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Hey Wallabies, This Is How You Do It: The Ten Best Tries Scored Against The All Blacks
By Jamie Wall
After being destroyed by the All Blacks in Sydney last Saturday the downtrodden Wallabies now have to cross the Tasman and face the same team on their home turf this Saturday. To inspire them back to their 2015 World Cup form, Jamie Wall has selected the best 10 tries ever scored against the All Blacks (that are also on the internet).
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Watch: Wallabies vs All Blacks – Sydney test Full Game | Condensed
Over the years we’ve seen plenty of amazing tries scored against the All Blacks, a couple of which are so famous they’ve entered mythical status: Prince Alexander Obolensky’s double for England in 1936 and Gareth Edwards for the Barbarians in 1973 are easily the most notable historical examples.
Here’s 10 brilliant examples from the last couple of decades to inspire the Wallabies before they run out onto Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
10. Yoshihito Yoshida, Athletic Park, Wellington, 1992
Yoshida was part of the World XV, playing against the All Blacks as part of the NZRU’s centenary celebrations. That’s English centre Jeremy Guscott who provides the pinpoint kick for Yoshida to make his spectacular dive. They were both part of an All Star team that actually beat the All Blacks in the first test but went on to lose the series 2-1.
9. Bryan Habana, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, 2012
Bryan Habana has scored a record number of tries for the Springboks, including this beauty early on in a Rugby Championship game a few years ago. This gem solidified his reputation as South Africa’s most potent attacking threat of a generation.
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8. David Rees, Twickenham, London, 1997
When you talk of great international wingers, David Rees of England isn’t going to appear in too many conversations. Not many English wingers would, to be honest. But this one shining moment came in the last test of the All Blacks all-conquering 1997 season when he was given the unenviable task of marking Jonah Lomu. This piece of brilliance helped England shoot out to a big lead that the All Blacks managed to peg back in a 26-all draw (which they most definitely didn’t deserve).
7. Richard Bands, Carisbrook, Dunedin, 2003
One for all the front rowers out there. Carlos Spencer is probably still having nightmares about this one – it’s doubtful anyone in the All Blacks camp had scouted Richard Bands’ incredible pace, but they certainly found out when he took this perfectly-timed hit up and cruised 50 metres to score in the corner. He had one little speed bump in the form of the unfortunate Spencer, who immediately wished he’d gone for Bands’ ankles instead.
6. Jonny Wilkinson, Twickenham, London, 2002
Lord Jonny makes it onto the list with this sublime effort. After some great lead-up work by his England teammates, Wilkinson looks to do what every New Zealander expects him to do when England get close to the posts: kick a drop goal. Instead he puts boot to ball in a different way and chips over the top to score. England went on to win this test, however it is worth noting the All Blacks were severely under-strength for this tour.
5 & 4. David Campese and Tim Horan, Landsdowne Road, Dublin, 1991 (RWC semifinal)
Two in one game by a couple of the Wallabies’ greatest ever players. These two are both memorable for the fact that they happened on the biggest stage of them all, the Rugby World Cup, and played their part in denying the All Blacks a place in the final. First Campo shows his brilliance by cutting back across the run of play to bamboozle the All Blacks, then does it again later in the half with a memorable no-look pass to set up Horan and break All Blacks fans’ hearts.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uNAh34pDt8
3. Ricky Januarie, Carisbrook, Dunedin, 2008
The Springboks really pull out their best stuff in Dunedin don’t they? This incredible effort by halfback Januarie wasn’t just the best try you’ll see from 2008, it sealed a very important win on New Zealand soil. Ultimately the All Blacks would go on and win the Tri Nations that year, but only because of the Springboks going completely off the boil and losing matches at home that they really shouldn’t have.
2. Matt Burke, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 1996
“Why the hell isn’t anyone tackling him?!” is what All Blacks fans all were screaming at the same time back in this game from the first ever Tri Nations tournament. Matt Burke didn’t care, he only had eyes for the line as he carved off this incredible individual effort. This game was an amazing turnaround from the previous week in Wellington, where the Wallabies had been humbled in dramatic fashion. The full match highlights are well worth watching.
1. Jean-Luc Sardourny, Eden Park, Auckland, 1994
The Try From The End Of The World in English. L’essai a Partir de la Fin du Monde in French. Ah s***, ah f***, no! in Kiwi. This is the last time the All Blacks lost at Eden Park did and this is the try it took to do it. I vividly remember watching this and at the point where Emile N’tamack cuts back in, I got a sinking feeling in my stomach. He links up with Laurent Cabannes who finds Cristophe Deylaud on the inside. Deylaud pops a short ball to Guy Accoceberry and raises his arms in celebration, but, even though he has a clear run to the line, the halfback unselfishly gives the glory to his fullback Jean-Luc Sardourny. This try went the length of the field and essentially through the entire French team, meaning none of them will ever have to pay for a drink again for the rest of their lives.
