Rugby is a defensive-minded game, and when a team finally breaks through their opponent’s strongholds for a try, there are few things more exciting in sport.
Rugby is of course even more exciting when that scoring plays part in a comeback win. This is part of the reason the sport is so popular to bet on, too: there is nothing quite like the drama of a rugby comeback.
Below are five of the top rugby comebacks that fans and punters alike will never forget.
France 43-31 New Zealand (1999 Rugby World Cup Semi-Final)
New Zealand was the favorite to win the 1999 Rugby World Cup, and that prediction looked like it was going to come true when the All Blacks jumped out to a 24-10 lead on France in the semi-finals.
But two quick drop goals and two quick penalties from Frenchman Christophe Lamaison, who was only included in the starting XV because of a teammate’s injury, closed the gap to 24-22. Ignited was a comeback that would become one of rugby’s most famous, and France would add three tries to cap a 43-31 victory in what many call the World Cup’s greatest game.
France 18-24 Wales (2005 Six Nations)
It looked as if Wales’ Grand Slam dreams were going to be dashed. Eventual runner-ups France led 15-6 at the break in Gameweek 3 of the 2005 Six Nations, scoring two tries in the first 14 minutes of the match.
But the second half looked like a completely different match, with Wales’ Martyn Williams scoring a try in the 42nd and then again in the 45th to suddenly give the Welsh a three-point lead. The scoring would slow for the rest of the half until a French drop goal in the 64th. That was answered by a penalty and then a drop goal for Wales in the final minutes to give them a 24-18 win that would see them win their first Six Nations Grand Slam.
Leinster 33-22 Northampton Saints (2011 Heineken Cup Final)
2011’s Heineken Cup Final looked like it wasn’t going to be a contest even before halftime. Northampton Saints were on a mission to win their first Heineken Cup since 2000, and showed it by scoring three tries and holding opponents Leinster to none in the first half.
Despite the 22-6 lead, Leinster chipped away by scoring tries in the 43rd, 52nd, and 64th, making all three conversions, and scoring two penalties. The defense that couldn’t stop Northampton from scoring in the first half was resounding in the second, not allowing a single point. This effort gave Leinster a 33-22 win and their second Heineken Cup title in three years.
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Romania 17-15 Canada (2015 Rugby World Cup)
Canada and Romania aren’t exactly world rugby powers, but a World Cup match they played in 2015 will be remembered forever by anyone that is a fan of the sport. Down 15-0 in the 53rd minute, Romania finally made it onto the scoreboard when captain Mihai Macovei led a group charge over the tryline to give the Oaks a small glimmer of hope.
Twenty minutes later, another try from Macaovei and a made conversion suddenly saw the Canadian lead cut to one. A successful penalty take inside the final three minutes of the match officially completed marked the Canadians’ collapse and the largest comeback in World Cup history.
Samoa 29-26 Fiji (2016 HSBC Paris Sevens Cup Final)
The Cup Final of the 2016 Paris Sevens was hopefully a glimpse at what the world can expect from the sevens tournament this summer at the Rio Olympics. Down 21-0 at one point in the first half, Samoa looked completely outclassed next to the eventual 2015-16 world champions Fijians, to whom they lost 42-5 the day before in pool play.
