Group Stages: Fantastic Fox
Pool Stage
There were four pools of four teams each. The top two progressed to the quarter-finals. In Pool One, Australia and England progressed, leaving behind United States and Japan.
France and Scotland produced the first ever RWC draw in a 20-20 thriller which saw Matt Duncan score in the corner in the last minute to bring Scotland level. Gavin Hastings converted four penalties in the match, but missed the sideline conversion.
It took 211 matches for Japan and Canada to produce another RWC draw (12-12) in 2007.
The first world cup match featuring Tonga saw the Pacific Island side lose 37-4 to Canada. Fiji later brought some joy to the islands after upsetting Argentina 28-9 in Hamilton.
Craig Green and John Gallagher amassed four tries each, a feat matched only by Wales’ Ieuan Evans, who helped his side overcome Canada 40-9.
Fox bagged 26 points from his boot only to be equalled by fellow All Black Allan Hewson in 1982 against Australia.
A few days later, Hastings made a 27 point haul against Romania, converting his own try in Dunedin. That feat also broke the RWC 1000 points barrier.
France’s Didier Camberabero scored 30 points in the 70-12 win over Zimbabwe in Auckland two days later. The French ran in 13 tries to equal records set by England in 1881, New Zealand in 1913 and France in 1924.
