Rugby World Cup Finals, 1987-2015
The ninth Rugby World Cup Final will be played in Japan at the weekend. Just to refresh the memory of finals past, we have given some details the first eight dramatic matches.
Rugby is a bit of a johnny-come-lately to world cups. Other sports well ahead in time including football (1930), rugby league (1935), baseball (1938), basketball (1950), hockey (1971) and cricket (1975).
Rugby, a staunch traditionalist, usually has been slow to change, and the early fear of the world cup was that it would change the game. It has changed the game, including the 1995 introduction of professionalism for all in rugby who wanted it.
Here are some Rugby World Cup titbits.
Number of Finals
4 Australia, New Zealand
3 England, France
2 South Africa
Winners
3 New Zealand
2 Australia, South Africa
1 England
Some Biggests
Team score: 35 in 1999
Margin of victory: 23 in 1999
Match score: 51 in 2015
Crowd: 82 957 in 2003
Some Smallests
Team score: 6 in 1991 and in 2007
Margin of victory: 1 in 2011
Match score: 15 in 2011
Crowd: 48 035 in 1987
The Finals, 1987-2015
1987
New Zealand vs France, 29-9 at Eden Park, Auckland on 20 June 1987
Crowd: 48 000
Grant Fox opened the scoring with a dropped goal and Michael Jones scored the first try in a Rugby World Cup final, in days when a try was worth four points. Fox converted the try and the all Blacks led 9-0 at half-time.
In the second half, David Kirk and John Kirwan scored tries while Fox kicked four penalty goals.
Pierre Berbizier scored a consolation try just before the final whistle.
These were the first scores in Rugby World Cup finals.
Scorers
For New Zealand:
Tries: Jones, Kirk, Kirwan
Con: Fox
Pens: Fox 4
Drop: Fox
For France:
Try: Berbizier
Con: Camberabero
Pen: Camberabero
Teams
New Zealand: 15 John Gallagher, 14 John Kirwan, 13 Joe Stanley, 12 Warwick Taylor, 11 Craig Green, 10 Grant Fox, 9 David Kirk (c), 8 Wayne Shelford, 7 Michael Jones, 6 Alan Whetton, 5 Gary Whetton, 4 Murray Pierce, 3 John Drake, 2 Sean Fitzpatrick, 1 Steve McDowall
Coach: Brian Lochore (New Zealand)
France: 15 Serge Blanco, 14 Didier Camberabero, 13 Philippe Sella, 12 Denis Charvet, 11 Patrice Lagisquet, 10 Franck Mesnel, 9 Pierre Berbizier, 8 Laurent Rodriguez, 7 Dominique Erbani, 6 Éric Champ, 5 Jean Condom, 4 Alain Lorieux, 3 Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou, 2 Daniel Dubroca (c), 1 Pascal Ondarts
Coach: France Jacques Fouroux
Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (Australia)
1991
Australia vs England, 12-6 at Twickenham on 2 November 1991
Crowd: 56 000
Scorers
For Australia:
Try: Daly
Con: Lynagh
Pens: Lynagh 2
For England:
Pens: Pen: Webb 2
Teams
Australia: 15 Marty Roebuck, 14 Bob Egerton, 13 Jason Little, 12 Tim Horan, 11 David Campese, 10 Michael Lynagh, 9 Nick Farr-Jones (c), 8 Troy Coker, 7 Viliami Ofahengaue, 6 Simon Poidevin, 5 John Eales, 4 Rod McCall, 3 Ewen McKenzie, 2 Phil Kearns, 1 Tony Daly
Replacements: 16 John Flett, 17 Anthony Herbert, 18 Peter Slattery, 19 Jeff Miller, 20 Dan Crowley, 21 David Nucifora
Coach: Bob Dwyer
England: 15 Jonathan Webb, 14 Simon Halliday, 13 Will Carling (c), 12 Jeremy Guscott, 11 Rory Underwood, 10 Rob Andrew, 9 Richard Hill, 8 Mike Teague, 7 Peter Winterbottom, 6 Michael Skinner, 5 Paul Ackford, 4 Wade Dooley, 3 Jeff Probyn, 2 Brian Moore, 1 Jason Leonard
Replacements: 16 Nigel Heslop, 17 David Pears, 18 Dewi Morris, 19 Dean Richards, 20 John Olver, 21 Gary Pearce
Coach: Geoff Cooke (England)
1995
South Africa vs New Zealand, 15-12 at Ellis Park, Johannesburg on 24 June 1995
Crowd: 63 000
For the first time, the World Cup final went into extra time when the scores were level at 12-all at the end of 80 minutes. The winning score was a soaring drop goal by Joel Stransky after South Africa won a scrum inside the New Zealand 22.
