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More classic moments in store? (16)

• Ryan Jones
• 12 Oct 07, 12:47 PM

Swansea - World Cup 2007 has experienced somewhat of a lull this week in the wake of last weekend’s dramas, and for me the period of calm has been put to use by partaking in a spot of nostalgic indulgence in memories of semi-finals gone-by.

Admittedly, people who know me will be the first to tell you that I am far from rugby’s greatest historian, but even I know that the encounters that have taken place in the semi-finals of the previous World Cups have produced matches of such acclaim that they will long be etched in the history of the game and many will be recognisable to even the newest of rugby followers.

In ’87, but the demolition job they received from the All Blacks that day paled into insignificance in light of the match that took place in the other semi.

No list of top ten all-time tries ever comes without mention of against Australia in that match - and what a match.

From what I am told, it was probably the game that announced the Rugby World Cup as an event that was here to stay.

but their defence was shattered in 1991 by their old pal, .

Nobody talks of his try that day because it was the no-look pass to Timmy Horan, sending him in for the winning try, that still lives in the memory and has to be one of the defining moments in the career of a man with true genius at his finger tips.

On the other end of the scale there was poor old who sliced what could have been the winning kick from in front of then posts against England at Murrayfield.

That moment is equally as memorable but for such different reasons. Sorry to bring it up if you’re reading Gav!

Whilst on the subject of people who would like to forget World Cup semis, how about the whole of the , who felt the wrath of a certain .

That’s no jibe at England either (before I’m accused again!) because there was nothing that was stopping that man on that day and, probably with the exception of Jonny’s right-footed effort in Sydney for the England fans, is the most famous World Cup image of all.

Lomu was rugby from that day forward and the publicity that he received around the globe especially after that semi, shot rugby union right into the spotlight just as the game was turning professional.

, not only for France’s miraculous display to oust Jonah and his boys in what is regarded in many eyes as the best game of rugby union ever (a close second to in my eyes!) but also for the largely forgotten - pretty much the only one of his career as pointed out recently by Michael Lynagh – from inside his own half to deny South Africa.

Both those games were absolute classics and as in many cases over the years it turned out that they .

, with Eddie Jones’ men turning form on its head, much in the same way as , in knocking out the overwhelming favourites.

That year in what was a wet, drab, war of attrition won in the end by Jonny Wilkinson. Hopefully this weekend will be different.

On Saturday it’s a repeat performance, and although the French have been playing down talk of revenge this week, there will a few members of that French squad with long memories and a lingering feeling of regret following the 2003 game. They will be out to put it right.

The challenge for them will be largely mental - one, to put last weekend’s heroics out of their mind and two, to embrace the pressure that the home advantage will bring, especially with the game being against such an old enemy.

For France I think victory in this game will only come on the back of controlled emotion.

As far as Brian Ashton is concerned, it will be a case of same again please fellas whilst for the team it will be about exerting the forward pressure they did against the Wallabies but also identifying the opportunities that come their way to give the ball some width.

I think Ashton will be looking to bring something new to the table for this game too as he will realise that even if the England eight get the upper-hand they are unlikely to dominate in the same way .

And as they saw , without that platform they can be punished.

In saying that, this is not the same England side that faced the Springboks a month ago and I don’t mean that comment in reference to personnel, even though there have been changes.

I mean it more in the sense of the that they have gathered through succeeding in the face of adversity and I think this game will go down to the wire.

I’m loathe to go for France because, as I hinted at earlier, I’m getting a bit of reputation amongst our regular readers as a bit of an anti-England activist, which I can assure you I’m not. But it’s France for me.

, I feel the match is there for South Africa to lose. If they perform, they should have too much for Argentina despite the performances of the Pumas so far.

and that will have sharpened their minds to the task ahead.

.

As combative and determined as they are, I think they would have to produce a performance better than any so far to come away with a result in this one and to knock down the door of the South African pack is a huge ask.

Having written them off though I still think they have it with in them to produce 80 minutes which can put them in the final, its just a question of can they do it on the day?

I’ll plum for South Africa, though, and after stating earlier in the week that I was making no more predictions, put on my tin hat ready for the abuse when England go through to meet the Pumas in the final!

Let’s hope the matches live up to the semis of yesteryear.

Ryan Jones plays number eight for Wales but misses the World Cup through injury.

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