Sometimes rugby can be the cruellest of sports. With matches and competitions decided by the tiniest of margins, lovers of the sport can be heartbroken when it just is not their day. For Valentine’s Day RUCK has decided to take a look at some of the most heart-breaking moments in rugby, from Lions Tours and World Cups to the grass roots.
Gavin Hastings Misses Penalty vs England
In 1991, Gavin Hastings had the opportunity to send Scotland through to their first ever Rugby World Cup Final. With the score tied at six-all, England had given away a penalty in the final moments, and the match rested on Hastings’ shoulders. One of the world’s finest fullbacks stepped up to the tee, but then sliced the shot wide of the posts. A relatively easy kick for Hasting’s standards, he missed the effort from under 20m out. England later scored a penalty of their own, and sent Scotland crashing out of the semi-final.
London Irish lose 2021 Premiership Rugby Cup on Tries Scored
It is always heart-breaking for a team to get to any cup final, and then come away without the trophy. Last season’s Premiership Rugby Cup was just that for London Irish, as the Exiles did not even lose the match, after a 25-25 draw with Worcester Warriors. Kyle Hatherall’s 80th minute try for Worcester took the sides into extra time, with neither side able to make a breakthrough in the following half an hour.
With speculation of a ‘golden point’ or even a penalty shoot-out to decide the final, Worcester were awarded the trophy, with the win settled on ‘tries scored’. London Irish have unfinished business in the competition, and are back in the final on the 19th March, as they host Exeter Chiefs at the G-tech Community Stadium.
Jonny Wilkson Breaks Australian Hearts in Sydney
A timeless clip that has brought endless joy to England fans, Jonny Wilkinson’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winning drop goal broke the heart of Australian rugby. With the Wallabies looking to win rugby’s grandest competition on home soil, Wilkinson’s 100th minute drop goal brought the William Web Ellis Trophy to Twickenham.
The commentary with foresaw the extra time match winner will be forever remembered “Get within drop goal position, and let the little maestro have a slot.” Then just three phases of play later, the story unravelled in Sydney. “Again Wilkinson in the place… Jonny Wilkinson, he’s done it, it’s over!” Australian fans were devastated to see the ball sail through the posts, with England winning their first and only men’s Rugby World Cup.
Red Roses Suffer World Cup Heartbreak against the Black Ferns
Last year, England’s Rugby World Cup dreams were brought to a heart-breaking end, after a dramatic defeat to New Zealand in the final. In the final 10 minutes of the match, Theresa Fitzpatrick nudged a well weighted grubber kick through the English defence, which bounced up for Stacey Fluhler.
She was stopped short of the line but was able to offload the ball to Ayesha Leti-l’iga to score from no distance at all. The 34-31 final score brought an end to England’s amazing 30-match unbeaten streak, in the most heart-breaking of circumstances.
‘Accidental Offside’ Robs the All Blacks of British and Irish Lions Series Win
“No, there’s no such thing as an accidental offside!” All Blacks Number Eight Kieran Reid was irate when he confronted referee Romain Poite, after a potentially series winning penalty was reversed following the most perplexing reason. The All Blacks believe that they should have been awarded a penalty, which in the 77th minute of the 15-15 tied third test, could have sealed the home series triumph with a penalty kick.
Lions Hooker Ken Owens was penalised by the referee, after he touched the ball in an offside position, when in front of fullback Liam Williams, who had spilt the jumping kick-off catch. Reid proclaimed that you can not accidentally catch the ball, yet Sam Warburton’s counter argument and discussion with Poite resulted in the decision being reversed. What resulted was a scrum, and the series being tied.
“He didn’t play the ball, it was an accidental offside. We go for a scrum for black.” New Zealand rugby fans will never forget Poite’s words.
South Africa U19s Schoolboy Ends Match Thinking He’s Won The Game
A classic and viral example of how rugby can be a cruel sport at every level of the game. A Durbanville High player expected to hear the cheers of celebration, once he booted the ball away off the pitch to call an end to a hard-fought match against Bishops Rugby. However, the player had mis-calculated the score-line, and sent the ball sailing into the stands with his classmates watching on. The youngster’s expression then dropped as he sees his teammates shout in anger, and he glances at the scoreboard to see his side were in fact losing by one point.
