RWC 1987-2015 : The First Eight Editions Quiz

Answer: England

It would have been funny if the eight Cups were split equally, but it didn't go that way. Australia and South Africa did win two World titles each (1991 and 1999 AUS; 1995 and 2007 RSA), New Zealand got three (1987, 2011 and 2015), and the remaining one was won by England (2003).

On a side note, England is the only nation from the northern hemisphere to win a World Cup during this period.

Answer: France

Les Bleus reached the final three times, in 1987, 1999 and 2011. The other three teams complete the list of nations that made it at least to the semi-finals during the first eight World Cups.

Answer: Thierry Lacroix (1995)

Lacroix scored 4 tries during the pool stages in 1995, along with several kicks at goal that brought his total to 112 points. Fox's 126 points, Wilkinson's 113, and Quesada's 102, all came from penalties, conversions and/or drop goals.

Answer: Fiji

Despite being a country with a rich tradition in rugby, Fiji failed to qualify to the 1995 World Cup. Back in that year, only 16 teams participated in the tournament, so the qualifying rounds were a little more tight.

Answer: Diego Albanese

In a close game dominated by kicks at goal, the only try came through the left winger with only eight minutes to play. With the aid of Quesada's boot, Argentina held firmly to a four point lead despite the siege of the Irish. It was a turning event in the Pumas' history, as they had never made it so far.

They would better that performance in 2015 and 2007, reaching semi-finals and coming in 4th and 3rd respectively.

Answer: Australia

Australia was one of the favorites for the tournament. They pretty much brushed past all their rivals in their path to the final (including New Zealand), but fell to the powerful English team with the famous Wilkinson drop goal. Against Namibia, Australia scored 22 tries, the highest tally in the first eight World Cups played 1987-2015.

Answer: Canada and Japan

Indeed, Canada and Japan faced each other twice in a row, in 2007 and 2011, and surprisingly, they drew both matches 12-12 and 23-23 respectively. The other draw happened in a 1987 match between Scotland and France, tied 20-20, under the scoring system applied back then. viz. four points for a try (now five). Scotland scored two tries and four penalties vs. France three tries, one penalty and a conversion).

Answer: They got both bonus points simultaneously

Indeed, the Springboks got some profit out of their 34-32 defeat, as they got both the offensive (scoring four or more tries) and the defensive bonus points (losing by a difference of seven points or less).

Answer: Dan Carter

Carter didn't score tries, yet his outstanding playmaking was decisive to the final result. Plus, he was the top scorer in this match, with 17 points scored through a penalty and seven conversions. This match was also notable for being the first time that a team scored nine tries in a knockout match.

Answer: 25

As rugby is not so popular worldwide yet, there is a wide breach between the countries that play regularly and the ones that don't. So, there's usually very little variation between two tournaments, as the teams that participate are mostly the same. The teams that entered the first eight World Cups, by number of appearances, are New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, Romania, Argentina, Canada and Japan (8 appearances); Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, United States (7); South Africa (6), Namibia (5), Georgia (4), Uruguay (3), Zimbabwe (2), plus Ivory Coast, Russia, Spain and Portugal (1 each).