That move turned the game around and England went on to its greatest rugby moment.
One problem for Wales was that the World Cup started about a dozen years too late for its golden generation. So the likes of Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams, Gerald and Mervyn Davies, Barry John and John Dawes didn't get a chance to strut their stuff in a tournament.
Some Welsh teams have been wretched, but this time around there are signs they may not be without hope of doing well.
They must wish for a cup when they don't draw a Pacific Island nation.
In three tournaments, they've come up against Samoa or Fiji and lost each time.
In 1991, most famously, Samoa in their first cup appearance won 16-13 at Cardiff.
Eight years later it was 38-31 at the same ground, while four years ago, Wales were dumped out before the knockout stage, thrillingly, by Fiji, 38-34 at Nantes.
Their preparation has been reasonable. They lost 23-19 to England, then beat the same opponents 19-9 - although the English were awful that day - and beat Argentina 28-13.
The axis of centurion No10 Stephen Jones, coming to his fourth cup, or James Hook, and the combative Mike Phillips are pivotal to Wales' ambitions. Phillips' understudy, Tavis Knoyle, is a perky newcomer who looks a handy operator.
Ageless Shane Williams and big, rangy 19-year-old George North shape up as the leading wing options; Jamie Roberts is a blockbusting midfield back; Lee Byrne one of the better No15s in Europe.
Losing hooker and captain Matthew Rees to injury hurt, and Wales need their leading props, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins, fit and firing.
Jenkins arrives with an issue over a calf muscle and will miss the opening game against South Africa.
It says much for how highly coach Warren Gatland rates the loosehead, who hasn't played since last November, that he'll live with him making a late start.
Woolly-haired Jones is just back from an elbow injury layoff.
Wales have height at the lineout from Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies while the loose forward mix is more than useful.
Captain Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate and either Toby Faletau, the belatedly rehabilitated hard man Andy Powell or Ryan Jones should be a good mix of the destructive and offensive, if the latter three are on song.
Warburton, 22, is a former Welsh under-19 and under-20 skipper and Wales' youngest World Cup leader. He appeals as a player with the right qualities.
"The squad of players really enjoy each other's company and it's a positive camp to be around and we are in a good place at the moment," he said.
Gatland likes the youth quotient he's got.
"The young guys have no fear factor," he said. "They go out there to improve and that is what excites me about this group of players."
The former Waikato and All Blacks hooker is always good value for a forthright thought or two and Gatland insists Wales are out to win the group, as a stepping stone to making a noise in the knockout stages.
There's an air of confidence around Wales. Beat South Africa in their opening game in Wellington in nine days' time and listen to the roar.
Peter Bills on Wales:
Any country that has to dig Gavin Henson out of a tanning salon to fill a key role surely forfeits the right to serious consideration at a World Cup.
Henson chooses his teams and moments to play like a diner, a la carte. He wouldn't figure on most countries' radar - witness England throwing out Danny Cipriani, Australia, Lote Tuqiri and New Zealand, Sione Lauaki.
But there are plenty of other worries within Welsh rugby. The best players are continuing to ignore national coach Warren Gatland's thinly veiled warning that playing outside Wales could imperil chances of representing the national team.
Trouble is, Lee Byrne (bound for Clermont Auvergne), James Hook (heading for Perpignan) and Mike Phillips (probably destined for Bayonne) know they can call Gatland's bluff. 2005 Lions halfback Dwayne Peel has long since done so.
Perhaps strangely, Gatland and Shaun Edwards were given new contracts before this World Cup.
They will have to go some way to justify keeping them.
Fixtures:
Pool D
Sunday September 11 v South Africa, Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington)
Sunday September 18 v Samoa, Waikato Stadium (Hamilton)
Monday September 26 v Namibia, Stadium Taranaki (New Plymouth)
Sunday October 2 v Fiji, Waikato Stadium (Hamilton)
