With the 2015 Rugby World Cup fast approaching, Last Word on Sports looks back at how the participating nations have fared in the previous seven tournaments from the inaugural in 1987 to the most recent in 2011. Today’s focus is France, who have appeared at each of the seven previous Rugby World Cups.
Rugby World Cup History: France
1987
France attended the inaugural World Cup as one of the seven International Rugby Football Board members. Drawn in Pool 4 with Scotland Romania and Zimbabwe, France drew their opening match with Scotland 20-20. Comfortable wins against Romania and Zimbabwe saw France top the group above Scotland on points difference. Meeting Fiji in the quarter finals, the French proved too much for the Pacific Islanders defeating them to advance to the semi finals. France won a tight game against co-host Australia 30-24 to set up a final against New Zealand. The final proved a game too many for France who lost 29-9 to the All Blacks.
1991
As runners up in 1987 France qualified automatically for the 1991 Rugby World Cup. France faced Canada , Romania and Fiji in Pool 4, and opened with a comfortable 30-3 win over Romania. A 33-3 win over Fiji in their second game put France through to the quarter finals, and despite a tight game against Canada, victory over the Canadians saw France top the pool. Facing England in the quarter finals, France’s world cup came to a premature end as the English ran out 19-10 winners to eliminate Les Bleus.
1995
Despite being eliminated in the quarter final in 1991, this was enough for France to qualify automatically for the 1995 tournament in South Africa where they would face Scotland, Tonga and Ivory Coast in Pool D. A 38-10 win over Tonga followed by a 54-18 win over Ivory Coast set up a game against Scotland to see who would win the pool. France edged a tight game 22-19 to set up a quarter final against Ireland. France would conquer the Irish to advance to the semi finals winning 36-12. Facing hosts South Africa France ran the Springboks close but ultimately went down 19-15. France gained some consolation by coming third defeating England and gaining some measure of revenge for their 1991 defeat.
1999
The 1999 Rugby World Cup saw France Drawn in Pool C against Fiji, Canada and Namibia. France opened up against Canada and ran out 33-20 winners, followed by a comfortable 47-13 win over Namibia. A 28-19 win over Fiji saw France top the pool and advance to the quarter finals. Argentina proved no match for France and were dispatched 47-26 to set up a semi finals against tournament favourites New Zealand. The semi final was a classic as France pulled off one of the all time Rugby World Cup comebacks. 24-10 down at half time, the French ran the All Blacks ragged in the second half, to finish with a final score of 43-31. France were unable to repeat their semi final heroics, when facing Australia in the final. The Wallabies triumphed 35-12 to leave France as runners up for the second time.
2003
France were drawn against Fiji, Japan, Scotland and USA in Pool B in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. France dominated the group putting up large numbers against all their opponents, 41 points against the USA being the lowest, and only Japan getting over the 20 point mark in return during their 51-29 defeat. As in 1995 France faced Ireland in the quarter finals and the end result was the same as eight years previous, with the French winning 43-21. England were too strong for France in the semi final as the French were beaten 24-7. The 3rd/4th placed playoff against New Zealand was to end in defeat for France as the All Blacks inflicted revenge for the semi finals four years earlier winning comfortably 40-13.
2007
France hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup and were drawn in Pool D with Argentina, Ireland, Namibia and Georgia. France lost their first ever Rugby World Cup pool match as Argentina won a close match 17-12. France bounced back in their second game demolishing Namibia 87-10. Wins against Ireland and Georgia secured second place in the group and passage to the quarter finals. France face New Zealand and as in 1999 were able to overcome the All Blacks edging the game 20-18, setting up a repeat of the 2003 semi final against England. France were unable to avenge their loss from four years previous losing 14-9 as the English advanced to the Final. Argentina repeated their pool victory over France in the 3rd/4th placed playoff as France finished 4th for the second World Cup running.
2011
France faced hosts New Zealand, Tonga, Canada, and Japan in Pool A at the 2011 World Cup. Surviving a scare from the Japanese in their first game, France then defeated Canada 46-19. A 37-17 defeat to New Zealand left was followed up by a 19-14 loss to Tonga leaving France and Tonga both with two wins and two defeats; however France advanced to the quarter finals due to the fact they had secured two more bonus points. France avenged their two semi final defeats to England in the quarter finals running out 19-12 winners. A controversial red card for Wales captain Sam Warburton gave France the edge in the semi final as they beat the Welsh 9-8 to reach their third World Cup final. In a repeat of the 1987 final, the French were unable to overcome the All Blacks going down by a single point 8-7 to finish runners up again.
France are always the bridesmaids never the bride when it comes to the Rugby World Cup. By far the most successful team at the finals who have never won it, the French will be looking to change that run at the 2015 tournament, however they will have to overcome some recent indifferent form and a tough draw if they are to achieve success.
To read more Rugby World Cup History click here
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