(Other) Wednesday 21 December 2011
Jonah Lomu was a key figure for New Zealand at RWC 1995
A Rugby World Cup Final is the highest level any team can reach in the sport. So, by definition, the 14 sides who have played in the seven RWC Finals to date must be 14 of the best teams of all time. But how do they compare to each other?
In a purely hypothetical exercise, we have ranked the 14 teams. We’re pretty sure our choice of number one is going to cause quite a stir, so feel free to share your thoughts on the Rugby World Cup Facebook page.
Let the arguments begin…
14. England 2007
When England lost 36-0 to South Africa in the pool stages of France 2007, there was not one sane person on Earth who would have backed them to reach the Final, let alone almost beat the same opponents. The biggest turnaround in RWC history, or at least it was, until …
13. France 2011
Just a couple of months ago France performed heroically in their 8-7 defeat to RWC 2011 hosts New Zealand, with their captain Thierry Dusautoir’s display a contender for the greatest individual showing in any RWC Final. But let’s not forget the performance against Tonga in the pool stages just a few weeks earlier.
12. France 1999
This French team’s defeat of New Zealand in the semi-finals was one of the greatest upsets in RWC history. On the form they showed that day, they could take on any of the teams on this list. However, in losing 35-12 to Australia in the Final, they showed considerably less panache.
11. Australia 2003
A side superbly marshalled by legendary scrum half George Gregan who came within a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal of winning the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil. Not the strongest pack of forwards, but a backline that could compete with anyone.
10. France 1987
Les Bleus were thoroughly outplayed in the first ever RWC Final, losing 29-9 to New Zealand. But any side that could boast Philippe Sella and Serge Blanco in their three-quarters – two of the most exciting players of their generation – would have a chance against any defence.
9. England 1991
Will Carling’s men famously chose to alter their game plan for the 1991 Final at Twickenham, opting to take on the Australians at a running game. It backfired. If they had stuck to their strengths, played a tight game and made use of their brutal pack, they might have beaten anyone.
8. New Zealand 2011
The fact this year’s All Blacks managed to overcome the greatest pressure any rugby side has ever faced to win New Zealand’s first Rugby World Cup in 24 years marks them out as something special. And with a fully fit Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, they have two of the all-time greats to lead them.
7. Australia 1991
Based around the Australian ‘Holy Trinity’ of David Campese, Michael Lynagh and captain Nick Farr-Jones, the precision and accuracy of this backline made them comfortably the best team of the 1991 tournament – and more than a match for any side from the professional era.
6. South Africa 2007
One word best describes this Springbok team: hard. Trying to get past this pack was like trying to run through a brick wall. Add in the class of Fourie du Preez at scrum half and Victor Matfield running the most effective lineout unit in the history of the Game, and you have some very worthy world champions.
5. New Zealand 1987
The side that not only won the first Rugby World Cup, but transformed the Game in doing so. As well as winning the tournament more comfortably than any other team has managed, players like Sean Fitzpatrick and Michael Jones revolutionised their positions.
4. South Africa 1995
A talented team, no doubt about that: Francois Pienaar, Joost van der Westhuizen … but the reason they are so high up in this list is that in their own nation in 1995 it was as if they were destined to beat anyone and everyone. With the whole of South Africa needing them to win, they were always going to.
3. Australia 1999
They won the 1999 Final by 23 points, the biggest winning margin of any Final, which says it all. Capable of switching from a running game to a more pragmatic style of play when required, and in Tim Horan they had the outstanding player of the tournament, who would be a contender for the 12 shirt in any of these teams.
2. England 2003
A team that simply did not even consider the prospect of defeat. Clearly the best team in the world in 2003 (wins in New Zealand and Australia even before the tournament proved that), and although they came in for some criticism for the reliance on the boot of Jonny Wilkinson, they would have found a way of beating any team in front of them. Apart from perhaps…
1. New Zealand 1995
Yes, the best of all the Rugby World Cup finalists is a side who didn’t even win the tournament. Just consider the quality of the first great team of the professional era. Sean Fitzpatrick leading from the front, the dynamic power of Zinzan Brooke and Josh Kronfeld in the back row, the composure of Andrew Mehrtens at 10 and then of course the incredible phenomenon that was Jonah Lomu on the wing. Yes, they were beaten by the Springboks, but that was down to the unprecedented inspiration South Africa were offered by their countrymen. As a side from 1-15, they were virtually unmatched. Although you might not agree.
If you don’t, then tell us why on the Rugby World Cup Facebook page.
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