THE GLORY OF 95
BBasil Kenyon Stadium, East London
ARGENTINE-born flyhalf Diego Dominguez got things going for his adopted country with two early penalties, but Los Pumas’ pack eventually found their touch, and they rumbled over for a maul try by flank Rolando Martin. The bigger, more physical Argentina forwards flexed their muscles near halftime when that famed scrum drilled the Azzurri and Welsh referee Clayton Thomas awarded a penalty try.
Italy soon realised that they needed to throw caution to the wind and make greater use of their attacking backs. Their backs secured the win with some superb play in the second half.
ENGLAND opted for a blunt-force approach, with prop Victor Ubogu surging down the touchline, before an in-field maul was formed that saw flank Neil Back dive over in the second minute.
Will Carling’s men clearly had the upper hand in the physicality stakes.
But just before halftime, coach Jack Rowell’s team showed that they do have a touch of creativity when slick hands from the likes of Mike Catt, Phil de Glanville and Ian Hunter put Rory Underwood across the whitewash. England dominated much of the second half to record a comfortable win.
IT was a cold Sunday in Bloemfontein and the All Blacks were the hot favourites to win, but no one could have imagined what the New Zealand side would get up to when they kicked off at 3pm. Poor Japan were humiliated as Laurie Mains’ team toyed with their opposition in one of the most lopsided matches seen at a World Cup. After an incredible 80 minutes, New Zealand had run in 21 tries and the world’s latest rugby hero, Jonah Lomu, didn’t even play. He was rested with the knockout stage just days away. Outside centre Marc Ellis scored six tries, wings Eric Rush and Jeff Wilson got three each and fullback Glen Osborne and lock Robin Brooke got two each. Stand-in flyhalf Simon Culhane kicked 20 conversions and scored a try for a personal points haul of 45 points.
There was no stopping a rampant New Zealand team as the 1987 champions made it known they meant business in South Africa. Japan’s two tries, both scored in the second half, came from flank Hiroyuki Kajihara.
THE Five Nations’ two weakest teams that season clashed on a chilly day on the Highveld with the winner set to progress to the knockout stage and the loser missing out. It was a big occasion with plenty to play for.
Ireland were coming off a good win against Japan, while Wales were desperate to hit back following the hiding given to them by New Zealand.
Ireland took charge early on thanks to tries by prop Nick Popplewell and flank Denis McBride, and powered into a deserving 14-6 lead at the break. Replacement Eddie Halvey got Ireland’s third try in the 70th minute to help his team into a commanding 21-9 lead. Then a desperate Wales hit back with two late tries to bring them close, but they never really looked like a team that was going to outplay Ireland. Hooker Jonathan Humphreys scored his team’s first try in the 73rd minute to give Wales hope and they would score again at the death, through flank Hemi Taylor, but it was not enough as Ireland advanced as the better team.
Rolando Martin, Penalty Try, Matias Corral, Jose Luis Cilley. Conversion: Cilley (1). Penalty: Cilley (1).
Italy Paolo Vaccari, Mario Gerosa, Diego Dominguez. Conversions: Dominguez (2). Penalties: Dominguez (4).
Rory Underwood (2), Neil Back, Penalty Try. Conversions: Jonathan Callard (3). Penalties: Callard (5). Drop-goal: Mike Catt (1).
Fata Sini (2), Mike Umaga. Conversions: Tupo Fa’amasino (2). Penalty: Fa’amasino (1).
Robin Brooke (2), Craig Dowd, Alama Ieremia, Glen Osborne (2), Jeff Wilson (3), Richard Loe, Paul Henderson, Simon Culhane, Eric Rush (3), Marc Ellis (6). Conversions: Simon Culhane (20).
Hiroyuki Kajihara (2). Conversions: Keiji Hirose (2). Penalty: Keiji Hirose.
Nic Popplewell, Denis McBride, Eddie Halvey. Conversions: Eric Elwood (3). Penalty: Eric Elwood.
Jonathan Humphreys, Hemi Taylor. Conversions: Neil Jenkins (2). Penalties: Neil Jenkins (2). Drop-goal: Adrian Davies.