NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / Rugby World Cup

2019 Rugby World Cup: The top 25 tries ranked

Daily Telegraph UK
6 Nov, 2019 02:00 AM11 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Relive the best tries of the World Cup to help with end of tournament withdrawal symptoms. Photos / Photosport

Relive the best tries of the World Cup to help with end of tournament withdrawal symptoms. Photos / Photosport

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Your withdrawal symptoms should already be kicking in. Fortunately, with around 1,400 days to go until the next Rugby World Cup gets underway in France in 2023, we have a short-term solution to ease your suffering, as we count down the top 25 tries from Japan 2019.

Every game has been checked, with a shortlist of almost 60 tries whittled down to 25.

25. Manti Te'o - USA v Tonga

Dear reader, a confession: I have a clear weakness for absurd offloads. USA No 8 Cam Dolan comes up with a ripper here to release Manti Te'o.

The Eagles' full-back, squat but rapid, looks impossible to tackle and he gives Tonga full-back Telusa Veainu absolutely no chance.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

24. Mali Hingano - Tonga v France

Always good to have a bit of comedy value in these lists. You will see France at their sublime best later. This was one of their ridiculous moments.

Cooper Vuna's infield nudge is really a shot to nothing, at best hoping for some territory. Maxime Medard and Damian Penaud then decide to completely make a hash of what should be a straightforward mop-up job at the back.

Full credit to Hingano for his opportunism and effort to win the ball and then shrug off the tackles to score a try out of seemingly nowhere.

READ MORE:
• Premium - 2019 Rugby World Cup: History to Heartbreak - The inside story of the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup agony
• 2019 Rugby World Cup live updates: All Blacks arrive back in Auckland
• 2019 Rugby World Cup: 'Most painful experience I've had in my life': England star on final defeat
• 2019 Rugby World Cup final: UK media react to Springboks' win over England

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

23. Gareth Davies - Wales v Australia

The only interception score on the list, but it came at such a pivotal time for Wales, already up 16-8 in Tokyo, and was a perfect illustration of how Gareth Davies picked Will Genia's pocket all day long.

Worth noting that Davies is so much quicker than the chasing Bernard Foley and Dane Haylett-Petty that he can even arc his run to make the conversion easier.

22. Cobus Reinach - South Africa v Canada

Not a bad way to complete your hat-trick inside of 20 minutes.

This was more of a team effort, ignited by Elton Jantjies' cross-field chip from inside his own 22 towards Warrick Gelant. The South Africa back then combined with Damian de Allende to put Reinach under the posts.

Discover more

All Blacks

The panel to decide next All Blacks coach revealed

05 Nov 09:34 PM
All Blacks

Who's next? NZ Rugby invites 26 Kiwis to apply for ABs role

06 Nov 12:32 AM
Sport

Martin Devlin: Plenty of unanswered questions still from RWC

06 Nov 12:01 AM
Sport

Watch live: NZ Press Box debate who will be the next ABs coach

06 Nov 06:40 AM
Cobus Reinach of South Africa. Photo / Photosport
Cobus Reinach of South Africa. Photo / Photosport

21. Cobus Reinach - South Africa v Canada

Not a typo - Reinach ended up scoring two excellent tries for the Springboks. The faithful at Franklin's Gardens are used to this high level of audacity from their scrum-half, and this was one of the best solo efforts of the entire tournament.

Starting well within his own half, Reinach finds that outside break past Canada's Conor Trainor, before chipping wing Jeff Hassler, with the ball bouncing up perfectly to score. Magic.

20. Virimi Vakatawa - France v Tonga

What happens when you unleash Vakatawa and Alivereti Raka at the same time? Fireworks. France's two Fijian-born flyers ripped Tonga open, after the Pacific Island side's lineout went awry.

Camille Chat, Romain Ntamack and Sofiane Guitoune were all involved, but the pace, power and step of Raka works like a treat, releasing Vakatawa with an inside pass for an easy run-in.

19. Kyle Sinckler - England v Australia

Makes the cut given the pass from Owen Farrell is absolutely stunning, delivered with the game on the line at 17-16.

A good reminder of just how dangerous Farrell can be when he plays flat up to the gain-line as a distributor. The angle from Kyle Sinckler is also excellent, but Farrell's perfect delivery hits the tighthead in stride for his first Test try.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

18. Santiago Arata - Uruguay v Fiji

The first spark that suggested Uruguay could make something special happen in Kamaishi. German Kessler - the hooker with outstanding mullet-and-moustache combination - acts quickly to pounce on a loose ball, flicking an offload up to Arata.

What happens next is unreal, with Arata stepping Josh Matavesi before fending off Semi Radradra and Vereniki Goneva to score under the posts.

