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Team Guide: Australia

Background information

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They hosted and won the World Cup twice.

Out of the five games they played England at World Cups, they only won two.

George Gregan, 20 matches at World Cups, was the most played by an Australian.

Chris Latham, 11 tries is the most by an Australian at World Cups.

Berrick Barnes three drop-goals were the most by an Australian at World Cups.

The Wallabies had seven different captains and six different coaches at World Cups.

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Bob Dwyer coached Australia at two consecutive World Cups.

Australia top point scorer was Matthew Burke- with 120points.

1987

In 1987 Australia and New Zealand co-hosted the first World Cup for the first time.

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Australia ended fourth in the World Cup, following their 22-21 loss to Wales in the third place play-off.

Alan Jones coached the side-with Andrew Slack being captain.

Michael Lynagh, 87 points was the highest for an Australian player at the World Cup.

Australia biggest winning margin was 35 points, when they won the United States 47-12, in a pool game.

The Wallabies collected 184 points- with only 117 conceded in the competition

1991

It was there second participation at the World Cup.

They received automatic qualification because they ended fourth in the 1987 World Cup

Australia had won their first World Cup, when they won England 12-6 in the final.

Bob Dwyer coached the side- with Nick Farr-Jones being captain

The Wallabies caused the biggest upset of the World Cup, when they won  New Zealand 16-6 in the semifinals.

Australia collected 126 points- with only 55 conceded in the competition.

Their biggest winning margin was 35 points when they toppled Wales 38-3 in a pool game.

1995

The Wallabies appeared in their third World Cup.

They received automatic qualification, due to them winning the 1991 World Cup.

Australia lost 25-22 to England in the quarterfinals.

Bob Dwyer was coached the side while Michael Lynagh was captain.

Australia collected 109 points- with only 66 conceded in the competition.

Nine different players scored tries for Australia.

Their biggest winning margin was 39 points when they toppled Romania 42-3 in a pool game.

1999

Australia appeared in their fourth World Cup.

They received automatic qualification, due to them being in the quarterfinals of the previous World Cup.

Captain, John Eales led Australia to their second World Cup title- with Rod MacQueen coaching the side.

Australian full-back, Matthew Burke was the stand out man throughout the tournament- with a total of 91 points (two tries, 17 conversions and 19 penalties).

Burke slotted 25 of Australia 35 points in the final.

The Wallabies collected 221 points- with only 73 conceded in the competition.

Their biggest winning margin was 46 points when they toppled Romania 57-9 in a pool game.

2003

The Wallabies appeared in their fifth World Cup.

They Hosted the World Cup for a second time.

Eddie Jones coached the Wallabies while George Gregan was captain.

Australia came second in the tournament after their 27-17 loss to England in the final.

Their biggest winning margin at the World Cup was 142 points when they crushed Namibia 142-0.

Chris Latham five tries was the most in one match, at the World Cup.

It was their first time that they had lost in a final.

Out of the 319 points in the competition, Elton Flately had 54points- with one try, 14conversions and 21 penalties.

2007

Australia appeared in their sixth World Cup.

They received automatic qualification, due to them coming second in the 2003 World Cup.

Australia was knocked-out by England in the quarterfinals- with a 12-10 loss.

John Connolly coached the Wallabies while Stirling Mortlock was captain.

The Wallabies collected 225 points- with only 53 conceded in the competition.

Matt Giteau had 27 of Australia 55 points in their 55-12 victory over Fiji in the pool stages.

Their biggest winning margin was 88 points when they crushed Japan 91-3 in the pool stages.

They scored 30 tries in the World Cup- with Drew Mitchell scoring six of them.

2011

The Wallabies appeared in their seventh World Cup.

They received automatic qualification, after they appeared in the quarterfinals of the 2007 World Cup.

Australia were knocked-out in the semifinals by New Zealand- with a 20-6 loss.

They ended third after they won Wales 21-18 in a third place play-off.

Robbie Deans coached the side while James Horwill was captain.

Adam Ashley-Cooper three tries was the most in one match, for Australia.

The Wallabies collected 211 points- with only 95 conceded in the competition.

Their biggest winning margin was 62 points when they toppled the United States 67-5 in a pool game.

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