An unforgettable weekend in the world of rugby saw both current and former players, as well as fans and pundits, come together to celebrate the brilliance of the World Cup quarter-finals.
The two World Cup games in Paris were obviously the highlight as New Zealand and South Africa edged past Ireland and France respectively, but the Marseille matches were also superb.
Argentina came from 10-0 behind to defeat Wales 29-17 before England prevented a southern hemisphere clean sweep by edging Fiji 30-24.
Ex-England number eight and 2007 World Cup runner-up Nick Easter started off by asking: “Best weekend of rugby ever?”
Best weekend of rugby ever? #RWC2023
— Nick Easter (@nick_easter) October 15, 2023
That view was echoed by ex-All Black back-row Craig Newby, who said: “Greatest weekend of rugby ever,” and Ugo Monye, with the former British and Irish Lions writing on X, formerly known as Twitter: “What a weekend of Rugby. Truly remarkable.”
The Springboks’ stunning triumph over hosts France rounded off an incredible quartet of matches and commentator Jamie Lyall summed it up brilliantly.
“Hail to the gladiators. We truly have witnessed the extraordinary this weekend,” he wrote.
“Clutch from the world champions. They got so much from their bench, were so ruthless in the vital throes. Eben Etzebeth a colossus.
“Watching Sexton last night and Dupont tonight tears at your soul.”
Hail to the gladiators.
— Jamie Lyall (@JLyall93) October 15, 2023
We truly have witnessed the extraordinary this weekend.
Clutch from the world champions. They got so much from their bench, were so ruthless in the vital throes. Eben Etzebeth a colossus.
Watching Sexton last night and Dupont tonight tears at your soul.
Lyall then went on to add: “Rugby gets a lot of flak, some of it entirely deserved. And sometimes the game really doesn’t help itself.
“But this stupendous weekend has showcased our sport at its very best. Amazing skill, ferocious intensity, awesome physicality.
“Sporting theatre to take your breath away.”
Such was the quality of Sunday’s epic game in Paris, it was unfortunate someone had to be on the losing side, but South Africa’s resilience and quality had to be admired.
“Cruel that either team had to lose that game,” EK Rugby Analysis wrote. “Devastated for France but can’t help admiring what South Africa have achieved tonight either.
“Beating France in a home World Cup takes some doing.”
Rugby journalist Simon Thomas went along the same lines, praising the defending champion Boks for “simply refusing to relinquish their crown.”
The world champions simply refusing to relinquish their crown.
— Simon Thomas Rugby (@simonrug) October 15, 2023
France played some fantastic rugby, but South Africa turned up the power in the final half hour with their bench making a big impact. The ‘Boks now face England in the semis.
F-T: 🇫🇷 28, 🇿🇦 29
“France played some fantastic rugby, but South Africa turned up the power in the final half-hour with their bench making a big impact.”
The Rugby World Cup is simply in South Africa’s DNA, according to Wallabies fly-half Quade Cooper, who missed out on the global tournament after being dropped by Eddie Jones.
“SA built for world cups… two of the best games of rugby played in the quarters,” Cooper wrote.
