Greatest Test Try of All Time

Just a nice wee challenge for people. What do you think was the greatest (in terms of team/individual skill, degree of difficulty, beauty, importance, etc) try ever scored?

I've put a few up in the poll, please tell me your favourite, and I can add them in. Yes I know I'm missing some Shane Williams and Chris Ashton options, but in both cases I've having trouble deciding which was their best.

(Note, I've made it greatest test try for a reason, everyone would vote for Gareth Edwards, Barbarians vs All Blacks, 1973 otherwise)

Personally I'm going to opt for JK in 1987. The try that made me (age 11) truly fall in love with rugby.

Blanco in 87 gets my vote...! superb..

Whilst you don't want everyone voting for it, I have to post a link to it mate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwCbG4I0QyA

pure poetry!

maestegmafia wrote:Blanco in 87 gets my vote...! superb..

+1

Would get my vote anyway, but the fact that it was in the last minute of the semi to take France into the final must give some extra weight (excusing the pun serge )

I have gone for Saint Adre try.

I think it is the right one, the one where Blanco runs the ball from under his post, passes to Sella who intern paases to Cambebero who kicks the ball for Saintandre to score under the post.

But their is also the Blanco try against Wales, i think it was about the same time. France was playing Wales at the time, Blanco runs the ball down the right side of the pitch, kicks the ball over Paul Thorburns head gallops past him and score in the corner.

Kirwan v Italy...

On a side note...
I know its not the full game...but i love that Fijian try in the 7's (think it was the Hong Kong 7's v NZ) where it goes along the line...above the head, shuffled on, then through the leg pass...to the winger flying up.

Classic..

Ozzy3213 wrote:Whilst you don't want everyone voting for it, I have to post a link to it mate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwCbG4I0QyA

pure poetry!

This one gets my vote. There are many excellent tries over the years but this one is special due to the quality of the opposition.

The tackling for that Edwards try in the NZ v Baa Baa's game was appalling though. It's like touch rugby!

Good to see Johnny leading the way so far Nice chip (not going for a drop-goal, honest!) and then shows a nice bit of pace. Good lad!

Do you mean Philippe St André vs England in 1991?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3PHyrbUNM4

It's hard to beat that one and this other French one vs NZ in 1994

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Gaw9mrvcE&feature=related

I agree that Barbarians try is devalued by the tackling. I showed it to a non-rugby playing friend as an example of a great try and he thought it was hilarious. I can kind of see what he meant now. Has sort of spoiled it for me.

ETA: Even as an Englishman I can't see how Jonny's try is in the running!

I'll have to catch them all on youtube when I get home from work. Something to do for the evening

Ozzy3213 wrote:Whilst you don't want everyone voting for it, I have to post a link to it mate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwCbG4I0QyA

pure poetry!

+1

To me that is always going to be the best

Phil Bennett for me, just opitimised what Welsh rugby was all about and Bennetts involvement was just world class, and what a sidestep

I went for Ngwenya against SA in '07.

For me the best try of the pro era, a lot of the other tries on there i've never seen and are from a completely different rugby age so I can't really comment, this one I still remember exactly as it happened.

It's an incredible team effort against the best team in the world and one of the best defensive teams ever at their peak as they were on a roll for the WC. USA were ranked something like 14th at the time.

Just watch the video of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK1cHtUjWEA

Not only is there Ngwenya's awesome pace to skin Habana, but it all starts when they're under pressure 10 m's from the USA line. Wyles the fb intercepts and breaks away, hands off Butch James before offloading out of the tackle to a lock who gets the ball away from contact to their fly half who throws a perfect weighted pass over another SA player to Ngwenya who then leaves the RWC player of the tournament for dead.

[quote="yappysnap"]I went for Ngwenya against SA in '07.

For me the best try of the pro era, a lot of the other tries on there i've never seen and are from a completely different rugby age so I can't really comment [quote]

Why don't you just watch them on You tube like I did, they're all on there apart from a couple I couldn't find?

