The Rugby World Cup throws up a lot of good content but did you know any of these obscure facts and information?
Robert Rees brings you some interesting facts about teams at this year’s World Cup.
Tonga vs England
Toutai Kefu -Tonga’s Head Coach – is 100% in meetings with Eddie Jones (1-0) having defeated Jones in the 2012 Pacific Nations Cup 24-20 with Tonga versus Japan.
Ireland
No side has won more Rugby World Cup games and yet failed to reach a semi-final, 21.
Japan
Two of the top World Rugby try scorers are Japanese. First place, Daisuke Ohata, 69 tries in 58 appearances and in fifth place Hiritoki Onozawa, 55 tries in 81 appearances.
Namibia
No side has played more Rugby World Cup games without winning – 19.
Italy
Sergio Parisse will become just the third player to appear at five Rugby World Cup’s. The first being Samoa’s Brian Lima and the second Italy’s Mauro Bergamasco.
South Africa
The Springboks hold the record for most consecutive Rugby World Cup matches without conceding a try – Six.
Argentina
Two Pumas have finished as ‘Golden Boot’ (Top points scorers) at a Rugby World Cup. Gonzalo Quesada, 1999, 102 points and Nicolas Sanchez, 2015, 97 points.
England
Only the hosts Wales and the top three from the 1995 World Cup automatically qualified for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
England had to play European qualifiers beating Italy 23-15 and the Netherlands 110-0.
Tonga
They planned to play a game with green dyed hair during the 2007 campaign to thank sponsor Paddy power but the tournament organisers banned them.
USA
A player has scored hat-trick against the USA on five occasions, including Keith Wood’s four in 1999.
Australia
Prop James Slipper’s 86-game try-less run is the second longest dry spell in test match history. Only All Blacks international (Not at the 2019 RWC) Owen Franks’ 107 betters it.
Fiji
They played their first ever test match in 1924 against Samoa. The game kicked off at 7am local time so their opponents could go to work afterwards and they played in barefeet and won 6-0.
Georgia
Georgia have never missed a conversion in Rugby World Cup history, kicking 14/14.
Wales
Wales have scored a try in 19 consecutive World Cup games, a feat only bettered by New Zealand’s current run of 26 games.
“Main photo credit”
