The 2023 Rugby World Cup gets underway this Friday night, with a blockbuster opening contest between France and the All Blacks taking centre stage to kick-start the competition. After months of anticipation, this seismic clash is the perfect way to start off the 10th Rugby World Cup.
Both sides will be leaving it all on the pitch to secure the win, and put their best foot forward for the rest of the competition. New Zealand and France both enter the World Cup amongst the four front-running favourites (with Ireland and South Africa), with the All Blacks searching for a record setting fourth Rugby World Cup title. Les Bleus want nothing more than to win their first Rugby World Cup this year, and lift the Web Ellis Trophy on home soil.
Throughout the Rugby World Cup's nine previous iterations, there have been some memorable opening day matches to look back on. From titanic clashes between giants of the rugby world, to the most unexpected of upsets, the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup is a special few days that rugby fans look forward to once every four years.
Before France and New Zealand add the latest chapter in the history of Rugby World Cup openers this Friday night, here are our picks for the top 5 opening weekend matches, throughout the history of the pinnacle competition.
1. New Zealand 23 - 13 South Africa: 2019 Rugby World Cup (Pool B)
21st September 2019, International Stadium Yokohama, Yokahama
The latest addition to this list of early competition classics, the All Blacks and Springboks met in the opening match of Pool B at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, for a firecracker contest that ignited the tournament. After the two rivals battled to a 16-16 stalemate in the 2019 Rugby Championship just over a month prior, New Zealand ensured that the spoils would not be shared this time around, as they perused a third consecutive Rugby World Cup title.
After an initial 20-minute arm wrestle for control, Richie Mo'unga slotted a penalty to break the deadlock for the All Blacks, before the opening try was added by winger George Bridge. The Springboks were stunned, and Steve Hansen's men capitalised on their disorganisation as Scott Barrett powered over for their second try just four minutes later. This double blow had the 'Boks on the ropes until half time, with Handre Pollard's sole penalty slightly dropping the deficit to 17-3.
South Africa rallied back early in the second half, with Pieter Steph du Toit's try dragging the soon to be World Champions back into the match. From then on, the fixture was won from the boot, as despite the best efforts of Pollard's drop goal, Beauden Barrett's late penalty established unobtainable daylight for the Springboks, and an All Blacks victory. Despite the opening round defeat, the Springboks bounced back to progress out of the Pool, with knock-out stage victories over Japan and Wales seeing them through to a triumphant Rugby World Cup Final against England.
2. South Africa 32 - 34 Japan: 2015 Rugby World Cup (Pool B)
19th September 2015, Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton
One of the most famous Rugby World Cup upsets of all time, in what was arguably the finest hour for Japanese Rugby. The 'Brighton Miracle' of 2015 has gone down in Rugby World Cup folklore, as Japan secured a dramatic comeback victory over the heavily favoured Springboks, to start off the action in Pool B. Heading into the match, few expected anything less than a one-sided South African victory, however, Japan provided an unforgettable upset, with none other than Eddie Jones taking charge of the Brave Blossoms.
The ‘Boks tried to run over their considerably smaller opponents, yet Jones’ defensive ingenuity had taught Japan the art of the chop tackle. The two sides traded first half blows, as Francois Louw opened up the scoring for the Springboks before Japan Captain Michael Leitch responded with an example-setting try. A 12-10 half-time score saw Japan remain in touching distance, with fullback Ayumu Goromaru slotting five second half penalties, to counteract South Africa's tries from Bismarck du Plessis, Lodewyk de Jager and Jan Strauss.
Goromaru’s phenomenal try in the 69th minute then levelled up the scores, and the previously impossible challenge now seemed achievable. In the final play of the match, time stood still, as replacement winger Karne Hesketh fought his way into the corner, to wrap up an unbelievable victory for Japan, for just their second ever win at the Rugby World Cup. This win was a world away from the 52-8 shut-out against Zimbabwe in 1991, and established the Brave Blossoms' intentions as big-time players on the international stage.
