Wynne Gray's 50 greatest rugby moments: No.21

A French fan cheers on his side during the 1991 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England. Photo / Getty

England had won a spiteful quarter-final clash, 19-10 against France in Paris and would move on to the 1991 World Cup semifinal against Scotland.

Before the Parc des Princes match began to the whistle of Kiwi ref Dave Bishop, English loose forward Mickey Skinner rarked up his teammates as they waited in the tunnel. When the test started England targeted French fullback Serge Blanco for some extra attention - up and unders came with bodyslams and elbow jolts.

"The ref that day turned a blind eye to English foul play," Blanco explained. "He was incoherent. I was trampled, kicked and had my head walked on. So I punched the winger. No, I did not lose my cool. On the contrary, I was perfectly aware of what I was doing. There are times when the referee refuses to be honest and you have to take justice into your own hands."

When Bishop blew fulltime and headed for the tunnel, he was sworn at, pushed then spat on by disgruntled French coach Daniel Dubroca.

Welsh radio commentator Jeff Herdman saw the chaos as Dubroca grabbed Bishop's collar and put him against a wall, accused him of cheating and then gobbed him.

"I simply went up to congratulate him and said 'Bravo'," Dubroca said.

There were later allegations that French prop Pascal Ondarts had also abused Bishop but the International Rugby Board, chaired by New Zealand's Russ Thomas, was at its mystifying best with their lack of investigation.

An "incident" had occurred but the case was closed and there would be no further discussion. Bishop reported the matter to IRB officials but Thomas refuted that suggestion, saying there was no official complaint.

Thomas conversed with French officials whose president Albert Ferrasse suggested there were difficulties with context and translation with nothing to be gained by taking the matter further.

After the tournament, Dubroca resigned from his job and apologised in writing for abusing Bishop but the IRB decided any censure was up to the French Rugby Federation.