Rugby World Cup: Seven Moments Of The First Seven Days

1. Jonny May’s leap and Billy Vunipola’s try

 

Both of these things were interlinked and occurred within seconds of each other. As England had Fiji trailing on the opening night, one final try was required for the all important bonus points.

 

Right on cue, the dramatic final flourish arrived. Picking up the ball centrally, May sidestepped an opponent before surging for the Fijian try line. As the walls of defence formed around him, the Swindon born player chose to launch all 90kg of his being through the air and lunge for the line.

 

Instantly hampered by the Fijian’s, May managed to pop the ball off to Mike Brown before substitute Vunipola took over and scrambled the ball over the line in dramatic fashion.

 

After the game, Vunipola admitted to waiting broadcasters he didn’t even realise his crucial fourth try had secured additional points. But his team mates knew, and they were certainly thankful for it.

 

2. Nadolo’s try vs England

 

A lot had been spoken of Fiji’s Nemani Nadolo prior to the tournament’s opener. The 27-year-old wing could not be spoken of without comparisons of legendary Jonah Lomu being uttered in the same breath.

 

With such talk comes a certain degree of pressure and, although he couldn’t inspire his side to overturn the hosts at Twickenham, Nadolo put in a solid showing, capped off with an athletic leap to oust Anthony Watson and land the try for his nation.

 

Springing up to the catch Volavola’s high cross-field kick into the goal area, Nadolo exhibited exactly why he has won the genetic lottery, towering above Watson, clutching the ball firmly mid-air before slamming down to earth to seal the try.

 

3. Japan shock the rugby world

 

Prior to the Japan – South Africa game, if you would have asked any ardent rugby fan for a score prediction, they would have most likely replied with a Springboks slaughter of their Asian opponents.

 

Nobody expected Japan to triumph over the two times world champions, whether they had the brain of Eddie Jones behind their preparation or not.

 

But Japan came, stood and were counted. Ayumu Goromanu’s try personified Japan’s approach, as he blitzed his way through a sea of men before seeking the try line like a homing missile.

 

Japan had to fight, tooth and nail, yet this moment will not simply just go down as one of the best from the current World Cup, but has instead reserved itself a shelf in the sport’s hall of fame.

 

4. Mamuka Gorgodze the Georgian colossus 

 

The World Cup has a strange habit of raising players to a level they didn’t even know they had.

 

Unable to nail down a starting place for his domestic side Toulon, Gorgodze took to the field with Georgia as a new man.

 

His pride and passion in wearing the shirt was rewarded on the 28th minute as he sailed through the Tongan ranks like an immovable object, to register a try for this side.

 

Georgia went on to cement the win, only their third in World Cup competition.

 

5. The Welsh injury curse lingers on

 

It’s perhaps a running joke now for Wales. First their talisman Leigh Halfpenny gets ruled out on the eve of the sport’s biggest tournament, then their woes continue well into the first game.

 

Influential prop Samson Lee, a big source hope for Wales heading into the World Cup, was the first to hit the deck with injury, and his fellow prop Paul James was soon to follow.

 

Neither will be fit in time for Wales’ upcoming clash against hosts England, leaving many Welsh men and women scratching their hands and wondering whether the 2015 World Cup was a tournament their nation were destined to fail in.

 

6. Four day turnarounds are too much of an ask for underdogs

 

Everyone loves a good underdog story. Better still is when an underdog story becomes a full blown series, however in the case of Japan it wasn’t to be.

 

After their miracle victory over South Africa, the rugby world sat misty-eyed wondering if they could possibly go on and dispatch Scotland in the coming days.

 

A lesser talented team on paper, Scotland should prove an easier target for Eddie Jones’ surprise package Japan, many fans thought.

 

But two huge, physically and mentally demanding games in such a short period of time knocked the wind out of Japan’s sails.

 

Scotland picked up the gauntlet, tried it on for size, and it fit – perfectly. Their 45-10 victory over the Japanese exuded professionalism and experience, and reminded the Japan side that the World Cup is no place for fairytales.

 

7. Namibian heart pushes the All Blacks

 

Rarely has a defeat in rugby felt so much like a victory.

 

Despite getting beaten by New Zealand 58-14, Namibia, with their team strewn with amateurs and working class heroes, held their line against the world’s number one side, digging in during each barrage of attack and putting their body on the line.

 

With Jacques Burger, the Saracens flanker within their ranks, regarded as one of the best tacklers in the game, his team mates around him rose to the occasion and provided a spectacle for the rugby world.

 

Johan Deysal’s try on the 50th minute capped off a wonderful passage of play for the Namibians, stirring the crowd and reminding the All Blacks that this tournament will not be played purely on their terms.