Who would have thought that when William Webb Ellis picked up a ball at Rugby School that, 150 years later, the trophy bearing his name would have become one of the most iconic pieces of silverware in world sport? From the high-scoring try-fests to the match-winning individuals, Sporting Index has crunched the numbers on the teams and individuals who have made the Rugby World Cup an unforgettable piece of sporting theatre over the past 28 years.
Jonny Wilkinson’s record eighth drop goal for a tournament in 2003 was perhaps the most famous in rugby history (sorry Australia), but he still trails Grant Fox for the most points in a tournament.
The All Black bagged 126 points as his side romped to victory in 1987, including 30 conversions, 21 penalties and a solitary drop goal. As the sport becomes more competitive, the 162 points scored in the 1995 pool match between Japan and New Zealand may never be beaten, but will we see more tries than 2003’s record haul of 332? Only the next six weeks will tell.
Past Rugby World Cup Stats
Highest Points Differential
142-0 (AUS v NAM, 2003)
Most Trys Scored by a team in a RWC game
142-0 - 22 (AUS v NAM, 2003)
Most Individual points in a tournament/season
1987, GJ Fox, 126 points 2003, JP Wilkinson, 113 points 1995, T Lacroix, 112 points 2007, PC Mongomery, 105 points 1995, AG Hastings, 104 points
Most Individual points in a RWC match
1995, SD Culhane, 45 points 1995, AG Hastings, 44 points 2003, MS Rogers, 42 points 1999, TE Brown, 36 points 1999, PJ Grayson, 36
Highest Total Points in a RWC match
1995, JAP v NZ, 162 points 2003, AUS v NAM, 142 points 2003, ENG v URU, 124 points 2007, NZ v POR, 121 points 1999, ENG v TON, 111 points
Most individual Trys in a RWC tournament
1999, JT Lomu, 8 2007, BG Habana, 8 1995, MCG Ellis, 7 1995, JT Lomu, 7 2003, DC Howlett, 7 2003, JM Muliania,7 2007, DA Mitchell, 7
Most individual penaltys in a RWC tournament
1999, G Quesada, 31 1995, T Lacroix, 26 2003, JP Wilkinson, 23 1987, GJ Fox, 21 2003, EJ Flatley, 21
Most individual conversions in a RWC tournament
1987, GJ Fox, 30 2007, PC Montgomery, 22 1987, MP Lynagh, 20 1995, SD Culhane, 20 2003, LR Mac Donald, 20 2007, NJ Evans, 20
Most individual Drop Goals in a RWC tournament
2003, JP Wilkinson, 8 1999, JH de Beer, 6 2007, JP Wilkinson, 5 2007, JM Hernandez, 4
Most Drop Goals scored by an individual in a RWC
1999, JH de Beer, 5 2003, JP Wilkinson, 3 2007, JM Hernandez, 3 2011, TAW Kotze, 3
Most Red Cards in a RWC
1995, 4 1999, 4 1987, 2007, 2011, 2 12 of the 16 cards were issued to forwards (Canada and Tonga both claim 3)
Highest RWC tournament trys
2003, 332 2007, 296 2011, 262 1999, 242 1987, 224
Highest RWC Team Trys
2003, NZ, 52 2007, NZ, 48 1987, NZ, 43 2003, AUS, 43 1995, NZ, 41
Highest point aggregate in a RWC at half-time
1995, JAP v NZ, 87 2003, AUS v NAM, 69 2007, NZ v POR, 55 1999, ITA v NZ, 54 2003, NZ v WAL, 52
Oldest player to appear in a World Cup Final
2011, Brad Thorn, 36 years, 262 days
Winning coaches
6 of the 7 coaches were born in either: NZ, AUS, SA
Draws in RWC
1987, FRA v SCO 2007, CAN v JAP 2011, CAN v JAP Interested in learning about how spread betting works? Visit our training centre to
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