Who’s excited for the 2019 Rugby World Cup then? With less than two months to go, rugby fans across the world will be dreaming of lifting the famous Webb Ellis Cup.
New Zealand are favourites but the chasing pack will be quietly confident of dethroning the All Blacks. With the 2019 tournament edging closer, we looked at nines of the greatest ever tries to whet your appetite.
So sit back, relax and enjoy the most spectacular tries in Rugby World Cup history!
John Kirwan (1987)
Kirwan scored the first try in Rugby World Cup history – and what a try it was. Some would even argue that it deserves to rank at the top of this list…
The All Blacks star picked up the ball just 10 metres from his own posts before embarking on a mazy sprint down the field. Italy tried to stop him but Kirwan was not for catching...
Jonah Lomu (1995)
The New Zealand legend scored what is arguably the best Rugby World Cup try of all-time in the 1995 World Cup semi-final win over England.
Lomu, a relatively unknown quantity back then, bulldozered Mike Catt to the ground before setting the All Blacks on their way with just two minutes on the clock and the rest is history.
Christophe Lamaison (1999)
France and New Zealand have enjoyed some tasty Rugby World Cup fixtures over the years, with both teams enjoying success. In 1999, it would be France who took an early lead…
Christophe Dominici was one of the best wingers in the business and his weaving run was enough to break up the All Blacks defence. Lamaison was the beneficiary, running in under the posts to give Les Bleus an advantage.
Stephen Jones (2003)
For a Welshman, there’s nothing better than scoring against England. And it was the turn of Jones to step up and put the English defence to the sword in 2003.
With the likes of Shane Williams and Gareth Thomas, Wales were the best counter-attacking team in the world. After an incredible break, Jones found himself in the right place to touch down for a famous try.
Kosuke Endo (2007)
Japan produced one of the greatest ever Rugby World Cup moments when beating South Africa in 2015 and they threatened to do the same to Wales back in 2007.
The rugby union minnows took a first-half lead in Cardiff, with flying winger Endo touching down for a spectacular score in the corner. The Principality Stadium stood as one to applaud a truly incredible piece of skill.
Yannick Jauzion (2007)
Jauzion was the try scorer but Frederic Michalak deserves plenty of plaudits for his presence of mind to create the game-winning chance.
With his first touch of the game, Michalak turned mid-tackle to offload the ball to Jauzion in support and he did the rest. That turned out to be the decisive score as France advanced to the semi-finals.
Vilimoni Delasau (2007)
Fiji have always been known for an enthusiastic approach and they were rewarded for their efforts in 2007, reaching the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
Without a doubt, Delasau’s try against Wales was a tournament highlight. Fiji’s quick hands created an opportunity for Delasau and he duly obliged, touching down between a pair of Welsh defenders.
Takudzwa Ngwenya (2007)
In 2007, Habana was widely regarded as the fastest rugby player on the planet. Step forward, Takudzwa Ngwenya to score one of the World Cup’s greatest tries.
The Springboks star was beaten for pace as Ngwenya cruised past him to finish off a terrific United States move. Although embarrassed, Habana went on to finish as the tournament’s top try scorer.
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
