Part 2 in a 10 Part Series celebrating the upsets and classic matches at Rugby World Cups.

When a favourite gets rolled by an underdog the sporting world – outside beaten favourite’s fans – sits up and cheers.

With the recent occurrence of upset results at the Cricket World Cup and the All Blacks current favouritism for the Rugby version later this year this series examines the history of the Rugby World Cup upset.

Please find following the 1991 upsets (as judged by me…). Again I add the rider that this was written almost entirely from memory with only the occasional fact checked – so if some of the facts are not 100% … err … sorry.

(P.S.  There was a match at Dublin that some like to consider an upset – a proper examination of history would confirm that the teams started at least on an even footing, therefore this match will be considered in the “Classics” series.)

1991
The 1991 tournament was characterised by relatively low scoring, dour rugby.  Relatively speaking the minnows performed well in this tournament and there seemed to be some hope of the pool of competitive international teams widening.  Despite this the minnows did not get the results – the big boys (particularly Australia – the 9-3 result over Samoa as a particular example) had a habit of doing just enough to stay in front. 

Thankfully (unless you’re Welsh) there was one stunning upset.

Western Samoa 16 v Wales 13
Picked by many New Zealanders, who were aware of the strength team and talent of players like Peter Fatialofa & Apollo Perelini, as a game that could go to the under dog, this result probably sneaked up on the unsuspecting Welsh.

Western Samoa, who somewhat controversially missed selection in the 16 teams that attended the inaugural 1987 event, used some creative methods to add players like Frank Bunce and Stephen Bachop (both to later play for the All Blacks) and Mata’afa Keenan to their team but won the hearts of the rugby world by beating one of the traditional rugby powers and foundation (well nearly) IRB countries.   

Despite being loaded with poached New Zealanders and New Zealand based players several domestically based players starred were to become stars for their country for many years:  try-scoring flanker Sila Vaifale* and the winger, who was later given the nickname “The Chiropractor”, Brian Lima (who was still straightening backs in the 2003 tournament – just ask Dereck Hougaard).  To’o Vaega* scored the first of the Samoan’s tries, and although this “try” may not have stood up to the scrutiny of today’s TMO nobody could deny that the Polynesian team deserved their win.

Holding Australia to 9-3 along the way Samoa were able to piggyback this win into the quarter-finals in this tournament and effectively into the 1995 quarter-finals and the knock-out rounds of 1999 on the back of the seeding they gained here.  Before they had to cope with the challenges of professional clubs restricting player availability the 1990s was a golden time for Samoan rugby.

* - I reserve the right to be wrong about the try scorers and which of those tries did not appear to be grounded properly – I can’t find any confirmation.

Minor
Canada 13 v Fiji 3
Romania 17 v Fiji 15
Fiji was disappointing in 1991 after being seeded due to their achievement of making the knock-out round in 1987.  Canada had looked strong in ’87 so perhaps that result was not entirely unpredictable, but at the start of the tournament many would have suggested that Fiji would go through this group again.  Certainly the Fijians loss to Romania was an upset.

On a side note – Canada have yet to repeat their form of 1987 and 1991, reaching the quarter finals in the latter tournament, and the IRB must take responsibility for letting a golden opportunity to help create a new rugby power and establish a foothold in North America slide meekly away.