3. Ireland 19 - 43 New Zealand: 1995 Rugby World Cup (Pool C)
27th May 1995, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
This was the match that introduced the world to a true icon of the game. In 1995, just 25 days after his 20th birthday, the late, great Jonah Lomu ran out at Ellis Park to make only his third All Blacks cap. Having achieved his debut against France the previous year, Lomu had already obtained the accolade of being the youngest ever All Black, and he was about to add the next chapter in what would be an immortalising legacy.
Lomu scored twice in this opening weekend clash with Ireland, in a breath-taking display of dominance from the All Blacks. Lomu powered through two tackle attempts before skipping past the last Irish defender to score his first Rugby World Cup try, before the winger followed this up by capping off a move from the training pitch. New Zealand ran rings through Ireland with a tricky tap penalty move, before Lomu put his head down, and drove through the crumbling green wall to score his second.
A memorable victory for the All Blacks, made even more special as the match marked the arrival of Lomu to the world rugby stage. The Springboks took note, and were able to neutralise the threat in that year's final. The remaining tries from the All Blacks came from Joshua Kronfield, France Bunce and Glen Osbourne, with Andrew Mehrtens adding 18 points from the boot in this landslide win over Ireland.
4. South Africa 27 - 18 Australia: 1995 Rugby World Cup (Pool A)
25th May 1995, Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
The 1995 Rugby World Cup provided two brilliant match-ups in the opening weekend, with the aforementioned All Blacks triumph over Ireland, and this classic encounter between two teams in the middle of their historic 'Golden eras'. The first match of the 1995 Rugby World Cup was so hotly anticipated it could not wait until the weekend, with the match between hosts South Africa and reigning World Champions Australia setting off the competition on a Thursday night, in May of '95.
Two star-studded teams took to the pitch, with the Wallabies boasting a flourishing back line that included 1991 Rugby World Cup winners George Gregan, Michael Lynagh and David Campese. The Springboks found their star men in the pack, as captain Francois Pienaar led out the likes of Rudolf Straeuli in the back row, and with arguably the finest loosehead prop to play the game, Os du Randt up front. What followed was an all-star match, with Wallabies halfback Lynagh starting off the try scoring after half an hour's play, before Springboks winger Pieter Hendriks reduced the lead just four minutes later.
A starring performance from South African fly half Joel Stransky, gave an early prelude as to how the '95 Final would play out against the All Blacks. After crossing over for a try, Stransky added 17 points from the boot, and kicked the decisive distance to take the match out of sight for the Wallabies. Stransky would repeat this feat in the final, with his nine points taking the match to extra-time, before winning the Web Ellis trophy with an iconic drop goal. After the highs of their 1991 triumph, the golden generation of Australian rugby was coming to a close, with the torch passed to the 'Boks in this all-star match.
5. Argentina 19 - 32 Australia: 1991 Rugby World Cup (Pool 3)
4th October 1991, Stradey Park, Llanelli
We now re-wind four years prior to the height of Australian rugby, with the Wallabies at their very best for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. The great entertainer David Campese have a career defining performance, in this opening weekend match for the tournament across the UK, Ireland and France. Only 11,000 fans packed themselves into the former home of the Scarlets, to see the soon to be World Champions take on Los Pumas, in a thrilling exhibition of Southern Hemisphere rugby.
The legends of the Australian backline shone in this opening match, as winger Campese and centre Tim Horan each scored twice against Argentina. Hooker Phil Kearns added a fifth for the Wallabies, with Argentina's try scoring efforts coming in the form of a brace from winger Martin Jose Teran Nougues. The sharpshooting of Michael Lynagh added a further 10 points from the tee, with the Wallabies setting off on the front foot, in the journey to their sole Rugby World Cup title to date.
There has to be an honourable mention to New Zealand's 18-12 victory over England on this very same weekend. In doing so, the All Blacks became the first team in Rugby World Cup history to defeat a host nation at the tournament, with the New Zealand victory taking place at Twickenham Stadium. However, this one-try match was a slower burn than the high-octane action of Argentina vs Australia, which is why that gets the nod as the final instalment, on this list of the greatest opening weekend matches.