Scorers
For South Africa:
Pens: Stransky 3
Drops: Stransky 2
For New Zealand:
Pens: Mehrtens 3
Drop: Mehrtens
Teams
South Africa: 15 André Joubert, 14 James Small, 13 Japie Mulder, 12 Hennie le Roux, 11 Chester Williams, 10 Joel Stransky, 9 Joost van der Westhuizen, 8 Mark Andrews, 7 Ruben Kruger, 6 Francois Pienaar (c), 5 Hannes Strydom, 4 Kobus Wiese, 3 Balie Swart, 2 Chris Rossouw, 1 Os du Randt
Replacements: 16 Naka Drotské, 17 Brendan Venter, 18 Rudolf Straeuli, 19 Johan Roux, 20 Garry Pagel, 21 Gavin Johnson
Coach: Kitch Christie
New Zealand: 15 Glen Osborne, 14 Jeff Wilson, 13 Frank Bunce, 12 Walter Little, 11 Jonah Lomu, 10 Andrew Mehrtens, 9 Graeme Bachop, 8 Zinzan Brooke, 7 Josh Kronfeld, 6 Mike Brewer, 5 Robin Brooke, 4 Ian Jones, 3 Olo Brown, 2 Sean Fitzpatrick (c), 1 Craig Dowd
Replacements: 16 Marc Ellis, 17 Simon Culhane, 18 Ant Strachan, 19 Jamie Joseph, 20 Richard Loe, 21 Norm Hewitt
Coach: Laurie Mains
1999
Australia vs France, 35-12 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on 6 November 1999
Crowd: 72 500
Scorers
For Australia:
Tries: Finegan, Tune
Cons: Burke 2
Pen: Burke 7
For France:
Pens: Lamaison (4)
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
Teams
Australia: 15 Matt Burke, 14 Ben Tune, 13 Dan Herbert, 12 Tim Horan, 11 Joe Roff, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan, 8 Toutai Kefu, 7 David Wilson, 6 Matt Cockbain, 5 John Eales (c), 4 David Giffin, 3 Andrew Blades, 2 Michael Foley, 1 Richard Harry
Replacements: 16 Nathan Grey, 17 Jason Little, 18 Chris Whitaker, 19 Owen Finegan, 20 Mark Connors, 21 Dan Crowley, 22 Jeremy Paul,
Coach: Rod McQueen
France: 15 Xavier Garbajosa, 14 Philippe Bernat-Salles, 13 Richard Dourthe, 12 Émile Ntamack, 11 Christophe Dominici, 10 Christophe Lamaison, 9 Fabien Galthié, 8 Christophe Juillet, 7 Olivier Magne, 6 Marc Lievremont, 5 Fabien Pelous, 4 Abdelatif Benazzi, 3 Franck Tournaire, 2 Raphael Ibanez (c), 1 Cédric Soulette
Replacements: 16 Ugo Mola, 17 Stéphane Glas, 18 Stéphane Castaignède, 19 Arnaud Costes, 20 Olivier Brouzet, 21 Pieter de Villiers, 22 Marc Dal Maso
Coach: Jean-Claude Skrela
2003
England vs Australia, 20-17 at Stadium Australia, Sydney on 22 November 2003
Crowd: 82 957
Extra time was played when the score at the end of regular time was 14-14. A penalty goal by each team made the score 17-all with 26 seconds remaining. Then Jonny Wilkinson kicked the winning droip goal with his right boot.
Scorers
For England:
Try: Robinson
Pen: Wilkinson 4
Drop: Wilkinson
For Australia
Try: Tuqiri
Pen: Flatley 4
Teams
England: 15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Jason Robinson, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Dawson, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio, 7 Neil Back, 6 Richard Hill, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Martin Johnson (c), 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Trevor Woodman
Replacements: 16 Dorian West, 17 Jason Leonard, 18 Martin Corry, 19 Lewis Moody , 20 Kyran Bracken, 21 Mike Catt, 22 Iain Balshaw
Coach: Clive Woodward
Australia: 15 Mat Rogers, 14 Wendell Sailor, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Elton Flatley, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (c), 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 George Smith, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Bill Young
Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 David Giffin, 19 Matt Cockbain, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Joe Roff
Coach: Eddie Jones
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)
2007
South Africa vs England, 15-6 at Stade de France, Paris, on 20 October 2007
Crowd: 80 430
Scorers
For South Africa:
Pens: Montgomery 4, Steyn
For England:
Pens: Wilkinson 2
Teams
South Africa: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 François Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Os du Randt
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Wikus van Heerden, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 André Pretorius, 22 Wynand Olivier,
Coach: Jake White
England: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Mike Catt, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Mark Regan, 1 Andrew Sheridan
Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Lawrence Dallaglio, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Peter Richards, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Dan Hipkiss,
Coach: Brian Ashton
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
2011
New Zealand vs France, 8-7 at Eden Park, Auckland on 23 October 2011
Crowd: 61 079
Scorers
For New Zealand:
Try: Woodcock
Con: Weepu
Pen: Donald
For France:
Try: Dusautoir
Con: Trinh-Duc
France: 15 Maxime Médard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Morgan Parra , 9 Dimitri Yachvili, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 5 Lionel Nallet, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux
Replacements: 16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Fabien Barcella, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 20 Jean-Marc Doussain, 21 Francois Trinh-Duc, 22 Damien Traille
Coach: Marc Lièvremont
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Sonny Bill Williams
Coach: Graham Henry
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
2015
New Zealand vs Australia, 34–17 at Twickenham on 31 October 2015
Crowd: 80 125
Scorers
For New Zealand:
Tries: Milner-Skudder, Nonu, Barrett
Cons: Carter 2
Pens: Carter 4
Drop: Carter
For Australia:
Try: Pocock, Kuridrani
Cons: Foley 2
Pen: Foley
Teams
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Sonny Bill Williams
Coach: Steve Hansen
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 Kurtley Beale
Coach: Michael Cheika
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