Eustace H Plimsoll wrote:Do you mean Philippe St André vs England in 1991?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3PHyrbUNM4

It's hard to beat that one and this other French one vs NZ in 1994

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Gaw9mrvcE&feature=related

I agree that Barbarians try is devalued by the tackling. I showed it to a non-rugby playing friend as an example of a great try and he thought it was hilarious. I can kind of see what he meant now. Has sort of spoiled it for me.

ETA: Even as an Englishman I can't see how Jonny's try is in the running!

Oops, it was '91 not '99

I'll add the 1994 try too. I'd never seen it before, I missed watching that test because I was standing in a snowy field watching my father compete in a ploughing match

St Andre, just so...French!

While I don't think any of the tries in here qualify for the overall list, as a group all in one match ... wow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPeWUpWY67g&feature=related

Shane's against SA in SA when he left 3 or 4 including Habana on their behinds.

What about Christian Cullen with the greatest set piece move in the midfield from a lineout against the Wallabies in 2000. More decoys than duck shooting season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH9FmORmbmc&feature=related

I've voted for Lomu.
I know it's not the most beautiful, and in terms of the game, it wasn't that important. It potentially didn't even require an immense amount of individual skill.

What it did do though was to mark the coming of a legend.
England weren't a bad side back then, and they were totally ripped apart by him.
It also signalled a new way of playing on the wing.
Some may say that that isn't necessarily a good thing, but in my opinion anything that adds some variation to the skills required in each position is positive.


Simply for the fact that it was Jonah Lomu, I felt that it required at least 1 vote.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:What about Christian Cullen with the greatest set piece move in the midfield from a lineout against the Wallabies in 2000. More decoys than duck shooting season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH9FmORmbmc&feature=related

Added.

Ive just realise there aren't any Aussies on the list. There must be a Mark Ella or a Campese special to add.

Jaque Fourie 2009 Lions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po2ZHxiy3gk

I know it isn't internatioanl tries, but just look at this and enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwQR1jORn9M

Kirwans 87 try for me in that it set a previously doubtful world cup success alight.

The other thing about this try that i think is absolutely unique is when kirwan got the ball inside his 22, he had the entire 15 players of Italy in front of him. He ended up scoring in a straight line from where he got the ball, meaning he went single handedly directly through the entire team, beating at least 7 or 8 players on the way. No running around the sides, no bumping off players. Straight through. Swerving and stepping up the middle.

I doubt theres been a single like it since

The greatest try of all time was the 1973 Barbarians try against the All Blacks, the greatest Welsh try of all time was Phil Bennetts against Scotland.

This poll has already been done internationally...

Phil Bennett against Scotland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81fi8tj2lrc&feature=related

Greatest kick of all time:
Paul thorburn Vs Scotland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWBZjWRGvvg

Longest successful kick ever, and it hit the Scottish player in the núts as well.

What about Greg Laidlaws against Wales 2012 - Least it was celebrated that way!

On a more serious note I've gone for Kirwan vs Italy. Wonderful try and a great player!

AlynDavies wrote:The greatest try of all time was the 1973 Barbarians try against the All Blacks, the greatest Welsh try of all time was Phil Bennetts against Scotland.

This poll has already been done internationally...

Phil Bennett against Scotland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81fi8tj2lrc&feature=related

Greatest kick of all time:
Paul thorburn Vs Scotland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWBZjWRGvvg

Longest successful kick ever, and it hit the Scottish player in the núts as well.

I thought the greatest welsh try was Edwards against Scotland in cardiff when he ran 50m looking around for support before chipping ahead and outpacing the cover to score. Cant remember what year that was but was pretty sure that was the top one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbw6_MO8pHY

I've gone for Pip saint Andrew. if there was any justice in the rugby world France would have won that match. Simply awesome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3PHyrbUNM4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Drico 2001 Lions come on man

Loved Cullen beating most of the Aussie team in Carisbrook 97. Not only for Cullen's brilliance but also for what preceded it-a No 8 leaping high to claim an up and under, landing and swivelling then firing this absolute bullet 30m to the most lethal runner with the ball I've ever seen.

