A Classic Sporting Moment - Rugby Union

With the footy season still a few weeks away from being in full swing, and following the tremendously exciting three match test series between South Africa and The British and Irish Lions recently, I thought I would take a little time out to reflect on one of the many fantastic moments the game of rugby union has seen over the years.

There are and have been as you would expect many exciting and dramatic occassions over the years: England's World Cup Final victory in 2003, care of Johnny Wilkinson's infamous drop goal in the dying seconds of extra-time, or Johah Lomu's single handed destruction of England in the 1995 World Cup quarter-final or perhaps Jerry Guscott's last minute drop goal to win the previous Lions series in South Africa back in 1997.........to name but a few.

The list is mouth-watering and literally endless!

However I am going to go back 36 years to the 27th January 1973 to be exact, and the venue The Arms Park, Cardiff. I feel this piece of rugby nostalgia is right up there not just as a great moment in rugby history, but as an 'all-time classic sporting moment' in its own right, made as famous it has to be said by the commentary of the great Cliff Morgan, as much as for the skill and teamwork applied to produce an end result of epic proportions - that took just 23 seconds to complete from start to finish.

This is Cliff Morgan's commentary word for word, followed by the link to the moment itself:

"Kirkpatrick to Williams. This is great stuff! Phil Bennett covering. Chased by Alistair Scown. Brilliant, oh that's brilliant! John Williams, Bryan Williams. Pullin. John Dawes, great dummy. To David, Tom David, the half-way line! Brilliant by Quinnell! This is Gareth Edwards, a dramaric start, what a score!"

Now watch Gareth Edward's try for The Barbarians against The All Blacks in 1973.

If you were lucky enough to have been at The Arms Park that day, or even to witness it on television it has almost become a Neil Armstong, John F. Kennedy, John Lennon type moment.........everybody knows where they were when they heard the news or watched the event!