Rugby is a very popular sport throughout the world, and is played within all of the countries of the old British Empire and Commonwealth. The best countries are those that reside in the southern hemisphere such as New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. In addition to this certain British countries such as England, Ireland, and Wales, as well as France are consistently competing at the highest level. Every four years there is a Rugby World Cup is held in order to find out which is the best team in the world.
The inaugural World Cup was held in 1987 down in Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand have always been the number one team in the world for long periods of time, and fittingly they were the first to win against France by a score of 29 points to 9 in the final.
Four years later the Rugby world cup came to Europe and was hosted by Great Britain throughout different stadiums in England, Ireland, and also France across the pond. For this tournament, a qualifying tournament was used to decide the final lineup of the 32 teams that were to compete. Four years ago it had been an invite only tournament, but now some of the lesser-known countries had to go through qualifying periods in order to make sure they got into the tournament.
On this occasion, the tournament was won by the neighbours of New Zealand, Australia which kept the dominance of world rugby firmly in the home of the southern hemisphere. England were beaten in the final on this occasion by a score of 12 points to 6.
Another four years went by, the World Cup came to South Africa and it was to be the first time that all of the matches in the World Cup were held in one single country. It was also the first time that South Africa were to be competing at themselves of the tournament due to the end of the boycott that was held during the apartheid era.
South Africa were relatively un-fancied as a team to win the tournament, but they had some great sporting players in the team. However with a fantastic home crowd behind them, they rose up through the tournament and managed to get the final against the powerhouse of world rugby New Zealand. In a thrilling encounter they managed to overturn New Zealand by a small margin of just three points and became the champions of rugby the first time at their first attempt.
The World Cup came to Wales in 1999. Again the dominant teams in the world were the teams of the southern hemisphere, and the home nations were unfancied to put up too much of a fight when it came to the closing stages of the tournament. New Zealand particularly well fancied to come as winners as they always were at every tournament with the powerhouse Jona Lomu surging down the wing. However New Zealand were overturned in a huge upset by France who then went on to be defeated by a strong Australia in the final.
By 2003, the dominant team in world rugby had for the first time changed from being New Zealand and other teams from the southern hemisphere and the first time England were the team to beat at the tournament. With the great Johnny will concern at number 10 and his trusty left boot in order, England were favourites to overturn New Zealand if they were to meet them. However this was not necessary, as Australia turned up and managed to defeat New Zealand on home turf, meeting England in the final in the greatest ever be much played. True to form, they will concern provided the finishing touch to a magnificent effort by the England team.
The most recent World Cup was paid in 2007 in France, and South Africa became the second team to win it twice defeating England the holders in the final. We now look forward to 2011 with a World Cup will return to New Zealand. Will they finally be able to defeat their daemons and with it for a second time? Time will tell.
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