Rugby’s 5 greatest odds-defying games

As is the case with many other sports, rugby fans love a good underdog story.

In many respects, these David vs Goliath tales are all the more exciting in rugby, where the strategic nature of the game and curious pace at which the set pieces unfold make for particularly exciting watching.

Odds-defying upsets are also particularly satisfying in rugby, given that the sport tends to be dominated by a handful of northern and southern hemisphere teams. In this context, shocking upsets tend to be rarer – although this makes them all the more satisfying when they do happen!

Games like these are a favourite of punters seeking out potentially lucrative wagers to put down, as the odds given out by online sportsbooks are usually highly favourable to those willing to take a risk. As such, you should always be on the lookout for an odds-defying game on your online bookmaker of choice. Furthermore, for these epic odds-defying games, you could utilize bet365 free bets and potentially benefit more or reduce your initial spend.

With that said, let’s take a quick look at some of the most satisfying, shocking and inspiring games in rugby history that really bucked the odds!

Munster vs New Zealand (1978)

In the annals of rugby union history, there are arguably few games that have gone on to achieve mythical status in the same way that this 1978 clash between Munster and New Zealand has.

This was a day that not only helped to define Munster rugby but also one that showed the might All Blacks to be beatable.

The October 1978 match was filled with plenty of epic, spine-tingling moments. These included the eerie pre-match silence and Dennison’s brutal tackle against New Zealand star Stu Wilson.

Tony Ward and Christy Cantillon also put in star performances, which helped to put Munster out in front at Thomond Park that day.

Munster eventually beat the New Zealanders 12-0 - with this match being one of the few defeats the All Blacks have on their record.

Wales vs Western Samoa (1991)

When Wales were matched up with Western Samoa for their opening match of the 1991 Rugby World Cup many thought the result was all but pre-ordained.

This was all the more so, considering that this edition of the World Cup was being held on home soil for Wales against a team that was making its debut in the tournament - Wales also had a better track record against Western Samoa and had beaten them by large margins in their previous two matches.

Despite the odds that were stacked against them, however, Western Samoa managed to pull off one of the biggest upsets in rugby history.

Peter Fatialofa captained a side that featured Frank Bunce, Pat Lam, Brian Lima and Apollo Perelini, all of whom would go on to put in incredible performances during the match.

To get the better of the Welsh side, Fatialofa opted for a brute force strategy, instructing his side to tackle hard, heavy and often. Samoa gradually gained the upper hand in the second half as the physicality of the game took its toll on the Welsh players.

Despite being a relatively low scoring game, Samoa had the better of Wales that day and pulled off arguably one of the biggest shocks in rugby history.

France vs New Zealand (1999)

With three World Cup finals in a row behind them going into the 1999 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand’s place in the final seemed like a sure thing. And this was certainly the consensus view ahead of their semi-final match with France at Twickenham in October 1999.

This fate seemed all the more obvious, particularly since the All Blacks had given the French side a thrashing just four months previously, when they beat them by a 54-7 margin.

Despite these expectations, however, the French side came out looking for blood and managed to take an early lead. New Zealand fought back with gusto, and even managed to secure a 24-10 lead going into half-time.

With the odour of a possible defeat in the air, the French fought back hard. And little by little, they managed to edge out the All Blacks as the second half drew to a close. Thanks to three tries in the second half, Les Bleus gradually turned a 14-point deficit into a 43-31 advantage by the end of the match.

Italy vs France (2013)

As the perpetual last place runners-up in the Six Nations, Italy are frequently written off by fans and analysts alike before they even set foot on the pitch. And this was very much true when they were scheduled to play France during the Six Nations in February 2013.

Going into the game, France were fresh off a runners-up spot at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and Italy had finished in last place in the Six Nations on nine out of 12 occasions – hardly inspiring odds for the Italian side!

However, a hard fought, dogged display of brute strength and skill by the Italians helped them to slowly get the better of Les Bleus on this occasion. Sergio Parisse set the tone by securing an early try for the Italians and then displayed a commanding presence on the field for the rest of the match.

This helped Italy to secure a slim but well-earned victory of 23-18 over the French in a match that no one expected them to win!

South Africa vs Japan (2015)

Prior to the Rugby World Cup 2015, the South Africans had never played the Japanese side. Despite this lack of track record, however, many immediately wrote the Brave Blossoms off when they were matched up with the Saffas in the Pool B seeds.

While the South Africans had won the Webb Ellis Cup on two previous occasions, the Japanese had never won a World Cup match.

Despite these expectations, the Japanese managed to get the better of the South Africans in what is arguably the most nail-biting Rugby World Cup match in history.

The South Africans managed to edge out a slender 12-10 lead going into half-time. However, when the second half kicked off, the Blossoms fought back with incredible bravery.

This display was all the pluckier, given the size differential between the two sides. Despite being up against significantly more mass and a heavier-hitting playing style, the quickness and sheer skill of the Japanese side paid off.

And thanks to some lucky penalties and a last-minute try, Japan pulled off the greatest upset in World Cup history!