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IOL News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
On this day: All Blacks annihilate Japan in record-breaking rout
Ireland's Eric Elwood slotted the winning penalty in their 24-23 win over Wales on this day at the Rugby World Cup 1995. Photo: AFP Image: AFP If the previous day saw the Battle of Boet Erasmus in Gqeberha between the Springboks and Canada, then June 4 witnessed the "Massacre of Free State Stadium". Japan, competing in their third World Cup in 1995, were not expected to trouble New Zealand in their Pool C clash in Bloemfontein, despite given a good account of themselves in a 50–28 loss to Ireland in their previous match. Nonetheless, no one expected the destruction that would be unleashed on them in a result that still holds several records today. Rugby World Cup 1995 | In retrospective Image: Independent Media Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Remarkably, it was very much an All Blacks B-team, captained by flanker Paul Henderson, selected to face the Brave Blossoms on a sunny winter's day in the Free State. Of the starting XV that would contest the final on 24 June, only prop Craig Dowd, brothers Robin and Zinzan Brooke, and outside backs Jeff Wilson and Glen Osborne featured in the match. What followed was a 21-try, 145–17 rout, with the match described as more of a training run for the Kiwis than a proper Test. It remains the highest aggregate points scored (162), the most total tries (23), and the most conversions (22) – not only in Rugby World Cup history but in any Test match. The 145 points scored by the All Blacks remains the most by a team in a Test. Surprisingly, the game does not hold the record for the biggest winning margin – that unwanted distinction belongs to Uruguay, who lost 142–0 to Australia eight years later. New Zealand fly-half Simon Culhane's 45-point haul – consisting of one try and 20 conversions – remains the highest individual total in a Test match and the most points scored on international debut. The six tries scored by centre Marc Ellis also remain the most in a Rugby World Cup match. The result was a significant setback for Japanese rugby, stalling their development for several years. It would take nearly two decades – culminating in the 'Miracle in Brighton' when they beat South Africa in 2015 – to erase the memory of this horror show. For the All Blacks, it only enhanced their aura and solidified their status as favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Rugby World Cup 1995 I On this day: Tragedy, triumph and turmoil in dramatic third round
Former Springbok James Dalton was one of several players sent off during the Battle of Boet Erasmus on this day at the Rugby World Cup 1995. Photo: AFP Image: AFP The third round of the 1995 Rugby World Cup began in tragedy. The match between Tonga and Ivory Coast had barely kicked off when Ivorian wing Max Brito collected a high ball. He was tackled fairly, but following the ensuing ruck, Brito was left prone on his back. He had been paralysed in a freak accident. It remains the darkest day in the history of the Rugby World Cup. Brito was quickly airlifted to hospital, but the damage was permanent. He would spend 25 years in a wheelchair before passing away in 2022 at the age of 54. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The match itself was otherwise forgettable, as the two teams fought to avoid finishing bottom of their pool. The West Africans showed improvement from their opening game, where they at times appeared unfamiliar with the rules. The more experienced Tongans were always in control and secured a 29–11 victory. The match was played in Rustenburg in front of about 8 000 local fans, who passionately supported the underdogs. When Ivorian flanker Alfred Okou scored his team's try, the celebration was so intense it felt as if they had won the game. The Australia vs Romania fixture was the first international played in Stellenbosch. The venue was selected in honour of South African rugby legend Danie Craven, who lived there for many years and passed away in 1993. The Wallabies wore striking green jerseys with yellow hoops to avoid a colour clash with Romania's yellow kit. They also used the match as an opportunity to give their backup players a run. Among them were future Australian rugby legends George Gregan, John Eales, David Wilson, Matthew Burke, Tim Horan, and Joe Roff — players who would form the core of the Wallabies' 1999 World Cup-winning side. They proved too strong for the Romanians, who conceded six tries in a 42–3 defeat, with flying wing Joe Roff scoring twice. One of the tournament's best matches took place at Loftus Versfeld between France and Scotland. Dubbed 'The Eliminator', the clash carried high stakes: the loser would face the formidable All Blacks in the quarter-final. The match had the intensity of a knockout fixture and was only decided in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The Scots had been leading 19–15 and were desperate for referee Wayne Erickson to blow the final whistle — only for French wing Émile Ntamack to score after a prolonged siege in the Scottish 22. It was the final movement of the match. Scottish hearts were broken, but they had missed their chances earlier. The usually reliable goal-kicker Gavin Hastings endured a nightmare with the boot, a stark contrast to the precision of French centre Thierry Lacroix. It was a brutal contest between the Six Nations rivals — France's Philippe Benetton (No 8) and scrum-half Guy Accoceberry both suffered broken arms. France edged it 22–19, with Lacroix kicking five penalties and converting Ntamack's try. Scotland flanker Rob Wainwright scored his side's sole try.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Canadians cause a riot against Springboks in Battle of Boet Erasmus II
