Romania’s 17-15 win over Canada in Leicester this morning was the biggest ever comeback in Rugby World Cup history.
They trailed 15-0 in the 53rd minute when their captain Mihai Macovei crashed over and Florin Vlaicu’s conversion made it 15-7.
Macovei’s second score in the 74th minute was again converted by Vlaicu to make it 15-14 and with Canada already down to 14 men after Jebb Sinclair’s 72nd minute yellow card, the Oaks were growing in the belief they could make history.
Vlaicu held his nerve to nail a difficult penalty kick to make it 17-15 with just two minutes left and give Romania their first win at this year’s world cup in the most dramatic fashion.
A win over Italy in Exeter would see them finish third in Pool D and automatically qualify for the next Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.
Macovei also became the first Romanian captain to score a world cup try since Haralambie Dumitras in 1991, when they beat Fiji 17-15 in Brive in France.
One Canadian also made a little piece of world cup history, as winger D.T.H Van Der Merwe became the first player representing a tier two nation to score in four successive World Cup games.
He also became only the second man in World Cup history to score in four different pool matches, just as Welsh wizard Shane Williams did in 2007.
However, it was Romania’s stunning comeback that made the headlines and New Zealanders would shiver if they were to think of other great comebacks in the tournament’s 28-year history.
Cast your mind back to 1999 when the All Blacks led France 24-10 at half time in the semifinal at Twickenham.
France, inspired by Christophe Lamaison, won the second half 33-7 to overturn the 14 point deficit hugely in their favour and win the game 43-31 to reach their second final.
Lamaison’s 28-point haul shocked the All Blacks in what’s often regarded as the Rugby World Cup’s greatest ever game.
Wales’ comeback to shock England at Twickenham will also go down in the history books and it was made more remarkable by how many injuries they had suffered before and during the game.
They trailed 22-12 in the 52nd minute after Owen Farrell’s penalty had extended England’s lead to 10 points. Wales then lost three players to injury in the second half - forcing a massive reshuffle to their decimated backline.
An inspired Welsh team fought back but England kept their noses in front and led 25-18 with 10 minutes to go, before a brilliant Gareth Davies try levelled the scores and Dan Biggar became a national hero when his 75th minute penalty broke English hearts - making it 28-25.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
