Rugby World Cup, England 2015 – a retrospective
So Rugby World Cup, England 2015 is all done and dusted, the final whistle has been blown, to the victors the spoils and every other cliché have now (hopefully) been used to death and will never more be seen, heard or read again. Until of course when the next major sporting tournament gets underway and it will all be brought out of storage. Dusted off and regurgitated and made out its a piece or original journalism! But stop there, yes there was some very average reporting, yes the accreditation processes were questionable. But you cannot hide the fact that the press facilities from what I as a sports photographer experienced were absolutely bang on. Plus the fact that the spectator numbers broke every record nearly on a daily basis and sheer enthusiasm was totally unquestionable.
Here are a few of my personal favourites from the three games I covered. The rest of my stuff an be seen over on the SportPix website
The first game I covered was at the Amex Stadium in Brighton. It was to go down in history as the real upset in the Rugby World Cup, England 2015. So to kick off (pun intended) Japan against South Africa. Here is that moment everyone will remember that try right on the final whistle. Yes nearly everyone headed down to the other end in the second half expecting a Spring Bok steam roller to come rolling into town. But, it didn’t and I was at the wrong end! but whats nice about this picture is the fans faces. The guy with the beard holding his head and two people away another Spring Bok jersey wearing supporter actually cheering!
Japan score the final try to notch up an historic victory against South Africa. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and Japan. at Brighton Community Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
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- Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and Japan. at Brighton Community Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
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- Scenes of utter joy after the game by the Japanese players. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and Japan. at Brighton Community Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
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- South Africas Pat Lambie tries to escape a double tackle. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and Japan. at Brighton Community Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
Next up for me was my first visit to The Stadium. Formally the Olympic Stadium, renamed for no apparent good reason what so ever! This time it was for New Zealand first game against Namibia. I must admit after this game I was in no doubt that the Kiwi’s would win.
The Kiwis didn’t have it all their way as New Zealand’s Centre Sonny Bill Williams finds out. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool C between New Zealand and Namibia at Olympic Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
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- Rugby World Cup group game from Pool C between New Zealand and Namibia at Olympic Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
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- Erm not quite
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- New Zealand’s Centre Malakai Fekitoa fumbles the ball mid air. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool C between New Zealand and Namibia at Olympic Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
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- Rugby World Cup group game from Pool C between New Zealand and Namibia at Olympic Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
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- Rugby World Cup group game from Pool C between New Zealand and Namibia at Olympic Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
Never ever let it be said that rugby is not a game for total hard men.
Rugby World Cup group game from Pool C between New Zealand and Namibia at Olympic Stadium. (c) Matt Bristow
The last game I covered was South Africa against the USA. The only white wash of the tournament, but lets not mention that! For some reason I stayed at the wrong end for the second half. God knows why! but I did get Bryan Habana celebrating equalising Jonah Lomu’s try total.
South Africas Wing Bryan Habana celebrates scoring and equalising the highest score during a World Cup. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and USA at The Stadium. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (c) Matt Bristow
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- USA’s Wing Zach Test breaks the South African line. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and USA at The Stadium. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (c) Matt Bristow
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- South Africas Scrum Half Fourie Du Preez (c) totally focused. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and USA at The Stadium. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (c) Matt Bristow
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- South Africas Full Back Willie Le Roux and South Africas Wing Bryan Habana clash on a high ball. Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and USA at The Stadium. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (c) Matt Bristow
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- Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and USA at The Stadium. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (c) Matt Bristow
I had to take this which I think captures the national feeling after England crashed out!
Rugby World Cup group game from Pool B between South Africa and USA at The Stadium. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. (c) Matt Bristow