Video - Rugby's Top 5 most shocking upsets
When Russian side Krasny Yar shocked Stade Francais on opening weekend, the rugby rulebook was turned upside down and inside out. The Siberian minnows upset the apple cart by beating the Parisian powerhouses 34 – 29 in Krasnoyarsk. We’ll admit that playing away in Russia surely can’t be easy, but it remains amongst the biggest upsets of all time. While ranking the others we came across some huge shocks, here are some of the best.
Wales vs New Zealand, 1905
When New Zealand exported its first touring side, it was at no small cost. After a boat trip lasting weeks they arrived to face the best of the British Isles, and won. They played 39 games under their now famous captain Dave Gallaher and triumphed at every hurdle barring one. It’s said that kiwi winger Bob Deans brought his controversially disallowed try to his death bed after being “pulled back across the try line before the referee could catch up”. It was a win that asserted Wales as the kings of British rugby, and stopped the plundering All Black invasion completely white washing their tour.
Tonga vs Australia, 1973
In the same year that they completed a successful tour of Great Britain, the Wallabies were no slouches. The Australians have never not been a top level team, but not so for Tonga. The pacific bruisers had not yet lifted themselves to the heights of a tier one nation. So when they toppled the Australians on their own turf 16 – 11, all of the 9,563 people in Brisbane were shocked. It’s not as if they won by fluke either, in the days of 4 point tries they well outscored their opponents with an expansive game and pulled off a shocker 16 – 11.
France vs New Zealand, 1999
The surprise nobody saw coming but now everyone knows. On the biggest stage at the World Cup, against possibly rugby’s biggest ever star in Jonah Lomu, the French did what only they can do. Their madness outdid the All Black defence by doing what it didn’t expect, purely because nobody would ever expect it. Cross-field kicks, ambitious offloads and running rugby ran riot in the semi final. With predictable French unpredictability they didn’t win the final, but they beat the team that were a shoe in for the cup, and left an indelible mark on the competitions history.
Newport vs New Zealand, 1963
Colin Meads is widely considered to be the greatest All Black of all time. Newport probably wouldn’t be considered to be the best welsh province, never mind the worlds best team. That didn’t stop them tearing into the mighty All Black lock at home. Rodney Parade was bursting at the seams to see one of the finest touring sides of all time, and they certainly got their money’s worth. With abhorrent weather conditions playing havoc with the All Black’s skilful game, Newport brought intensity and heart in droves and it saw them over the line to one of the biggest upsets of all time 3 – 0.
Romania vs Wales, 1988
Welsh great Jonathan Davies said of their 1988 fixture at the Arms Park, “Looking at our forwards that day I thought, ‘O God, we’re in trouble”. He wasn’t wrong. On one of rugby’s most sacred grounds, Romania upset the elders and won the game in front of the 19,000 fans that witnessed the chaos. Times were changing in both countries, the professional rugby era was dawning in Wales, and in Romania the Iron Curtain was on its way down. The teams were so different, but Romania wanted it more, and they battered their way to a 15 – 9 win never to be forgotten.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments