, no, that one was 100 per cent Bernard.
We had practised that move for a number of weeks and he took the right option. In terms of a back-line or skill development there isn’t that much you can get done during the tournament. All we can do is make sure the guys are prepped and it’s about them seeing the right option and making the right pass. He did it on that occasion and it’s pleasing to see it all come together.
England’s best contribution
By Kieran Read (New Zealand No 8)
We’ve been really well looked after everywhere we’ve been round the country, and to be able to go and play in some big, important stadiums round England and in Cardiff and have them packed out is pretty special. The guys from our squad who were at our open training session in Darlington, when 4,000 people booked up the spectators’ places within24 hours, will remember it for a long time. The organisers have done a great job, it’s been a good tournament. England have been great hosts.
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