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 England, who have appeared at each of the seven previous Rugby World Cups.
Rugby World Cup History: England
1987
England attended the inaugural Rugby World Cup as one of the seven International Rugby Football Board members who joined the nine invited nations at the tournament. Drawn in Pool 1 with Australia, Japan and USA, England got off to an inauspicious start losing their opening match 19-6 to co-hosts Australia. England bounced back in their second match comfortably beating Japan 60-7. England then went on to secure a place in the quarter finals with a 34-6 win over USA. Facing Five Nations rivals Wales in the quarter finals, England were unable to overcome the Welsh going down 16-3.
1991
England were hosts of the 1991 Rugby World Cup and faced New Zealand, Italy and USA in Pool 1. As in 1987 England started their campaign with a loss, as New Zealand defeated the English 18-12. England rallied and wins against Italy and the USA secured passage to the quarter finals. Facing France in the quarter finals, England defeated Les Bleus 19-10 with tries from Rory Underwood and Will Carling as well as the boot of Jonathan Webb. With Scotland standing between them and a place in the final, England edged a tight game 9-6 courtesy of a Rob Andrew drop goal. The final against Australia proved a game too far for England as the Wallabies defeated them 12-6 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
1995
At the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, England faced Argentina, Italy and Western Samoa in Pool B and got off to a winning start against Argentina, defeating the Pumas 24-18. A 27-20 win over Italy in their second match was followed up with a 44-22 win over Western Samoa that meant England topped their pool, setting up a quarter final against Australia. England defeated the Wallabies in a tight match as Rob Andrew hit a 45 metre drop goal in the final minute to send England into the semi final. New Zealand awaited England in the semi final and the English were brushed aside as Jonah Lomu ran rampant scoring four tries in the All Blacks 45-29 victory. England’s misery was compounded four days later as they were defeated 19-9 by France in the 3rd/4th place playoff.
1999
With only the top three finishers from 1995 qualifying automatically for the 1999 World Cup England would have to come through a regional qualification tournament to reach the finals. Defeating Italy and the Netherlands, England advanced to the finals where they would face New Zealand, Italy and Tonga in Pool B. England started their campaign well defeating Italy 67-7 but were unable to gain revenge for the 1995 semi final when facing New Zealand in their second match, as the All Blacks ran out 30-16 winners. A 101-10 win over Tonga in their final pool stage secured passage to the knockout stages. England defeated Fiji 45-24 in the quarter final playoff to advance to a quarter final against South Africa. England were knocked out of the World Cup by the Springboks as Jannie De Beer hit a record five drop goals in a 44-21 victory.
2003
With the quarter finalists from 1999 qualifying automatically for the 2003 World Cup, England found themselves in Pool C with Georgia, Samoa, South Africa and Uruguay. England got their campaign off to the perfect start with an 84-6 win over Georgia. England then defeated South Africa 25-6 before dispatching Samoa 35-22. A comfortable 111-13 win over Uruguay meant England topped the pool and moved on to the quarter final. With Wales their opponent in the quarter final, England proved too much for their Six Nations rivals as they moved on to the semi finals with a 28-17 win. 24 points all from the boot of Jonny Wilkinson was enough to see England past France with a 24-7 victory as England reached their second World Cup Final. As in 1991 England’s final opponent were Australia, and after tries from Lote Tuqiri and Jason Robinson as well as nine points each from Elton Flatley and Jonny Wilkinson saw the game go to extra time at 14-14. Each team scored a further penalty before Wilkinson secured the Webb Ellis Cup for England with a drop goal.
2007
As in 2003, the 2007 World Cup saw England drawn in the same pool as Samoa and South Africa. They were also joined by Tonga and USA, and England got off to a winning start defeating the Americans 28-10. England were then blown away in their second game as South Africa ran out comfortable 35-0 winners. A 44-22 win over Samoa and a 36-20 win over Tonga secured second place in the group as England moved on to the knockout stages. Four penalties from Jonny Wilkinson saw England past Australia in the quarter finals. Just like four years prior England faced off against France in the semi final, and just like 2003 England came out on top as a late penalty and a drop goal from Jonny Wilkinson secured a 14-9 victory. In the final, England faced South Africa for the second time in the tournament, and were much improved from their pool match. However it was not enough as the Springboks won 15-6 to secure their second Rugby World Cup.
2011
England faced Argentina, Georgia, Romania and Scotland in Pool B of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. England were up against Argentina in their opening fixture and edged out the Pumas in a tight 13-9 game. A 41-10 win over Georgia was followed up with a comfortable 67-3 win over Romania. England then faced auld enemy Scotland in their final pool match, running out 16-12 winners and progressing to the quarter finals as pool winners. France were England’s opponents in the quarter finals, and Les Bleus proved too strong for England as, despite a late Mark Cueto try, England were defeated 19-12.
England are the most successful Northern Hemisphere team in Rugby World Cup history, having been to three finals, and their 2003 victory is still the only time a Northern Hemisphere side has lifted the Webb Ellis Cup. England will be looking to utilise home advantage in 2015 as they look to join Australia, New Zealand and South Africa on two titles, but with a pool that contains Australia, Fiji and Wales, it won’t be an easy task.
To read more Rugby World Cup History click here
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