On the 28th of May, the World XV will be re-formed, to take on the Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium. The all-star team will be under the coaching guidance of former All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen, who took New Zealand to Rugby World Cup glory back in 2015.
Eddie Jones returns to Twickenham as the Barbarians Head Coach, in what will be an exciting exhibition showdown at the home of English rugby. The match will be contested for the Barbarians’ coveted Killik Cup, which they won against England last Summer, and successfully retained against the New Zealand XV in November.
The World XV has not been brought together since 2018, and there is plenty of excitement ahead of their return. So, ahead of this upcoming fixture, lets take a look back on the World XV’s five most memorable matches.
- World XV 45 – 24 South Africa, 27th August 1977
The original and best. The 1977 World XV side was truly a ‘Best of the World’ squad, who took the fight to one of the finest international teams, in the late 70s Springboks. The match was brought together to commemorate the opening of Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria’s brand new 51,000 capacity arena.
With standing support and a sell-out crowd, 65,000 fans packed themselves in to the stadium, to watch some of the world’s greats take the field. Gareth Edwards, J.P.R Williams, Sandy Carmichael and Willie John McBride, embodied the spirit of the 1974 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, who took a clean sweep 3-0 victory in the series.
An eventual win for the World XV was made hard work by the driven South Africans. The hosts led at half-time 22-14, after two tries from flanker Theuns Stofberg, and one from Gerrie Germishuys. The World XV’s inspired comeback took the South African’s by suprise, as the British Lions partnered up alongside All Blacks, in Ian Kirkpatrick, Alan Sutherland and Bill Osbourne.
The All Blacks and British Lions were able to co-exist, as were their partnering Wallabies and Pumas. Paul McLean and Hugo Porta each played 40 minutes at fly half, and represented Australia and Argentina respectively. The two orchestrated the attack for this once in a generation team.
2. World XV 31 – 28 Japan, 26th Oct 2018
The last gathering of the World XV was brought together, to mark the one year countdown to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. A star-studded cast came together in Osaka, led by legendary All Black Ma’a Nonu. The World XV was an entirely Southern Hemisphere side, with a heavy New Zealand influence. The side featured 10 All Blacks and was coached by former New Zealand Assistant Coach Robbie Deans.
South African international Lionel Cronje had a starring performance in the free-flowing exhibition contest, he scored a try and gained two assists in the win. All Blacks winger Tevita Li opened the scoring for the World XV early in the first half, in what ignited this end-to-end encounter.
The World XV also invited representatives from minnow rugby nations to participate. Winger Toni Pulu lined up on the right for the combined side, representing the small Pacific Island of Niue. The Western Force star got his name on the scoresheet for the World XV, along with Cronje, Tevita Li, and Leinster back-rower Jason Jenkins.
Japan enjoyed the opportunity to host the World XV, and put up an impressive showing on the day. Tries from Kenki Fukuoka, Timothy Lafaele, Lomano Lemeki, and Ryoto Nakamura kept the Brave Blossoms competing against the all-stars. In what was an advert for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, Japan thrilled their spectators, and planted the seeds for a memorable tournament. Their 2019 RWC wins over Ireland, Samoa and Russia saw Japan top Pool A, before succumbing to South Africa in the knock-out stage.
3. South Africa 46 – 10 World XV, 11th July 2015
Legendary Springbok Bakkies Botha captained the World XV, as they took on the South African Rugby World Cup selected squad of 2015. In a warm-up fixture for the upcoming competition, South Africa dismantled the World XV, disregarding any sense of this being a ‘friendly’ match.
Fullback Willie Le Roux ran riot in the exhibition encounter, scoring a hat-trick after just over an hour’s play. Damien de Allende started the scoring off after just nine minutes, before Eben Etzebeth doubled their lead shortly after. Willie le Roux and Francois Lowe were each sent to the sin bin for dangerous tackles on the World XV, again highlighting how the Boks weren’t taking this fixture lightly.
There were eight South Africans in the World XV, as front rowers Craig Burden, Petrus du Plessis and Gethro Steenkamp took the fight to their countrymen up front, with Burden managing to grab himself a try. Phillip van der Merwe partnered Botha in the locks, with Pierre Johan Spies at eight. JJ Engelbrecht and Wynand Olivier partnered in the centres, yet were overcome by the Springboks for the duration of the match.
An interesting cameo from the Armitage brothers added variety to the World XV. Delon started at full back, with his brother Steffon on the openside flank. Yet the World XV did not stand much hope against the relentless Springboks, who ran in additional tries through Cobus Reinach, and de Allende scored his second on the 80th minute.
4. Welsh XV 65 – 57 World XV, 18th May 2008
The testimonial match for Wales rugby icon Shane Williams, the winger hand-picked his Welsh XV, and lined up against a World XV that was selected by former All Black Justin Marshall. A 19 try thriller, was the perfect showcase for one of rugby’s greatest ever try-scorers, with the action’s scoring better resembling a basketball game.
Williams scored the winning try for his selected side, in a match that represented how the flying winger used to play the game. Fast, expansive and creating openings from nothing, this game optimised Williams’ attitude to rugby. Williams scored twice for his side, as did formidable centres Tom Shanklin and Jamie Roberts. Ian Gough, Dafydd James, Bradley Davies and Tom James also got onto the scoresheet for Williams’ Welsh XV.
The Principality Stadium played hosts to an array of international visitors, with representatives from both hemispheres, across nine countries. Former Wales Head Coach Mike Ruddock took charge of the World XV, and selected four of Williams’ countrymen. Ed Shervington, Scott Morgan, Ryan Powell and Ceri Sweeny lined up against the Welsh XV, alongside the likes of England’s Ben Foden, Freddie Tuilagi of Samoa, and Scottish prop Allan Jacobsen.
Foden contributed to the World XV’s points tally, with Sweeny scoring a hat-trick, and Morgan scoring twice on their home soil. All Black Filo Tiatia, Paul Emerick of the United States, and Samoan centre Elvis Seveali’i also contributed to this high scoring contest in the Welsh capitol.
5. Tonga 60 – 26 World XV, 1st August 2008
A match to mark the royal coronation of King George Tupou V, Tonga ran in 10 tries and comfortably beat an invitational World XV side. King George V arrived to Teufaiva stadium in style, taking his chauffeur driven black London cab to the fixture. He then greeted the stars of the World XV, who were captained by former Wales international Colin Chavis.
A dominant display from the Tongans, saw celebrations begin early on the Pacific Island. 2,000 spectators watched on, as the likes of former England sevens captain Ben Gollings and former All Black Josh Kronfield took on their national team. Tonga controlled the game, and were 33-14 up at half time, having already scored five tries.
The ‘Sea Eagles’ maintained this dominance for the second half, and marked the royal occassion with an emphatic victory. The World XV were made up of players from Australia, England, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Wales, including former Wallabies hooker Jeremy Paul and Newcastle Falcons flanker Semo Sititi, who represented Samoa.