THE GLORY OF 95

ON THIS DAY: May 30

This was always going to be a clash between the tough Los Pumas pack of forwards and the thrilling attacking style of the Samoan backs. And so it proved in the early exchanges, with Argentina’s feared ‘Bajada’ scrum bending their opponents to force a penalty try.

But then the islanders hit back with a typically flowing move, which was smartly finished by left wing George Harder. In the second half, the South Americans surged further ahead when another powerful scrum saw scrumhalf Rodrigo Crexell dive over from the base, and it looked like the end was near for Peter Fatialofa’s men at 26-16. But Kellett’s left boot reduced the deficit to four points with two penalties, and the big play came soon enough. Flank Junior Paramore broke clear and fed replacement back George Leaupepe, who produced a fine touchdown. Then a loose pass by Lisandro Arbizu near his own line was eventually picked up by Paramore, who put No 8 Pat Lam over for the winning try.

POINTS-SCORERS:

Western Samoa Tries: George Harder, George Leaupepe, Pat Lam. Conversion: Darren Kellett (1). Penalties: Kellett (5).

Argentina Tries: Penalty Try, Rodrigo Crexell. Conversions: José Luis Cilley (2). Penalties: Cilley (4).

A mixture of Tongan ill-discipline and some one eyed refereeing, saw Gavin Hastings boot penalty after penalty on a chilly night at Loftus. Tongan flanker Ipolitio Fenukitau’s beautiful try in the first half, was the sole highlight for the Pacific Islanders who were typically physical, sometimes too much so for the liking of the Australian official Barry Leask.

The referee wasn’t much good either, often missing Scottish infractions, and allowing Hasting to stretch Scotland’s lead. Their three tries came late in the match as the Tongans tired.

POINTS-SCORERS:

Scotland Tries: Scott Hastings, Eric Peters, Gavin Hastings. Conversion: Gavin Hastings. Penalties: Gavin Hastings (8).

Tonga Try: Ipolito Fenukitau

This was much more about the Ivory Coast than France. Even accounting for their ability to sway between the sublime and the ridiculous, the French were never going to lose this game. And they won comfortably. But this was a night for the Ivorians to celebrate. Having been shut out by the Scots, against France the Ivory Coast tackled like men possessed and scored their first points at the tournament. Flyhalf Aboubacar Camara charged down a clearing kick from Thierry Lacroix near the tryline and fell on the ball, sending supporters in Rustenberg into ecstasy. “It’s like they’ve won the world cup,” bellowed the TV commentator. For the second try, centre Jean Bapiste Sathiq intercepted a French pass, charged down the right touchline, put in an excellent chip with wing Aboubacar Soulama dotting down. It was an Ivorian ‘win’ even if the scoreboard didn’t say so.

POINTS-SCORERS:

France Tries: Thierry Lacroix (2), Abdelatif Benazzi, William Techoueyres, Sebastian Viars, Guy Accoceberry, Philippe Saint-Andre, Arnaud Costes. Conversions: Christophe Deylaud (2), Lacroix (2). Penalties: Lacroix (2). Ivory Coast Tries: Aboubacar Soulama, Aboubacar Camara. Conversion: Victor Kouassi. Penalties: Kouassi (2)

COACH Kitch Christie had divided his 26-man squad into a Green team and a Gold team for the Pool stages and after Green had covered itself in glory against the Aussies, it was time for Gold to get cracking. Understandably, after the euphoria of the opening match, this relative non-event against Romania would see an underwhelming South African performance. The players that had not been involved against the Wallabies tried too hard to impress and the performance was individualistic and disjointed. The Eastern Europeans were brave competitors, but it said everything about them at this World Cup that when Francois Pienaar went to their change room afterwards to thank them for the game, he saw players packing their kit into plastic shopping bags (to his great credit, he then organised them proper kit). The match was also a damp squib for another capacity Newlands crowd that restlessly saw the Boks labour to a win via two tries from captain and No 8 Adriaan Richter.

POINTS SCORERS:

South Africa Tries: Adriaan Richter (2). Conversion: Gavin Johnson. Penalties: Johnson (3).

Romania Try: Andrei Guranescu. Penalty: Illie Ivancuic.