England avenge 1991 final defeat to Australia

RUGBY MEMORY

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

ENGLAND went into the 1995 Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Newlands on June 11 hoping to avenge their heartbreaking loss in the final on home soil four years earlier.

England had reached that final by playing an attritional, forward-dominated game, but appeared to respond to criticism from Australia’s David Campese and rejected this style of play in the final in favour of a more expansive running game. The tactic backfired and Australia triumphed at Twickenham.

The fierce rivals were again placed on a collision course four years later after England had finished top of Pool B and Australia had finished second behind the Springboks in Pool A. The match wasn’t exactly a running spectacle, but it was no less dramatic, as it went right down to the final kick.

England dominated the first half at a packed Newlands, the platform once again laid by their powerful forwards.