Rugby back when it was played by men with white collar jobs whose jerseys rippled in the wind. It was all very charming and off the cuff. Chaotic lineouts, drunken-looking punch ups, structure-less attacks, often shambolic defence, this was rugby in the amateur era. Far from the planned, structured spectacle we see today.
Here are six classic amateur rugby cock-ups that you would be unlikely to see today.
Jonathan Davies v England, 1985
England hardly ever won in Cardiff back in the 70s and 80s and their Cardiff nightmare afflicted them in 1985 as full back Chris Martin made an absolute hames of dealing with Jonathan Davies' garryowen. Davies himself scampered in to take advantage of the full-back's disaster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfg5GDqxgIQ&feature=youtu.be
Gavin Hastings v France, 1988
Gavin Hastings scores a breakaway try against France in 1988 aided by comically poor defending by French scrum half and future France and Italy coach Pierre Berbizier. He clearly did not like the ball at his feet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74bwU2-8hCs&feature=youtu.be
Mike Gibson v Scotland in 1977
One of Ireland's greatest ever players profits from a fairly comical bit of defending from Scottish centre Jim Renwick.
Michael Kiernan v England 1987
Michael Kiernan scores the opener as Ireland slaughter England 17-0 in the first game of the 1987 Five Nations. Must be one of the bleakest days ever in Dublin. Looks like every grey Tuesday morning you've ever seen.
The English lads greeted the garryowen like the sheepish lads in PE class who hated sport and just stood around the cold with their hands in their pockets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df62DhXkhn4&feature=youtu.be
The 1973 Haka
This was surely morale boosting for the Barbarians. The Haka is done with rather more conviction these days. They look like old men struggling to keep pace with the aerobics instructor their wife has made them go and see.
David Campese v The Lions, 1989
A genius but an insanely cavalier risk-taker, Campo threw a few wobblers in his time, no worse than this one which cost the Aussies the series in 1989. He more than made up for it in later years.
In fairness to the boys back in the 80s...
Of course, it wasn't just the amateurs who made a charming hash of things.
