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21 Rugby World Cup facts

Did you Know?

1. Australia is recognized as the most successful team in terms of reaching semi-finals and finals (Winners ’91/’99, Runner-Up ’03, S/F ’87). Meanwhile, NZ and France are the only two teams to have reached the semi-finals in 5 out of the 6 tournaments held so far (NZ W ’87, R-up ’95, S/F ’91/’99/’03; France R-up ’87/’99, S/F ’95, ’03, ’07).

2. Across all six RWC finals, only eight tries have been scored.

3. In the last five finals, just five tries have been recorded.

4. No coach has succeeded in leading their team to consecutive wins.

5. Three players have achieved the feat of winning the RWC twice: Eales and Horan from Australia, and du Randt from South Africa.

6. Since 1991, no back has captained a winning team.

7. It has never happened that a team won both the Tri Nations and RWC in the same year; does Mr. Henry know this ahead of the upcoming Tri Nations?

8. Winning teams from the 6 or 5 Nations have consistently performed well at that year’s RWC, advancing to the semi-finals every time.

9. The inaugural WC in 1987 featured 16 participating teams, and there was no qualification process—everything was by invitation only. Notably, Western Samoa missed out, despite being better than several invited teams such as the USA, Zimbabwe, and Japan.

10. In each tournament, the winner has had to eliminate the defending champion along the way:
1991: Australia defeated New Zealand (semi-final)
1995: South Africa defeated Australia (opening pool match)
1999: Australia defeated South Africa (semi-final)
2003: England defeated Australia (final)
2007: South Africa defeated England (final)

11. New Zealand has yet to defeat Australia at a RWC, having lost twice in the semi-finals (’91/’03).

12. Among the Home Nations, Ireland is the only one that has never reached a semi-final.

13. The last three RWC champions avoided facing New Zealand at any point during their respective tournaments.

14. Of the five teams that have ever competed in a final, South Africa is the sole team that has not lost one.

15. Both Australia and England share the record for the most finals played, with three each.

16. South Africa has triumphed in two finals without scoring a single try in either.

17. The finals of ’95 and ’03 were both secured by drop goals, and they are the only ones to have proceeded to extra time.

18. Historically, only New Zealand (’87) and South Africa (’95) have hosted and won the World Cup.

19. The year 2007 marks the only occasion when the All Blacks failed to reach at least the semi-finals.

20. Outside of the Tri Nations teams, England remains the only nation to have claimed the tournament title.

21. The All Blacks have never won a Test match solely through a drop goal.

by Terence Johns

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