WATCH: The top 5 tries of the Rugby World Cup

HESKETH’S HEART-STOPPER

There were better tries at this tournament than Karne Hesketh’s injury-time clincher for Japan against South Africa, but none as seismic. When the replacement back held off Springboks winger JP Pietersen to cross in the left corner, Brighton Community Stadium erupted and the rugby world shook after the biggest upset in the history of the sport. Japan’s players collapsed to the ground in a mixture of joy and disbelief. Rugby has never seen anything like it.

DAVIES’ DELIGHT

Wales were trailing by seven points against England with nine minutes left and attempting to cope with an injury crisis in their already depleted back division. A scrumhalf was on the left wing, a right wing was at centre, and a flyhalf was at fullback. Still, the Welsh conjured up a game-changing try of improvised brilliance as Lloyd Williams — that out-of-position scrum-half — was given an overlap by Jamie Roberts, shot down the left wing, and center-kicked to turn the covering English defense. Starting scrumhalf Gareth Davies sprinted and gathered the loose ball at his knees and dived with a defender on his back between the posts. England were stunned, the momentum was with the Welsh, and they were kicked to victory by flyhalf Dan Biggar — with a little help from an interesting lineout call by Chris Robshaw.