Sometimes its a brilliant try - sometimes its a bone shattering tackle and
somtimes a small povincial side defying the odds against a great touring
nation - rugby can bring you moments that stay vivid in your memory for
ever.
Just prior to the big kick off I thought I'd share my favourite top five
memories of rugby in recent time
5th Place - seeing all the England players refusing interviews with Eddie
Butler and Jonathan Davies after Scott Gibbs denies England the 5 nations
championship in the dying seconds of the 1999 Wales England game
4th Place - Oz Durrant dumped by Scott Gibbs on the 97 Lions Tour (close one
this with the equally likeable Richard Lowe being bounced by Gavin Hastings)
3rd Place - Jonah Lomu picking Englishmen out of his studs as a winger
demolishes a much hyped England side in the world cup semis in SA
2nd place - Willie Anderson linking arms with his team mates and advancing
on Shelfords all black haka - Landsdowne Rd crowd roaring like their lives
depended on it
and in a clear and emphatic first place
Sitting in the new Millenium stadium prior to the Wales France match as
60,000 Welshmen boo 15 small English children dressed in their national team
colours clean off the park
Great stuff
Steve Murphy