The big winner of the Battle of Boet Erasmus at the Rugby World Cup 1995 between the Springboks and Canada, was Chester Williams, who did not even play in the clash. Photo: AFP Image: AFP Those who were there swear there was something sinister simmering in the air above Algoa Bay the night the Springboks hosted Canada in a Pool A match at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Older fans would later say they had experienced the same combative atmosphere on July 13, 1974, when the original Battle of Boet Erasmus took place. That was the infamous third Test between the British Lions and a desperate Springbok. At week earlier, at Loftus Versfeld, the Boks had suffered a record 28–9 humiliation and arrived at Boet Erasmus Stadium in a savage mood. But the wily Lions knew what was coming and had devised a call to arms they named '99'. Rugby World Cup 1995 | In retrospective Image: Independent Media Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading When captain Willie John McBride sensed extreme hostility, he would scream '99' and each Lion would punch the nearest Springbok. McBride reasoned that if all 15 Lions were simultaneously brawling, it would be impossible for the referee to send anyone off. The Lions won the fight and the rugby, and the Boks fared only marginally better than in Pretoria, losing 26–9. In 1995, a contributing factor to the incendiary atmosphere was the late kick-off at 7.45pm. It had been a long time since Gqeberha had hosted a Test match, and the excited locals had all day to imbibe in the throbbing beachfront pubs, before they partied up the road to nearby Boet Erasmus Stadium – a ramshackle cauldron where rusty old railway carriages presided atop the openside stand. The volatile expectancy was ramped up when the lights failed as the teams lined up for the national anthems. The 31 000 spectators thronged to the stadium pubs once more. Also pre-match, there had been the curious sight of SA Rugby Football Union CEO Edward Griffiths personally threading his way across that boisterous openside stand to implore holders of the old South African flag to lower their colours. Some did; others mocked him. The teams retreated to their changing rooms when the lights failed. The Canadians continued to whip themselves into a frenzy. That week, captain Gareth Rees had said: 'We're not a particularly good side, but through physical confrontation, we're hoping to set up a battle that we can win. "Nothing illegal … Just good old confrontational rugby that can win or lose you the game.' In fact, Canada were a relatively good side — Rees was an accomplished flyhalf; their Western Province centre Christian Stewart would later play for the Boks; while Rod Snow and Al Charron were among the best tight forwards in Welsh club rugby. But the Canadians knew they could not beat the Boks in a fair exchange. Former Canada captain Gareth Rees. Photo: AFP Image: AFP When the game eventually kicked off, just before 9pm, the Canadians set out to niggle, annoy, and unsettle — an elbow here, a jersey tug there, hidden punches in the rucks, and plenty of inflammatory chatter. This match was the Boks' third game of the World Cup. They had gloriously beaten defending champions Australia in the opening match and taken care of Romania with a B-side. Discipline had been a non-negotiable cornerstone of the Boks' campaign under ultra-strict coach Kitch Christie, and in the first half, the Boks literally rolled with the punches and maintained their focus on getting the result that would secure them a quarter-final. After all, if they had lost to Canada, there was a mathematical chance they would not make the play-offs. The Boks comfortably led 17–0 at half-time, but the only further score in the match would be a Joel Stransky penalty early in the second half. The game lost shape as the niggling intensified, and the powder keg was ignited when Canada wing Winston Stanley, hurtling down the touchline, was clattered into the advertising boards by an over-exuberant Pieter Hendriks. All hell broke loose when Stanley got up and tried to throttle Hendriks. Players flew in like missiles, and among them — perhaps inevitably — was James 'Bullet' Dalton. At that time, the law emphasised that the third party arriving with hostile intent at a tussle, had to be heavily penalised. Referee David McHugh incorrectly identified Dalton as the third arrival, when replays clearly showed it was Canadian fullback Scott Stewart who had escalated the situation. Virtually every player on the field traded blows, but it was the unfortunate Dalton who was sent off by McHugh, along with Rees and Snow. Dalton, for once in his life, was innocent. He never threw a punch and was injudiciously banned from the rest of the tournament. The great fear was that if the Boks' semi-final against France had been rained off — and it very nearly was — they would have been out of the World Cup because Les Bleus had the better disciplinary record.
