Introduction: Welcome To Australia Mate
Australia and New Zealand had to co-host the fifth edition of the World Cup but due to contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL), all games were then moved to Australia.
Before the World Cup, England was regarded as the best team in the world, due to them beating Southern Hemisphere power houses and because they won the 2003 Six Nations Championship.
This was England first time that they won a World Cup and the first time that a country in the northern hemisphere has won it.
The qualifying stage was basically the same as the 1999 World Cup, where the quarterfinalists of the previous World Cup received automatic entry and the hosts, Australia.
The remaining 12 spots were battle out between 81 countries. This was a record amount of countries wanting to play in a World Cup.
There were 48 matches, from the October 10 to November 22 and the tournament featured most of the same countries as the 1999 World Cup – with the only change being Georgia, who appeared in place of Spain.
Jonny Wilkinson was the stand out man throughout the tournament- with a total of 113 points (10 conversions, 23 penalties and eight drop-goals).
Other standout performances were Doug Howlett and Mils Muliaina from New Zealand- with both scoring seven tries each.
Favourites England ended winners after a 20-17 victory over Australia at Telstra Stadium in Sydney.
