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Gregor Paul takes his pick from the 1991 Rugby World Cup
Five who arrived
John Eales (Australia)
When lineouts were just about lawless, or subject only to the rules of the jungle, the gawky 21-year-old looked like he was going to be eaten alive.
Yet, every time the ball went through his air space, there was Eales, soaring high and claiming more possession than he had any right to. And when he wasn't doing that he was hitting rucks hard, making clever offloads, tackling, goal-kicking or helping old ladies across the road.
No wonder they called him nobody - as in nobody's perfect.
Tim Horan (Australia)
With a low centre of gravity, searing acceleration, explosive defence and a range of subtle skills, Tim Horan was unstoppable in the Wallaby midfield.
He formed a lethal partnership with the dynamic Jason Little at centre which gave Australia the ability to play tight or wide.
Frank Bunce (Samoa)
The North Harbour centre was drifting without hinting at great things. Then he went to the World Cup with Samoa and looked every inch a test player. Strong, rugged and clever on the ball, it was no surprise he was brought into the All Blacks the following year.
Al Charron (Canada)
The athletic loose forward jarred a few opposition bones with his thundering tackling and high-impact ball carrying.
Charron probably would have been recognised globally had he played for a major rugby nation. He won 80 test caps and was a firm favourite at the Bristol club before finishing his career with Pau and then Dax in France.
Brian Lima (Samoa)
Now known as the chiropractor on account of his ability to rearrange people's spines with his tackling. Back in 1991 he was an 18-year-old wing who was sharp, elusive and powerful.
He scored two tries against Argentina and was a handful throughout the quarterfinal clash against Scotland.
Game of thetournament
Ireland vs Australia At Lansdowne Road, Dublin
A passionate home crowd, a gutsy performance from the underdog and last-minute heartbreak - this game had it all.
The Irish, having been easily beaten by Scotland in pool play, were bizarrely awarded a home quarterfinal against the much-fancied Wallabies.
In typical Irish fashion, they rose to the occasion, relishing their underdog status to ride the wave of emotion.
Flanker Gordie Hamilton thought he had etched his name in Irish folklore when he burst 40 metres up the left flank to make the score 18-15 with only a couple of minutes left.
The Irish were delirious but, unfortunately, Australia had the composure to work their back into opposition territory and from a scrum on the 22, worked the ball wide until Michael Lynagh looped round David Campese to clinch a dramatic score on fulltime.
The best game we have forgotten
Australia vs Western Samoa at Pontypool Park, Pontypool
Western Samoa had alerted the world to their talents when beating Wales a week earlier in what was then the biggest shock in world rugby.
But the Islanders stepped up another level at a sodden Pontypool. The Wallabies were uncomfortable in the wet and disturbed by the physicality of the Samoans who thundered into contact and forced the removal of skipper Nick Farr-Jones after 12 minutes.
Another shock was always on the cards with Australia under constant pressure and reliant on the unerring boot of Michael Lynagh to push them 9-3 ahead with 10 minutes remaining. They held on just and Tim Horan has subsequently claimed the game against Samoa was the toughest challenge all tournament.
Five defining memories
A nation in mourning
The Welsh exodus from Cardiff Arms Park when Western Samoan flanker Sila Vaifale coasted over the tryline to secure the win. Wales, such a proud nation, had reached the nadir, losing to a nation barely heard of in Europe with just 2000 players. The Welsh were left to find solace in the immortal quip: "Thanks heavens we weren't playing the whole of Samoa."
Those Twickenham baths
England, lovers of tradition that they are, still had individual baths at Twickenham. The Wallabies, basking in the glow of a victory that went some way towards boosting the standing of rugby in their homeland, let the media into their dressing room after the final.
Images of Horan, Farr-Jones and others glugging champagne as they reclined in the bath were sent round the world.
A distraught Gavin Hastings
No one had done more than Gavin Hastings in helping Scotland reach the semifinal. Hastings had been instrumental in the quarterfinal defeat of Western Samoa and had kicked superbly all tournament, right up until there were seven minutes of the semifinal clash against England remaining.
The score was tied at 6-all and Scotland had a penalty on the 22 right in front - a gimme in golfing terms. But Hastings inexplicably pulled it and when Rob Andrew dropped a goal to win the game a few minutes later, the Scottish fullback was inconsolable.
Serge Blanco's right hook
The French were increasingly rattled in their Paris quarterfinal against England with the game marred by niggle and cheap shots.
As England ground their way in front, the French came apart. After fielding an up and under, French fullback Serge Blanco needlessly punched Nigel Heslop when the English wing arrived fractionally late. Heslop was removed unconscious and didn't play again in the tournament.
England running the ball in the final
Boy, did the Poms regret being suckered by David Campese into playing an expansive game. England had relied on some pretty dry football to make the final, and with so many big men in the pack, it made sense.
Campese, though, derided their style in the week preceding the final and England's senior players decided they should surprise the Wallabies by throwing the ball about.
They lacked finesse and probably would have won had they stuck to what they did best.
