Coach Robbie Deans, and captain James Horwill, take their Wallabies to New Zealand tomorrow for the men-in-gold’s seventh Rugby World Cup campaign.
Will history be on their side compared with the four other leading contenders? Here are the stats:
WALLABIES
Finals:
- * Won 1991, beating England 12-6 at Twickenham.
- * Won 1999, beating France 35-12 at Millennium.
- * Lost to England 2003 in extra time 20-17, at Stadium Australia.
Early departures:
- * Lost 1987 semi to France 30-24, at Concord.
- * Lost 1995 quarters to England 25-22, at Newlands.
- * Lost 2007 quarters to England 12-10, at Marseille.
SOUTH AFRICA
(Ineligible for 1987, and 1991, tournaments as in sporting isolation over apartheid)
Finals:
- * Won 1995 beating the All Blacks 15-12, at Ellis Park.
- * Won 2007 beating England 15-6, at Stade de France.
Early departures:
- * Lost 1999 semi to the Wallabies 27-21, at Twickenham.
- * Lost 2003 quarters to the All Blacks 29-9, at Telstra Dome.
ALL BLACKS
Finals:
- * Won 1987, beating France 29-9, at Eden Park.
- * Lost in 1995 to South Africa 15-12, at Ellis Park.
Early departures:
- * Lost 1991 semi to the Wallabies 16-6, at Lansdowne.
- * Lost 1999 semi to France 43-31, at Twickenham,
- * Lost 2003 semi to the Wallabies 22-10, at Stadium Australia.
- * Lost 2007 quarters to France 20-18, at Millennium.
ENGLAND
Finals
- * Won 2003 beating the Wallabies 20-17 in extra time, at Stadium Australia.
- * Lost in 1991 to the Wallabies 12-6, at Twickenham.
- * Lost in 2007 to South Africa 15-6, at Stade de France.
Early departures:
- * Lost 1987 quarters to Wales 16-3, at Ballymore.
- * Lost 1995 semi to the All Blacks 45-29, at Newlands.
- * Lost 1999 quarters to South Africa 44-21, at Stade de France.
FRANCE
Finals:
- * Lost 1987 to the All Blacks 29-9, at Eden Park.
- * Lost 1999 to the Wallabies 36-12, at Millennium.
Early departures:
- * Lost 1991 quarters to England 19-10, at Parc de Princes.
- * Lost 1995 semi to South Africa, at Kings Park.
- * Lost 2003 semi to England, at Stadium Australia.
- * Lost 2007 semi to England 14-9, at Stade de France.
Interesting facts:
- * Only the Wallabies, and South Africa, have won two Rugby World Cups.
- * Only the Wallabies, and England, have reached three finals in six.
- * Only the All Blacks, and France, have reached five semis.
- * Ireland have never reached a semi.
- * But Scotland has qualified for all six quarters, Ireland four, and Wales three.
The only bogey team mentioned twice with big leads – England.
Omen?
Editors note: Corrections have been made to this piece
