2003 was the year Australia came within a whisker of winning the World Cup, only to be thwarted by Jonny Wilkinson’s boot. It was also a tournament where the scrum was king.
27 per cent of tries scored during the Australian-hosted World Cup came immediately after a scrum. While the likes of New Zealand, England and France used the set piece to bulldoze over the line against lesser opponents, surprise packet Canada showed training really does pay off, scoring two fantastic tries from well-worked scrum moves against Italy and Tonga.
Perhaps it was the familiarity with playbooks in American and Canadian football that could be adapted to the rugby scrum and subsequent ball movement. Either way, the Canadians could certainly hold their heads up high, defeating Tonga and narrowly going down by five points to Italy in the nation’s capital.
In four games the Canadians conceded 34 points per game, which was no disgrace when they had Wales and New Zealand in the pool.
The Roar’s World Cup Countdown:
30. Grant Fox’s record 30 conversions from the 1987 World Cup
29. All Blacks claim the 1987 World Cup, 29-9
28. Tonga stun Italy with Sateki Tuipulotu’s boot, winning 28-25
27. 27 per cent of tries came from scrums in 2003 with Canada showing the value of the set piece
26. David Pocock made 26 tackles in a fantastic performance against South Africa in the 2011 quarter-finals
25. South Africa’s 25 wins from 29 matches at the World Cup
24. Wales scores 24 points in the first half against New Zealand but still lose in 2003
23. Nick Farr-Jones 23 wins as Australian captain including an historic 1991 World Cup win against England
22. The Wallabies notch a cricket score with 22 tries in a 142-0 thumping of Namibia in 2003
21. Georgia’s David Dadunashvili becomes the youngest (21) to start at hooker in a World Cup match
20. The first World Cup classic finishes 20-all between Scotland and France in 1987
19. 19-year-old George North becomes youngest World Cup try scorer in 2011
18. Since their first and only win Japan has gone 18-straight World Cup games without victory
17. New Zealand coaching staff present 17 alleged refereeing errors to explain 2007 loss
16. George Gregan and Jason Leonard involved in 16 wins each at World Cup level
15. Jonah Lomu’s 15 tries in 11 matches
14. Jonny Wilkinson’s 14 World Cup drop goals including his most famous one in England’s 20-17 win over the Wallabies
13. Philippe Sella’s fantastic career at No.13 with 13 starts for France at Rugby World Cups
12. The Wallabies record 12-game winning streak from 1999 to 2003
11. Fiji win 11 out of 11 lineouts against Wales during a stunning 38-34 win in 2007
10. David Campese’s 10 tries for the Wallabies at Rugby World Cups
9. Matt Burke’s 9 points per game average after an amazing 1999 tournament
8. Diego Ormaechea, at age 40, was the oldest number 8 to play at a World Cup
7. No.7 Michael Jones scores the first ever World Cup try
6. Marc Ellis’ record six tries in a match against Japan
5. Jannie de Beer’s five drop goals in a match against England in the 1999 quarter-finals
4. Michael Lynagh’s four tries in World Cup matches including his match-winner against Ireland
3. Cardiff has hosted World Cup matches for three tournaments and will make it a record four in 2015
2. Christophe Lamaison’s two drop goals in semi-final blinder
1. The Webb Ellis Cup.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Thank goodness these guys are playing in the future then...
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Great stat!
Martin English
Roar Rookie
Speaking as an AB supporter, history tells me to only back them in the WC at home :) In fact, only using history as a guide, you wouldn't even back them to get a place in the final in the northern hemisphere !!
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
27 is also the average age of the majority of World Cup winning sides, and the average age of the Wallaby squad travelling to the UK.
taylorman
Roar Guru
whuch bookie bike? Can't find one myself...
Ruggerphil
Roar Rookie
Onya bike...........England clear favourites....you wouldn't happen to be English would you.
Ruggerphil
Roar Rookie
Lroy Ireland have never beaten the All Blacks, neither have Scotland. Wales last beat them in 1953. England tend to beat them once a decade.....1983.....1993......2003........2012.
Smallfrog
Guest
I think it's probably more accurate to say that anybody can lose it LIT. The winner will have to have the cattle, team organisation, mental fortitude, and staying power to play more or less high-intensity rugby over seven closely-spaced matches. I think only a few teams would be capable of those minimum requirements (plus France).
Phantom
Roar Rookie
England are clear favourites at home IMHO. France second favourite. NZ SA next then Ire Aus.
Lroy
Guest
Well, whoever wins it will have to beat New Zealand... who realistically is up to it?? SA at a neutral venue?? Australia?? Despite some of the hyperbole... England's recent record, if you discount the manic 12 minutes at Twickenham a couple of years ago isn't very good. When was the last time Wales beat the All Blacks? or Ireland?? Its New Zealands to lose... I would say only the Boks in a semi, or the Aussies in a final have any chance of beating them.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Yep. Eight teams can win it Machooka. NZ, Boks, Wallabies, Poms, Ireland, Wales , France and a dark horse.
Machooka
Roar Guru
And England just lost to Les Blues... interesting ??
Lostintokyo
Guest
The RWC would be off to a wonderful start if Fiji best the Poms. Nothing in this World Cup is impossible.
Tissot Time
Guest
After last night France v ABs repeat a possibilty. French forwards look good. Many teams with chances in knockout rugby.
Marty
Guest
AB's v Ireland I think IMO
Ruggerphil
Roar Rookie
Whatever happens there will be surprises. I'm picking an All Blacks v England final....but I'll probably be wrong.