5. All Blacks vs RSA - Athletic Park, Wellington, 1998 (I think). I was sitting behind the goals with my dad in a blistering Wellington southerly. It was fucking cold. The SA forward pack was taking us to school, but our backs were making some breaks. Then Justin Wilson (GOLDIE!) gets on the end of a kick and charges for the goal and looks to come down with it, but the referee rules no try as the ball went out of bounds before Wilson downed it. If replay was widespread back then it would have shown Wilson getting the ball down *just* before it goes dead.
4 - Above continued, Carlos Spencer cannot kick goals, he missed five penalties. 5 x 3 = 15. At half time he was booed of the field and replaced with Andrew Merhtens (the goalkicking machine himself, before his form-crippling injuries). Merhts is automatic on his kicks. The final spread was less than 15 points, meaning if Merhts was starting..
3 - Arsenal losses. Almost every Arsenal loss is a heartbreaker for me. Some recent ones: FA Cup 2003 Semi - Man United 0 - 1 Arsenal, losing to the hated bastard reds with a Scholes shot in from close range, had Arsenal won they would have been assured another double as the winner would have played the Division 1 Millwall. Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, Champions League Semi Final, Leg 2 - the match was drawn 1-1 on the night and 2-2 on agregate, meaning that extra time was in store. Until Wayne Bridge, 3 minutes from time, unmarked hits a low shot from outside the box past Lehman. 2004, EPL, Man United 2 - 0 Arsenal, diving cunt Wayne Rooney steals a penalty, and it was game over. 2004 EPL, Liverpol 2-1 Arsenal, a young Liverpool player Mellor looked out of his game for the entire match... until injury time... where he hits an audacious shot from well outside the area beating Lehman. But the one that still smarts: 2001 FA Cup. Arsenal vs Liverpool. The score was 2-1 on the night, if Henchoz didn't block Henry's shot with his hand or if the referee had the balls to give a penalty... who knows what would have happened.
2 - Bledisloe Cup games 1997-2003. The grudge match between New Zealand and Australia. The rule is, to win the cup you must win both games, to retain the cup however you only need to win one. There is no third game. Every year New Zealand won the first leg, only to lose the second in heartbreaking and often embarassing fashion.
1 - 1995 Rugby World Cup Final. New Zealand All Blacks against the hated South Africa Springboks. Our team is hit by a mysterious case of food poisoning right before the final. Many players were vomitting before the game, and at half time. Yet we were holding our own. This was a typical South Africa game where penalties were going to decide the winner. Merhts was matching the 'boks and forced the game into extra time... where SA wins it with a drop goal
I was watching it at 3am, I was 10, I cried
the international rugby world still points out the fact that New Zealand has not won the rugby world cup since 1987.. as South Africa was abscent from the tournament.