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 Italy, who have appeared at each of the seven previous Rugby World Cups.
Rugby World Cup History: Italy
1987
Italy were invited to take part in the inaugural Rugby World Cup, and were drawn in Pool 3 with hosts New Zealand, Argentina and Fiji. The Italians got off to a nightmare start with a heavy 70-6 loss to New Zealand, with the All Blacks running in 12 tries. A defeat in their second game to Argentina left Italy perilously close to elimination. A win against Fiji in their final game was not enough for Italy to qualify for the quarter finals. With Italy, Fiji and Argentina all finishing on two points with one win, Fiji qualified having scored the most tries with six (Italy scoring five and Argentina four).
1991
With only the quarter finalists from 1987 qualifying automatically for the 1991 Rugby World Cup, Italy would have to come through a qualification group to reach the finals. Facing Romania, Spain and the Netherlands, Italy topped the group winning all three games. Facing holders New Zealand, hosts England and the USA in pool A, Italy got off to a good start defeating the USA 30-9. Italy faced England at Twickenham, but were unable to overcome the hosts losing 36-6. A 31-21 defeat to New Zealand was a huge improvement on the game four years earlier, however Italy were again eliminated in the pool stage.
1995
Italy faced the Netherlands and Czech Republic in the European central qualifying group. Winning both games comfortably and qualifying for the finals, Italy would then face Wales and Romania to determine seeding. Italy defeated Romania but could not overcome Wales, finishing second and being seeded as European qualifier two. Drawn in Pool B with Argentina, England and Western Samoa, Italy got off to an inauspicious start losing 42-18 to Western Samoa. The Italians then ran England close eventually losing 27-20, before gaining a consolation win against Argentina in their final pool match.
1999
Qualifying for the 1999 Rugby World Cup pitted Italy against England and the Netherlands. Despite losing to England, victory against the Dutch was enough to see Italy advance to the finals. Again meeting England in Pool 2, Italy would also face Tonga and New Zealand. Losing 67-7 to England in their opening game, Italy then lost a tight game to Tonga going down 28-25 to the Pacific Islanders. Italy were thrashed by New Zealand in their final game, losing 101-3 to the All Blacks, this left Italy winless, bottom of the pool and eliminated.
2003
Italy defeated Spain and Romania to qualify for the 2003 World Cup in Australia. Drawn in Pool D alongside New Zealand, Wales, Canada and Tonga, Italy started the 2003 in a similar fashion to the way they finished in 1999 with a heavy defeat to New Zealand, although they managed to keep the All Blacks under three figures this time going down 70-7. Wins against Tonga and Canada set up a winner takes all match against Wales to advance to the quarter finals. Italy were unable to overcome the Welsh and went down 27-15 and were once again out of the World Cup at the pool stage.
2007
With only the quarter finalists from 2003 qualifying automatically, Italy again had to come through a European qualification group. Facing Portugal and Russia, Italy easily dispatched both teams to top the group and advance to the finals. Drawn against familiar opponents in Pool C, Italy would face New Zealand for the fifth time in six World Cups. The Italians also faced fellow Six Nations Scotland as well as European qualifiers Romania and Portugal. It was déjà vu for Italy in their opening game as New Zealand again inflicted a heavy defeat on the Italians running out 76-14 winners. Italy saw off Romania in a tight game 24-18, Italy then beat Portugal 31-5. Facing Scotland in their final match with the winner advancing to the quarter finals, the Italians suffered heartbreak losing by only two points 18-16 and were eliminated.
2011
Having finished third in their pool in 2007, Italy qualified automatically for the 2011 tournament in New Zealand. Drawn in Pool C with Australia, Ireland, USA and Russia, the Italians had a tough start losing to Australia 32-6. A comfortable 53-17 win over Russia was followed up with a 27-10 win over the United States. Italy were unable to overcome Ireland in their final match, and finished third in the pool, and while this was not good enough to reach the quarter finals, it was enough to secure automatic qualification for 2015.
Italy are a strange case at World Cups, on the whole competitive, unless facing New Zealand, yet have never reached the quarter finals. The Italians have beaten France, Wales and Scotland in Six Nations games but have yet to defeat a fellow Six Nations team on the games largest stage, a run they will have to change if they are to break their quarter final duck at this year’s tournament facing both Ireland and France in Pool D.
To read more Rugby World Cup History click here
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