5 Breathtaking Rugby Matches to Relive During Lockdown

In the sport-starved era of lockdown that the world finds itself in as a result of the COVID-19 Coronavirus, there is very little to keep you occupied with regards to high-octane athletic action; however, that doesn’t need to be the case. This period gives us an opportunity to look back on some of the greatest sports matches in recent years, and whether you’ve seen some of these or not, they’re well worth a watch to give your sports-loving heart a kickstart.

New Zealand vs England – 2013 Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final

Whether you’re a rugby league fan or not, this encounter between the Kiwis and British Lions goes down as one of the most dramatic games of all time. Much like a heavy-weight boxing match, New Zealand and England threw everything they had at one another, which resulted in a moment of brilliance from Kiwi superstar Shaun Johnson to win the match in the dying moments. You can also watch the full game here too.

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Reds vs Crusaders – 2011 Super Rugby Final

One of the more action-packed finals in recent memory, the Reds went on to win their first-ever Super Rugby title after the Australians had been endearing a painful drought in the competition. This was the season which established the half-back pairing of Quade Cooper and Will Genia as the Wallabies’ leading stars, who managed to dismantle a sublime Crusaders side made up of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, and Sonny Bill Williams. Suncorp Stadium was in absolute raptures during the Reds’ controlling performance.

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All Blacks v Wallabies – 2017 Rugby Championship, Bledisloe 2

It’s hard not to appreciate the ferocity of the rivalry between the All Blacks and Wallabies, and their second Test at Eden Park during the 2017 Rugby Championship was a perfect example of why rugby fans adore this fixture. After exchanging blows back and forth, both sides began showing desperation. After a 75th minute try by Wallaby centre Kurtley Beale, all looked to be done and dusted for the All Blacks, but in typical New Zealand fashion, Beauden Barrett scored a match-winning try less than two minutes later.

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Springboks v All Blacks – 2013 Rugby Championship, Ellis Park

In one of the most heart-pounding Rugby Championship encounters the tournament has ever seen, it was up to the South Africans to score 4 or more tries in a hope of toppling the All Blacks from their impending competition victory. Heyneke Meyer gave the Boks free reign to attack, to which they did with incredible accuracy. While they weren’t able to pull off the feat, two tries from Bryan Habana and some sublime moments gave the Joburg crowd a memorable spectacle.

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Springboks v All Blacks – 2014 Rugby Championship, Ellis Park

Patrick Lambie’s final 52-metre kick in the 77th minute against the All Blacks in 2014 is something every South African will remember fondly, but the whole game is a joy to watch too. After some spectacular tries and bruising hits against the brilliant All Blacks side, the Springboks were able to rattle the Kiwis into giving away a penalty. Lambie stepped up to slot a long-range shot to seal a 27-25 victory for the Boks, which sent the Ellis Park crowd into pure euphoria.

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Which epic sports match do you think deserves a re-watch? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.