International upsets that ALMOST happened

[Nielsch]

but were not to be.

One of my favourites must be Romania - Scotland at the Rugby World Cup 2011

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ireland related:

Georgia almost turning us over at the 2007 World Cup.

Ireland nearly taking Australia out in the 1991 World Cup quarter final since Ireland were awful at the time.

France squeezing to victory in the 1998 5 Nations in Paris against an Ireland team with a new unheard of coach (Warren Gatland) and Andy Ward coming from the 3rd tier of the AIL making his debut.

 

[big ginger 8]

I think you can add Ireland NZ second test to that. Lost 42-10 first test came within 3 in a week. The 3rd test will go unmentioned.

 

[Nielsch]

And, of course, the finale of the RWC 2011 in which France ALMOST beat New Zealand at Eden Park after being defeated 37-17 by the All Blacks in the pool stage and only just making it to the knockout stage thanks to Canada's surprise win over Tonga.

 

[Aedaphon]

This game was awfully close- Wales vs Samoa 09



Felt vindicated when they finally won this Autumn...

 

[Nielsch]

Italy almost beating Australia at home in Florence during the 2012 end-of-year tests. 19-22 final score.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

2011 Six Nations: Italy - Ireland.

The Italians came close to winning but a 78 minute drop goal by Ronan O'Gara made it 11-13 and prevented the Irish from a humiliating loss.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

2011 Six Nations: Italy - Ireland.

The Italians came close to winning but a 78 minute drop goal by Ronan O'Gara made it 11-13 and prevented the Irish from a humiliating loss.

They'll rectify that next week I think.

 

[Feicarsinn]

2011 Six Nations: Italy - Ireland.

The Italians came close to winning but a 78 minute drop goal by Ronan O'Gara made it 11-13 and prevented the Irish from a humiliating loss.

I'd hardly call it humilating to lose in Italy.

 

[RWC2011Fan]

2nd String Springboks 30-25 Tonga
Springboks 37-20 Fiji
Springboks 13-5 Samoa
14-man Wales 8-9 France
Ireland 14-10 Georgia
Ireland 19-22 New Zealand

 

[Draggs]

Wales 36-38 South Africa 2004
Wales 25-26 New Zealand 2004
Wales 31-34 South Africa 2010
Wales 25-29 South Africa 2010
Wales 16-17 South Africa 2011

Now I'm sad.

 

[RWC2011Fan]

^ What about:
Australia 14-12 Wales
Australia 20-19 Wales
Australia 25-23 Wales

 

[dragos03]

From a Romanian point of view:
- Romania - New Zealand 6-14 (1981) - no less than three Romanian tries were disallowed in this match
- Romania - Italy 18-24 (RWC 2007)
- the already mentioned match against Scotland at RWC 2011

a pic from the New Zealand game in 1981:

 

[Zed]

From a Romanian point of view:
- Romania - New Zealand 6-14 (1981) - no less than three Romanian tries were disallowed in this match
- Romania - Italy 18-24 (RWC 2007)
- the already mentioned match against Scotland at RWC 2011

a pic from the New Zealand game in 1981:
View attachment 2094

Romania were actually quite strong in the 80s under Ceausescu's regime weren't they? I seem to remember something about them being enlisted in the army but training full time as rugby players or something like that?

 

[Big Ewis]

England Italy, 2013 6N.

 

[dragos03]

Yes, Romania was very strong in the 70s and 80s, routinely beating the 5N teams. The players were amateurs in theory (being registered to the clubs of the army, police, universities, etc) but in reality they were full time professionals. However, the 5N countries refused to allow Romania into the tournament at that time, probably due to political reasons.

According to the "legend", the referee of that 1981 match against the All Blacks admitted his mistakes in front of the Romanian players after the game.

 

[Superalexmarket]

This was so close...

 

[Draggs]

Two losses to NZ in the 70s.
The Keith Murdoch match and Andy Haden match, to some.

Ireland v Wales 2012

 

[psychic duck]

Two losses to NZ in the 70s.
The Keith Murdoch match and Andy Haden match, to some.

Ireland v Wales 2012

Here is that dive that won New Zealand the match winning penalty.

 

[Draggs]

Careful now.