Rugby World Cup 2015: XV famous moments – in pictures

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15 - Western Samoa whack the Welsh, Wales v Western Samoa, 1991

Wales were the seeded team, playing at home at Cardiff Arms Park, whereas their non-seeded opposition were playing in their first RWC and had already being cast as Pool 3 whipping boys. But in one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history, the Pacific Islanders emerged as 16-13 winners. It was the first time an unseeded team had beaten a seed, and it left the Welsh needing to beat Australia to progress out of their group. They failed, and Western Samoa went through to the quarter-finals.

14 - The Haka v Sipi Tau, New Zealand v Tonga, 2011

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As pre-match face-offs go, there isn’t anything that can really compare to the one that took place in 2011 as the Rugby World Cup kicked off in style at Auckland’s Eden Park. In front of 60,000 fans, New Zealand and Tonga both performed their traditional war cries with such vigour and intensity that it threatened to boil over before a ball had even been kicked. Ultimately, it was the Haka that prevailed, as the All Blacks ran out comfortable 41-10 winners.

13 - Ngwenya leaves Habana for dead, South Africa v USA, 2007

While nobody really remembers the 64-15 hammering South Africa gave USA in 2007, everyone remembers the try Takudzwa Ngwenya scored at the end of the first-half. With a move that started almost on their own try-line, the ball worked its way across field to Ngwenya, who found himself confronted with arguably the quickest winger on the planet, Bryan Habana. Not that it bothered Ngwenya. He took off and left him trailing in his wake, before running round and touching down under the posts.

12 - Serge Blanco seals it for Les Bleus, France v Australia, 1987

Proof that you can never count the French out came in the semi-final of 1987, when three times they went behind to the favourites Australia and three times they rallied to peg the Wallabies back. Then, in extra-time, they managed to produce a typical moment of Gallic brilliance, as no fewer than 11 players touched the ball before it reached the incomparable Serge Blanco, who shook off the challenge of Tom Lawton to score in the corner. The try gave France a memorable 30-24 victory.

11 - Gallic flair fells the All Blacks, 1999

This Twickenham semi-final has gone down in rugby folklore as one of the best Rugby World Cup encounters ever played. New Zealand, the pre-tournament favourites, stormed into a 24-10 lead and it had seemed as though the match was all but over. But France had other ideas. Propelled by the boot of Christophe Lamaison, Les Bleus rallied, and when Christophe Dominici, Richard Dourthe and Philippe Bernat-Salles all went over for tries, they completed a breathtaking comeback, winning 43-31.

10 - Zinzan Brooke's iconic drop goal, England v New Zealand, 1995

It’s not often you see a Number 8 dropping a goal, especially from near the halfway line. But that’s what All Blacks Zinzan Brooke did against England in the 1995 semifinal. Taking the ball just inside his own half, he advanced a few yards before drop-kicking the ball straight through the posts from almost 50m. New Zealand won 45-29.

9 - John Eales doubles up, Australia v France, 1999

Already a legend in Australian rugby, John Eales secured his place in sporting history by becoming one of only six players to have lifted the Rugby World Cup twice. A winner with Australia when they beat England at Twickenham in 1991, he won again in 1999 when the Wallabies trounced France 35-12 in Cardiff.

8 - All Blacks throw it away, New Zealand v France, 2007

Eight years after their stunning defeat to France at Twickenham the All Blacks once again conspired to throw away a significant lead against the French to exit the tournament. This time, it was a quarter-final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and, although the Kiwis had built up a 13-0 lead, they nevertheless managed to collapse again, losing 20-18. It was another hammer blow of a defeat for the All Blacks and one that merely reinforced the view that the Kiwis were prone to choking in the big games.

7 - Argentina finish third, 2007

As far as shocks go, this was up there with the very best of them. Not only did Los Pumas power their way through their pool, beating hosts France and Ireland on the way to topping the group, but they then defeated Scotland in the quarter-finals before being knocked out by South Africa in the semi-finals. Then, when they faced Les Bleus again in the third place playoff, they beat them again, running in five tries to France's one and thumping them 34-10 in front of a shellshocked Parc des Princes in Paris.

6 - David Campese’s moment of genius, Australia v New Zealand, 1991

It was a pass sent from heaven. Campese was charging down the right towards the corner when he was headed off. But rather than build again, the man they called 'Campo' produced a moment of exquisite creativity, off-loading the ball to Tim Horan with a blind lob over his shoulder, leaving Horan to run in the try and help the Wallabies to a famous semi-final win over their fiercest rivals. Many thought the pass was an accident, a fluke even, but those who knew Campo knew better.

5 - The Wallabies break Irish hearts, Australia v Ireland, 1991

The match of the tournament in 1991, nobody really gave Ireland a prayer against the much-fancied Wallabies. But buoyed by a partisan crowd at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road, they pushed them for the entire 80 minutes, and with five minutes to play were even leading 18-15. It took a moment of genius from fly-half Michael Lynagh to settle the match when he picked up a short pass from winger David Campese and went over in the corner to give the Aussies the narrowest of wins, 19-18.

4 - Jonah Lomu batters England, England v New Zealand, 1995

Rugby had rarely seen anyone of Jonah Lomu’s ilk. At 6ft 5in and the best part of 19 stones, he was a new kind of winger, blessed with pace and, as England discovered to their cost, unstoppable power. Just two minutes into their semi-final, the 20-year-old took the ball wide on the left and proceeded to simply flatten Tony Underwood, Will Carling and Mike Catt, before diving over for the first of his four tries. Thanks to Lomu, New Zealand ran out 45-29 winners to move on to the final.

3 - Kirwan scores one of the greatest RWC tries, New Zealand v Italy, 1987

Over a quarter of a century has passed since the All Blacks star scored his stunning solo effort against Italy in the opening game of the inaugural Rugby World Cup, and it’s safe to say we haven’t seen a better one yet. The Kiwi wing received the ball inside his own 22 and then simply tore through the Italian ranks, beating seven men and diving over the line to complete a sensational 80-yard run. Watch it on YouTube. You won’t believe it.

2 - Wilko to the rescue, England v Australia, 2003

If you saw it in a Hollywood movie, you wouldn’t believe it. With the scores tied at 17-17 and just 26 seconds left in extra time, England scrum-half Matt Dawson span the ball back to the Newcastle Falcons fly-half, who cut back on to his right foot and, from 25 yards out, dropped the winning points right through the middle of the posts. What made it more remarkable was that it was not only the first successful drop goal in four attempts in the match, but was done using his weaker foot too.

1 - Nelson Mandela crowns South Africa World Champions, 1995

The moment when South African President Nelson Mandela presented Springboks captain Francois Pienaar with the William Webb Ellis Trophy is one that will live long in the memory. For South Africa the team, it was the moment their rugby dreams came true. For South Africa the nation, it was something far, far more important.