Santiago Arata. Photo / Photosport
Santiago Arata. Photo / Photosport

17. Damian de Allende - South Africa v Wales

You could not pay me to watch this game again, but De Allende's try was a special moment, a career peak for a player often maligned in South Africa for his lack of playmaking ability.

What De Allende has always offered, though, is power, which he uses here to finish off an attack started by Handre Pollard's break. Faf de Klerk's late change of direction causes Wales to hesitate, as Willie le Roux loops over from the right.

It's a brilliant stutter-step by De Allende to get around Dan Biggar, with Tomos Williams unable to haul him down. A rare highlight in a grim semi-final.

16. Kenki Fukuoka - Japan v Ireland

Japan had already clawed their way back to 9-12 against Ireland by the time their backs unleashed a couple of exquisite passes to put Fukuoka over in the corner.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ryoto Nakamura's miss-pass to Timothy Lafaele is a stunner.

15. Kenki Fukuoka - Japan v Scotland

A second appearance in a row on this list for Fukuoka, the jet-heeled Japan wing who has since retired from rugby.

This was his second try of the match, after another excellent finish following Will Tupou's grubber kick. But the rip, and then pace to speed away here gave Japan the bonus point they needed and left Scotland with too much to do.

14. Scott Barrett - New Zealand v South Africa

A real classic from the All Blacks here, with lots of key contributors, starting with Ryan Crotty's wide pass to Dane Coles which caused Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe, the World Rugby Player of the Year and another nominee, to hesitate.

Both eventually wrap up Coles but only after the hooker offloads to Anton Lienert-Brown. The centre's break leaves Duane Vermeulen, Malcolm Marx and Franco Mostert flat-footed, handing Barrett an easy run-in to give the All Blacks a two-score lead.

Scott Barrett scores a try against the Springboks. Photo / Photosport
Scott Barrett scores a try against the Springboks. Photo / Photosport

13. Juan Manuel Cat - Uruguay v Fiji

Arata's score was special, but this might be better. Gaston Mieres does well to bounce off Jale Vatubua, before Mieres and Cat ship the ball left to Rodrigo Silva.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The next moment is quality, bouncing off Filipo Nakosi before flicking an offload inside to Cat for a superb team score.

12. Peceli Yato - Fiji v Australia

When we started to dream that Fiji might be able to upset the established order in Pool D. Some of the players in John McKee's team were truly outstanding in Japan, which was reflected in their names popping up regularly in team of the tournament conversations.

This effort by Yato, sadly forced off later in the first half after that collision with Reece Hodge, was phenomenal.

Josua Tuisova beats Hodge and Christian Lealiifano down the right wing, offloading inside to Waisea Nayacalevu, who in turn tees up Yato for a run to the line.

11. Marika Koroibete - Australia v England

Lost in the wash after Australia's exit and Michael Cheika's resignation was the fact that Koroibete had an outstanding World Cup for the Wallabies, establishing himself as their main back-three threat.

With the game in danger of slipping away from Australia, Jordan Petaia's inside ball sent Koroibete off to the races from near the halfway line, having far too much pace for Elliot Daly as he rounded the England full-back with ease.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

10. Cheslin Kolbe - South Africa v England

Pieter-Steph du Toit was a very worthy winner of World Rugby Player of the Year. However, I might have leaned towards Kolbe. Not solely because of this try, although it illustrates his talent perfectly, but because of what he also achieved as the star player in a mega-talented Toulouse backline as they won a 20th Top 14 title.

This score was one hell of an exclamation point at the end of a comprehensive demolition of England in the final by the Springboks.

After Marx forces the turnover with his tackle on Henry Slade, Lukanyo Am and Du Toit combine to put Kolbe into space. Joe Marler, Dan Cole and Billy Vunipola do not stand a chance, while Owen Farrell gets turned inside out. It's a glorious score.

Cheslin Kolbe. Photo / Photosport
Cheslin Kolbe. Photo / Photosport

9. Telusa Veainu - Tonga v Argentina

A try off first-phase. A ridiculous offload. The finish! An instant favourite of this World Cup.

Veainu's second score of the game for Tonga against the Argentina was a gem. James Faiva's miss-pass gives Cooper Vuna some time before he ghosts through Emiliano Boffelli's tackle attempt.

The one-handed pop to Veainu comes off perfectly, with Nicolas Sanchez unable to get there in time.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

8. Gael Fickou - France v Argentina

Genuine concern that Virimi Vakatawa, the France centre, might have broken Pablo Matera's ankles here with that step.

Another frustrating reminder than when France went to be good going forward, they really are outstanding. Gael Fickou has enough time and space to both dart infield, beating two tacklers, and then head back to the corner.

A cracking score, perhaps hinting at what is to come under Fabien Galthie.

