Most memorable moments from Rugby World Cup 2015

LONDON, 1 Nov - Everyone will have their own special memory from among the 48 matches played during the six weeks of Rugby World Cup 2015.

Japan's victory over South Africa that shook the rugby world and sparked wild celebrations is a standout. So is every one of the 2.4 million supporters who streamed into the stadia in a riot of colourful costumes, and painted faces and hair.

As always, snaps of Webb Ellis Cup winners New Zealand with their captain Richie McCaw and man of the match Dan Carter, above, will become iconic

Here are just a few of the moments from the competition that are sure to live long in the memory of those who witnessed the sporting extravaganza.

THE HAKA: Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora! Tenei Te Tangata, Puhuru huru, Nana nei tiki mai, Whakawhiti te ra, A upa ne ka up ane, Upane, Kaupane, Whiti te ra

ALL OVER: Beauden Barrett dives over the line to score his side's third try late in the match at Twickenham to ensure back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs for the All Blacks

SHOWING THEIR METAL: South Africa's players gather on the pitch at the end of the presentation ceremony to show off their bronze medals they won for beating Argentina at the Olympic Stadium

STICKING TOGETHER: Argentina players put their disappointment behind them to pos for a team photograph after their defeat by South Africa in the bronze final at the Olympic Stadium 

 

ONE FOR THE SCRAPBOOK: It is the moment that leads to the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history as Karne Hesketh dives over the line to seal a shock victory for Japan against South Africa, sparking joyous scenes among the crowd

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FLAIR: Bernard Foley dives over the line to score his second try as he racks up 28 of Australia's points in a 33-13 victory that knocks hosts England out of the tournament at Twickenham

THE GRIM WHITE LINE: England captain Chris Robshaw and his teammates stand stunned after the defeat by Australia sends them tumbling out of the tournament at the pool stage, the first hosts to suffer such a fate

THUMBS UP: South Africa's Bryan Habana proudly wears his bronze medal as he signals to supporters, but against Argentina, the Springboks wing wasted three chance to move ahead of All Black Jonah Lomu and become outright Rugby World Cup try scorer

SEEING RED: Agustin Ormaechea is the first player to be sent off in the tournament during the game against Fiji after emulating his father Diego by scoring a World Cup try for Uruguay, who became the last nation of the 20 teams to score a try at England 2015

WHAT A STAR: Florin Vlaicu completes the greatest comeback in Rugby World Cup history as he boots over the penalty two minutes from time to give Romania a dramatic 17-15 victory over Canada after being 15-0 down

IMHOFF TAKEOFF: Juan Imhoff makes a spectacular leap into the air to dive across the line for his second and Argentina's fourth try in the upset victory over Ireland that takes the South American side in the semi-finals

OFF HIS MARK: Referee Craig Joubert leaves Scotland players incensed as he sprints to the dressing room after Australia win the quarter-final with a last-gasp Bernard Foley penalty which it later emerges should not have been awarded

COMING FOR TO MARRY HER: Romantic Romanian Florin Surugiu chooses to propose to girlfriend Alexandra after the defeat by Ireland because it is her birthday and the match is at Wembley – and in doing so melts the hearts of Oaks teammates

CROWDED HOUSE: Like any major sport, rugby is nothing without supporters and the astonishing 89,267 who bought tickets for the Ireland v Romania game at Wembley Stadium set a Rugby World Cup attendance record

WHAT'S MY LINEOUT: Diego Maradona turned up to support Argentina a couple of times, but what if he had wanted to try his Hand of God against England at rugby, just as he did against England at football in 1986? Here we take a light-hearted look at what might have been, with the help of a little digital technology

RNS rm