Great Cup moments: Kirwan's 80m try against Italy

The scene

Low-key promotion left many unsure whether the tournament would succeed. Prime Minister David Lange was snubbing games over fallout from the 1986 Cavaliers' tour to South Africa, and Fiji were in doubt after Sitiveni Rabuka's military coup.

Brian Lochore's 26-strong squad was named live on-air after the last trial, to the horror of those who missed the cut.

Described as a "calculated gamble", the side had 14 players with fewer than 10 tests, six new caps, including Michael Jones and Zinzan Brooke, and eight moustaches. Captain Andy Dalton's hamstring injury forced him from the game and competition.

Only 20,000 fans showed up to see a muddled first half, with the Italians dropping passes and spoiling play.

The first points came from a penalty try. After the All Blacks turned around just 17-3 ahead, Michael "Iceman" Jones took charge, the tries began flowing and the Italians wilted.

The moment

Captain David Kirk takes a deep kick-off following a John Kirwan try in the corner. Former butcher Kirwan storms onto a pass from Grant Fox in centrefield with 90m and 15 Italians between him and the goal-line.

The 22-year-old had scored two 80m tries in the past two weeks - surely he couldn't do it again?

The roar of the disbelieving crowd grows louder with each opponent left sprawling or groping thin air as he slaloms to the try of the tournament.

What we said

"Some reluctant Italians gingerly moved towards [Kirwan], perhaps hoping he would do the sensible thing and kick for touch. No such luck. Kirwan swerved, chopped and fended his way past six men before blasting into the clear and outrunning the cover for a truly marvellous try."

What next?

Kirwan's try becomes a permanent fixture on any rugby highlights reel, and the 12-try, 70-6 record thrashing launches a new era and rescues rugby from the dark years after the 1981 Springbok tour.

Enthusiasm for the World Cup concept snowballs throughout the tournament and starts rugby on the road to professionalism.