7. Jonny May - England v Australia

Perhaps the assist of the tournament from Henry Slade? England had weathered lots of early pressure and already scored through May before this superb counter-attack.

Slade picks off Pocock's pass, makes 30 metres with Samu Kerevi in pursuit, before smartly opting to grubber - with his wrong foot - producing a kick that sits up perfectly for a May haring into space. A stunner.

6. Keita Inagaki - Japan v Scotland

A try featuring three brilliant offloads, a perfect illustration of Japan's brilliant attacking game which ran first Ireland and then Scotland ragged.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Timothy Lafaele did well to stay on his feet, spinning out of the tackle of Chris Harris before feeding Inagaki. The execution under pressure deserves real credit.

Keita Inagaki. Photo / Photosport
Keita Inagaki. Photo / Photosport

5. Josua Tuisova - Wales v Fiji

If brutal power is what you're after, take a seat. Tuisova from 10 metres out causes complete chaos. Josh Adams gets bulldozed. Dan Biggar nearly does a full spin trying to slow him down. Josh Navidi cannot drive him into touch quick enough.

Three defenders, it turns out, were not sufficient to stop Tuisova. This set the tone for a special game in Oita, with Tuisova's fellow wing Semi Radradra winning man of the match.

4. Faf de Klerk - South Africa v Japan

Is there another try that sums up South Africa's brutally destructive gameplan as well as this one? With every step the maul takes you can hear the hope sap out of Yokohama Stadium.

Malcolm Marx, coming off the bench to great effect again at this World Cup, sets up a maul five metres inside South Africa's half. Forty seconds later, maul still rumbling all the way into Japan's 22, Marx splinters off, fending the last defender before feeding De Klerk on his inside.

What a brutal, beautiful try.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

3. Makazole Mapimpi - South Africa v England

The try that killed off England's hopes was one for the ages, and South Africa's first in a Rugby World Cup final.

Quick hands in the wide channel by Lukanyo Am and Malcolm Marx free Mapimpi down the touchline. The chip over the top bounces perfectly for Am, who then delivers one of the most casual passes you will ever see back to Mapimpi.

There is of course a deeper significance to this score: two black South Africans combining to win the Rugby World Cup for their country. But it's a majestic spectacle, too.

2. TJ Perenara - New Zealand v Namibia

Razzle dazzle! What a special finish by a special player in Perenara.

Namibia gave New Zealand everything in that first half and this is the thanks they get. Perenara's initial break leads to George Bridge being tackled tight to the touchline.

Even the All Blacks should have no right to score from here, but after Rieko Ioane's break, Brad Weber is on hand to produce an offload out the back so good it should be directly transported to a museum.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Perenara intriguingly does not dive for the finish, dancing along the touchline before reaching out to score despite the attention of two tacklers. Unsurprisingly, this was named Try of the Year at the World Rugby Awards on Sunday.

TJ Perenara scores a try against Namibia. Photo / Photosport
TJ Perenara scores a try against Namibia. Photo / Photosport

1. Charles Ollivon - France v Wales

Jacques Brunel will have been desperate for France to try and rattle Wales early, and more importantly to make Warren Gatland's side chase the quarter-final, given how good Wales have been at maintaining a lead once they get ahead.

Mission accomplished! Starting from outside their own 22, Virimi Vakatawa cuts inside to beat Josh Navidi, Wales' best defender, before offloading to Romain Ntamack. Wales are ripped open, and it is no surprise to see Antoine Dupont, that master of the support line, in hot pursuit.

Dupont draws Liam Williams, feeding Charles Ollivon with an easy run to the line. It's pure joué in a high-pressure knockout match. Inject it into my veins.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rugby World Cup

New Zealand

Watch Live : Scott Robertson live with Jason Pine

New Zealand

'Never felt so alone': Foster lifts lid on battles with NZ Rugby bosses

17 Jun 05:00 PM
Premium
Black Ferns

Woodman-Wickliffe on babies, books, broadcasting and King’s Birthday honour

02 Jun 03:00 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rugby World Cup

Watch Live : Scott Robertson live with Jason Pine

Watch Live : Scott Robertson live with Jason Pine

Scott Robertson joins Jason Pine in the Newstalk ZB studio to talk all the big Rugby issues.

'Never felt so alone':  Foster lifts lid on battles with NZ Rugby bosses

'Never felt so alone': Foster lifts lid on battles with NZ Rugby bosses

17 Jun 05:00 PM
Premium
Woodman-Wickliffe on babies, books, broadcasting and King’s Birthday honour

Woodman-Wickliffe on babies, books, broadcasting and King’s Birthday honour

02 Jun 03:00 AM
‘Major failures’: French oversight costs Rugby World Cup $57m

‘Major failures’: French oversight costs Rugby World Cup $57m

08 Apr 06:15 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP