Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup Infographic
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 learn about spread betting.