RWC #27: Serge Blanco magic sees France past Australia

With Australia and New Zealand through to the semi-finals of the inaugural World Cup, where they would play France and Wales respectively, it seemed inevitable the Antipodean rivals and tournament co-hosts would be left to scrap each other for the Webb Ellis Cup while the rest of the world sulked off home.

But, as they have a particular knack for doing, France had other ideas and threw an almighty spanner in the Wallabies’ works.

The 1987 semi-final is often regarded as one of the great games, and in it was scored one of the great tries.

Both sides attacked with verve and abandon and made enough errors to keep the seesaw tipping in favour of one team and then the other, so much so we wouldn’t know the winner until the final play of the game.

Michael Lynagh 's boot moved Australia into the lead, David Campese crossed for his 25th international try, at the time a record, with David Codey also scoring for the Wallabies. But France fought back with Alain Lorieuz, Philippe Sella and Patrice Lagisquet all scoring.

Lynagh inexplicably missed a simple penalty chance and with three minutes left the scores were tied at 21 each. And then Serge Blanco put Camberabero in trouble on the French 22. Lynagh made no mistake to put Australia three clear.

But then, hero turned villain, Camberabero kicked a leg-wobbler of a penalty to tie the scores again at 24-24.

And then, the try. France attacked from deep. The ball went through Laurent Rodriguez, then Dennis Charvet then Pierre Berbizier then Lagisquet, each one running at pace and each one somehow finding a blue shirt as they offloaded.

It was a scintillating move, one which looked at any moment like it might  peter out but just kept on going.

Finally, the ball came to Serge Blanco just inside the Australia 22. There was one line for him to take, and what seemed like half of Australia steaming across to cover. It was a foot race for the corner.

Blanco won. And so did France, 30-24.