For comedy value you can't beat Ieuan Evans against Australia for the Lions...Nice one Campo

Some cracking try's listed by the op, but for me, although not many people remember it, but my favourite of all time try was Ieuan Evans's try against Scotland in 1988(I think), it was a long time ago. It was my first time at the Arms Park with my old man, and we were under the kosh for most of the game but then he beats about four players inside and out to go over. It might just be me but that will always stick in my mind, the place just erupted. As I am not as able on here as others, if somebody could please post a link to that try I would be very grateful.

LordDowlais wrote:Some cracking try's listed by the op, but for me, although not many people remember it, but my favourite of all time try was Ieuan Evans's try against Scotland in 1988(I think), it was a long time ago. It was my first time at the Arms Park with my old man, and we were under the kosh for most of the game but then he beats about four players inside and out to go over. It might just be me but that will always stick in my mind, the place just erupted. As I am not as able on here as others, if somebody could please post a link to that try I would be very grateful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPkOyPtOwVc

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:What about Christian Cullen with the greatest set piece move in the midfield from a lineout against the Wallabies in 2000. More decoys than duck shooting season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH9FmORmbmc&feature=related

Yeah I remember that one now. Beautiful set move.

where's Gareth Edwards' try for the Barbarians vs NZ???

i went for Saint-Andre vs England 91

It is rather interesting to note there is not one try from South Africa being considered, considering we are the seond most successful team in the last 20 odd years, and has scored the second most tries in that period.

Go on then mate, list some.

Oh, I did, it was simply ignored. but no matter these lists are always merely subjective and reminiscent of nostalgia being revisited.

biltongbek wrote:Oh, I did, it was simply ignored. but no matter these lists are always merely subjective and reminiscent of nostalgia being revisited.

Added Fourie for you Biltong.

St Andre for me, pure poetry.

Has to be the 1973 Edwards try v Barbarians, has to be surely. And I was there aged 10 South Enclosure up against the railings - Tight where Grant Batty kicked off in the 2nd half - What a game, what a try against the best team in the world at the time

Kiwireddevil wrote:

biltongbek wrote:Oh, I did, it was simply ignored. but no matter these lists are always merely subjective and reminiscent of nostalgia being revisited.

Added Fourie for you Biltong.

thanks mate, but I doubt he'll get many votes, (the sensitivity issue, you know, Lions vs springboks)

I've voted for Phil Bennett's try at Murrayfield in 1977. Scotland all over Wales and then Gerald Davies dances past a couple of defenders, hands off a third and realises that it's on...

disneychilly wrote:Loved Cullen beating most of the Aussie team in Carisbrook 97. Not only for Cullen's brilliance but also for what preceded it-a No 8 leaping high to claim an up and under, landing and swivelling then firing this absolute bullet 30m to the most lethal runner with the ball I've ever seen.

Was going to add this, but no need you've done it for me. This was Cullen's greatest test try. As I recall, we were 36-0 up at half time but let Aus back in (a sign of things to come maybe) and the final score was 36-24

Zinny was a freak and so was Cullen

RubyGuby wrote:Has to be the 1973 Edwards try v Barbarians, has to be surely. And I was there aged 10 South Enclosure up against the railings - Tight where Grant Batty kicked off in the 2nd half - What a game, what a try against the best team in the world at the time

Not disagreeing with you on the 1973 Edwards try, but that wasn't a test match so sadly doesn't count for this poll.

So Kiwi, who did you vote for ....Fourie....?

biltongbek wrote:So Kiwi, who did you vote for ....Fourie....?

I already put in my vote, for Kirwan vs Italy - the try that made me fall in love with rugby.