Memorable Rugby Player Performances

[psychic duck]

What individual performances of players most stick out in your memory?

either brilliant performances or dreadful shocking performances?

 

[dullonien]

Two that spring to mind (not quite sure why these two) are Sam Norton-Knight's dreadful debut for the Cardiff Blues where he didn't appear to understand how to play rugby full stop.

On the flip side, I've always remembered Iestyn Harris' debut at CAP for Cardiff Blues when he switched codes. Was it against Glasgow? He was brilliant in that game from what I remember, and got extremely excited about the prospect of him playing for Wales. I know it wasn't all plain sailing, and it took him quite a while to settle in (and ultimately went back to league just as he was reaching his potential in union), but that performance was memorable.

 

[McTallshort]

Watching the Tigers V Barbarians one boxing day when a certain Jiffy Davis playing one of his last games before moving to rugby league scored a try with such a brilliant piece of individual skill and speed it almost looked like everyone was standing still and he simply ran round them.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Dusautoir in the 2007 QF will be hard to top.

I'll always remember Rob Kearney single handedly man-shaming South Africa when we played them in 2009

 

[lucky number 7]

Heiniken Cup final 2011 Sean O'Brien

Jaques Burger in any Namibia game.

Todd Clever in any USA game...


These are when the players all came out looking like god tier players

 

[Sixesandsevens]

Austin Healey in the 2001 Heineken cup final was absolutely class.

 

[Draggs]

Martyn Williams v France 2005.
James Hook v England 2007, 2008.
Morné Steyn v New Zealand, 2009.
Patrick Lambie v Western Province, 2010 CC Final.
Adam Ashley-Cooper v France, 2010.

 

[Tadginator]

Johnny sexton, Heineken cup final 2011. Zac Guildford vs Canada rwc 2011. Two great individual performances.
Luke McAlister vs Perpignan at start of top 14 season 2011/12. Great game.

shane Williams vs Australia. 2011 last try. Brilliant end

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Andy goode had a stormer vs Leinster in the 04 Qf, haven't a clue why that one springs to mind.
Felipe for Leinster vs Toulouse 06.
O'gara vs Leinster 06.
O'driscoll vs England 09.
Rocky in any HEC match 09.
Ferries vs Australia 11.
Pocock vs S.A 11.
Gorgodze vs Leinster 11.
Marshall vs Leicester both games will always stick with me and were the reason my man crush started.

 

[Sker]

Ronan O'Gara 2009 British and Irish Lions vs South Africa. 2nd Test

I remember Andre Pretorius having a LOVELY game against Tonga in the SA vs Tonga game, RWC 2007 QF. Almost made us lose vs Tonga...

 

[LittleGuy]

James Pritchard putting up 36 points for Canada against the USA in a RWC qualifying match in 2006.

Theuns Kotze's goal, drop and tactical kicking clinic vs. Fiji RWC 2011.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ronan O'Gara 2009 British and Irish Lions vs South Africa. 2nd Test

I remember Andre Pretorius having a LOVELY game against Tonga in the SA vs Tonga game, RWC 2007 QF. Almost made us lose vs Tonga...

 

[King_D'Arcy]

Carter vs Lions 2005 (second test)
Carter vs Ireland 2010
North vs Ireland 2012
Pocock vs South Africa rwc quarter 2011
Heaslip vs Toulouse heineken cup semi 2011
Dusatouir vs New Zealand rwc quarter 2007
Dusatuoir vs New Zealand rwc final 2011
Sexton vs Bath Heineken Cup pool stages 2011 (In the aviva)

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Carter vs. Lions in 2005
Dusautoir vs. All Blacks 2007

Those two are just memorable, because of the importance of the game as well.
Also:
Elsom vs. Leicester ERC 09
JM Hernandez vs. Clermont Top 14 final 2007

On the "shocking" side:
Damien Traille vs. Australia 2010
Australian frontrow vs. England 09

 

[nickdnz]

Heroic
Daniel Carter v Lions 2005
Jonah Lomu v England 1995
Christian Cullen v Scotland 1996

Pathetic
Sione Lauaki v Australia 3rd Test 2008
Stephen Donald v Australia 4th Test 2010

 

[lynam1104]

POC V Wales 09 was great that day.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Jannie De Beer vs England (literally) 1999 World Cup QF - 5 Drop Goals
Francois Hougaard vs Wales 2011 WC
Bryan Habana vs Sharks 2008 Super 14 Final
Bryan Haban vs Argentina 2007 Semi Final WC

 

[welshglory]

Simon Shaw v Lions 2nd test. Epic

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Carter vs Lions 2005 (second test)
Carter vs Ireland 2010
North vs Ireland 2012
Pocock vs South Africa rwc quarter 2011
Heaslip vs Toulouse heineken cup semi 2011
Dusatouir vs New Zealand rwc quarter 2007
Dusatuoir vs New Zealand rwc final 2011
Sexton vs Bath Heineken Cup pool stages 2011 (In the aviva)

First has to be arguably the most complete performance by a 10 against top opposition ever.

The 2nd is more the performance of Bryce Lawrence (or lack thereof) than Pocock IMO. But he did singlehandedly (with Lawrence daydreaming of a NZ RWC victory) win Aus that game. Him along with the high tackling Aus backline with honorable mention to Pat McCabe.

I'd also like to mention FdP the entire 2007 and 2009 seasons best rugby player ever.

 

[madflyhalf]

Stephen Larkham vs. All Blacks, RWC Semifinal 2003

I've always been Bernie's fan, but since that day he became God.


Agree with Carter vs. Lions 2005,
Dusautoir vs. All Blacks RWC QF 2007
Adam Ashley-Cooper vs. France 2010
Pocock vs. South Africa 2011