England went into the 1995 Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Newlands on June 11 hoping to avenge their heartbreaking loss in the final on home soil four years earlier.
England had reached that final by playing an attritional, forward-dominated game, but appeared to respond to criticism from Australia’s David Campese and rejected this style of play in the final in favour of a more expansive running game. The tactic backfired and Australia triumphed at Twickenham.
The fierce rivals were again placed on a collision course four years later after England had finished top of Pool B and Australia had finished second behind the Springboks in Pool A. The match wasn’t exactly a running spectacle, but it was no less dramatic, as it went right down to the final kick.
England dominated the first half at a packed Newlands, the platform once again laid by their powerful forwards.
The Wallabies’ Michael Lynagh and Rob Andrew of England both managed two penalties each in the half, but Tony Underwood’s try proved the difference.
England won a turnover at the ruck and the ball was spread wide fast, landing in the hands of Underwood, who sprinted down the right wing and touched down for a great try. Damian Smith later did well to gather a high up-and-under in midair and touched down for a brilliant response by the Wallabies.
From then on, the game was all about the forward confrontation and the boots of Lynagh and Andrew. The pair matched each other kick for kick but the sides could not be separated at full time with the scores 22-22.
The match went to extra-time, and Andrew had the last say, collecting a superb Dewi Morris pass and slotting over a perfect drop kick from 45m. It was a famous 25-22 win for England, who beat Australia outside of the northern hemisphere for the first time.
Rugby World Cup 1995 | In retrospective
In the other quarter-final on the same day at Loftus, Scotland were hoping to create their own history by beating New Zealand for the first time. However, the All Blacks would not be denied a place in the semi-finals, securing a 48-30 triumph.
They had led 17-9 at half-time, thanks to the first of two tries by Walter Little and one by Jonah Lomu.
Scotland looked like they were in with a chance of an upset after a competitive and hard-fought opening stanza in which they shaded most aspects of play. However, their hopes were dented when flyhalf Craig Chalmers was forced off with injury.
New Zealand showed their class in the second stanza and pulled off a comfortable win. Little, Andrew Mehrtens, Frank Bunce and skipper Sean Fitzpatrick all dotted down for the All Blacks in the second half.
While Lomu enjoyed a great game, one of the standout images of that match was that of hooker Fitzpatrick outpacing Scotland’s defenders on the left wing and scoring in his 100th match for New Zealand.
Doddie Weir bagged a brace for Scotland while Scott Hastings bagged their third try. The boot of Gavin Hastings also added respectability to the final score for Scotland. Unfortunately for Scotland, they are still searching for a first Test win over New Zealand 30 years on.
England slumped to a 3-1 home friendly defeat by Senegal on Tuesday to ramp up the scrutiny on boss Thomas Tuchel one year out from the World Cup.Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly inflicted England's first ever defeat against African opposition at Nottingham Forest's City Ground after Harry Kane had given the hosts an early lead.Tuchel was scathing in his criticism of his side's dreary display in […]
