Unexpected twists and turns are the raison d’etre of major tournaments. The opening weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup contained plenty, from England’s 14-man tour de force against Argentina to the thrills and spills of the Wales-Fiji game in Bordeaux. At its best, rugby union delivers as much passion, drama and intensity as any team sport.
What about Manie Libbok’s fabulous no-look cross-kick for Kurt-Lee Arendse’s try against Scotland, as skilful a piece of deception as you will see? Or George Ford’s hat-trick of drop goals? Not forgetting the round of applause in Marseille’s old town cafes when the scrum-half Gabriel Rupanu briefly put Romania ahead with an early try against Ireland.
