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‘It’s not impossible’: The shock upset that could cheer up Wallabies fans
There were only two points in it, but that’s all England needed as they sent the Wallabies packing at the quarterfinal stage of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
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Wallaby Stephen Hoiles came off the bench with less than five minutes to play as Australia fought desperately for what would’ve been a tournament-changing three points in Marseille.
But England held on. Stirling Mortlock missed what would’ve been a match-winning penalty with just under three minutes to play, with the goal-kicking centre hooking his attempt wide left.
The pain, hurt and frustration of a quarterfinal exit began to sink in as referee Alain Rolland brought an end to the Test at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
But the rugby world turned their focus to another blockbuster. Tournament favourites New Zealand played France in the second quarterfinal later that night, and that historic upset will never be forgotten.
With the All Blacks bowing out in the quarters, Hoiles remembers that result as “the only thing” that could cheer up Wallabies supporters on an otherwise difficult night.
“The last World Cup in 2007 in France, I played in that and we lost a quarterfinal to England and it was sombre and it seems like what you’ve seen on the screen last week for the Wallabies,” Hoiles added.
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“The only thing that cheered up the Australian supporters was them watching the All Blacks get beaten by the French.
“I’m not gonna say we’re sitting here cheering them.”
Hoiles compared the Wallabies’ “sombre” mood to the current crop of Australian players who were beaten by Wales 40-6 in a record World Cup defeat last weekend.
The Wallabies, who had lost to Fiji earlier in the tournament, will almost certainly bow out in pool play for the first time ever.
But much like that tournament in France 16 years ago, the All Blacks and Wallabies can have their World Cup dreams dashed at the same stage of the tournament.
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If New Zealand fails to beat Italy on Friday night at OL Stadium in Lyon – yes, at the very same venue as the Wallabies versus Wales clash – then they’ll almost certainly fail to make the quarters.
“This is a very good Italian side. This is probably the best Italian side that’s ever gone to a World Cup. They’ve had some big wins over the last couple of years in the Six Nations,” Hoiles added.
“It’s not impossible for them to beat the All Blacks, it’s more even than it’s ever been, but I do think the All Blacks will be too good.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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