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 Wales, who have appeared at all of the seven previous Rugby World Cups.
Rugby World Cup History: Wales
1987
Wales attended the first Rugby World Cup as one of the seven International Rugby Football Board members. Joined in Pool 2 by fellow IRFB member Ireland as well as invited nations Canada and Tonga, Wales got their campaign off to a strong start, defeating Ireland 13-6. A 29-16 win over Tonga in their second match, followed up by a comfortable 40-9 win over Canada saw Wales top the pool and advance to the quarter finals. Wales faced England in the quarter finals and saw off their Five Nations rivals 16-3. Wales moved on to play New Zealand in the semi final, however the All Blacks proved too strong for the Welsh running out 49-6 winners. Wales finished strong in the 3rd/4th place playoff to defeat co-host Australia 22-21.
1991
With all eight quarter finalists from 1987 qualifying automatically for the 1991 World Cup, Wales were drawn in Pool C with Argentina, Australia and Western Samoa. Wales suffered a shock 16-13 loss to Western Samoa in the opening game but bounced back in their second match against Argentina, defeating the Pumas 16-7. Needing a win against Australia to have a chance of progressing to the quarter finals Wales came up short. The Wallabies ran out comfortable 38-3 winners and Wales were eliminated from the World Cup.
1995
After being eliminated in the pool stage in 1991 Wales would have to qualify for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Wales were seeded into round two of qualifying and placed in the West Europe group with Spain and Portugal. Wales started off with an easy 102-11 win over the Portuguese and a 54-0 win over Spain secured qualification to the World Cup. Wins against fellow qualifiers Italy and Romania in round 3, meant Wales would go to the World Cup as the top seeded European qualifier. Drawn in Pool C with New Zealand, Ireland and Japan, Wales got off to the best possible start defeating Japan 57-10. New Zealand proved too strong for the Welsh in their second game, meaning the winner of their final game against Ireland would progress to the quarter finals, with the loser eliminated. Despite a last minute Hemi Taylor try for Wales, Ireland edged the contest by a single point 24-23, and for the second World Cup in a row Wales were eliminated at the pool stage.
1999
Wales qualified automatically for the 1999 Rugby World Cup as hosts and were drawn in Pool D with Samoa, Argentina and Japan. Edging out Argentina in their first game Wales then went on to defeat Japan 64-15 in their second pool match. However Samoa repeated their 1991 victory over Wales to leave Wales, Samoa and Argentina all on four points. Wales advanced to the quarter final as group winners, on points difference, with Samoa and Argentina heading into the playoff round. Facing Australia in the quarter finals, Wales were defeated 24-9 by the eventual winners and eliminated.
2003
With the quarter finalists from 1999 qualifying automatically for the 2003 World Cup, Wales found themselves in Pool D facing Canada, Italy, New Zealand and Tonga. A 41-10 win over Canada got Wales off to the perfect start and this was quickly followed up by a 27-20 win over Tonga. A 27-15 win over Italy secured passage to the quarter finals, and set up a match against New Zealand to determine the pool winner. Despite putting up 37 points against the All Blacks, Wales were still unable to defeat New Zealand as they shipped 53 points at the other end, setting up a quarter final against England. For the second World Cup running Wales were eliminated by the eventual winners of the tournament, with England going through 28-17 winners and Wales going home.
2007
At the 2007 World Cup in France, Wales faced Australia, Canada, Fiji and Japan in Pool B. Starting their campaign the same way as they did four years prior by defeating Canada, this time by a score of 42-17, Wales then were on the wrong end of a 32-20 score line against Australia. As in 1995 and 1999 Wales comfortably defeated Japan, winning 72-18. Wales were shocked against Fiji in their final pool game, as a 77th minute try from Graham Dewes gave Fiji a 38-34 win sending them through to the quarter finals and eliminating the Welsh. The only consolation for Wales was that by finishing third in the pool they would automatically qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
2011
At the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Wales were drawn in Pool D with Fiji, Namibia, Samoa and South Africa. In their first game Wales ran South Africa close but were eventually defeated 17-16 by the Springboks. Wales got back on track against Samoa winning 17-10 and then demolished Namibia 81-7. Wales then got revenge on Fiji for 2007 hammering them 66-0 to qualify for the quarter finals. A 22-10 victory over Six Nations rivals Ireland saw Wales progress to the semi finals for the second time in their history. With captain Sam Warburton red carded after 19 minutes, the 14 men of Wales put up a great effort for over an hour against the French in the semi final, however it wasn’t enough as France went through by a single point 9-8. Wales were unable to repeat their 3rd/4th place playoff win over Australia from 1987 as the Wallabies ran out 21-18 winners on this occasion.
Wales have had mixed results at the Rugby World Cup. At their best they can compete with anyone and progress to the latter stages of the tournament. However they have been susceptible to shock defeats and have been eliminated early on more than one occasion. Facing a tough pool in 2015 including England, Australia and Fiji, Wales will need to be at their best to progress to the knockout stages.
To read more Rugby World Cup History click here
Main Photo
