2. New Zealand 145 – 17 Japan (128 Points): Pool C 1995 Rugby World Cup
June 4th 1995, Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
The third and final instalment from New Zealand, in what goes down as the second biggest margin of victory in a Rugby World Cup match. This ridiculous score-line saw the soon-to-be Rugby World Cup finalists decimate Japan with 21 tries. Simon Culhane’s 20 conversions stands as an all-time best in Rugby World Cup matches, with no player being able to surpass his 28-year record.
Interestingly, the late, great Jonah Lomu did not feature amongst the 21 tries, as the iconic winger was rested after his Rugby World Cup debut against Ireland. The crammed schedule of the 1995 Rugby World Cup saw the matches played just four days apart, yet the All Blacks had significant squad depth to pull off this almighty win. The All Blacks’ points tally of 145 does in fact set the all-time biggest total of World Cup points in one match, yet Japan’s two tries from Hiroyuki Kajihara and the kicking of Keiji Hirose reduced the overall deficit, and stopped New Zealand from taking top spot on this list.
This record-setting match also included the aforementioned six tries from Marc Ellis, with no other player in Rugby World Cup history scoring a double hat-trick in a single tournament fixture. There were two additional ‘hat-trick heroes’ in the All Blacks squad, as Eric Rush and Jeff Wilson each crossed over for a trio of tries. Robin Brooke and Glen Osbourne each grabbed a brace against Japan, as the All Blacks racked up an unforgettable score-line, without their all-time great Jonah Lomu. Lomu holds the record for Rugby World Cup tries with 15, so just imagine how many more he would have added if he played against Japan that day.
TRIES: 21 (Marc Ellis (6), Eric Rush (3), Jeff Wilson (3), Robin Brooke (2), Glen Osbourne (2), Richard Loe, Simon Culhane, Paul Henderson, Craig Dowd, Namulauulu Ieremia
CONVERSIONS: 20 (Simon Culhane – 20)
1. Australia 142 – 0 Namibia (142 Points): 2003 Rugby World Cup Pool A
October 25th 2003, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
The biggest winning margin in the history of the Rugby World Cup, Australia undisputedly but Namibia to the sword in this pool stage match on home soil. The all-time triumph came at the expense of the Rugby World Cup’s ultimate underdogs, with the majority of Namibian possession coming at the re-starting kick-offs. The Southern African side have taken some heavy World Cup losses in their history, yet this one truly stings for the Namibians.
Australia scored the record number of tries in a Rugby World Cup match in this fixture, as the Wallabies flooded the try-line time and again for 22 total scores. The score-board operator was amongst the hardest workers in Adelaide that night, as Australia ticked the board over with an average of 1.8 points per minute. The intensity of the Wallabies attack had to be admired, as so often you see sides build an unobtainable lead, and take the foot off the gas in the latter stages.
The Wallabies did no such thing, with the supporting sea of gold and green whipped into a frenzy for the full 80 minutes. Chris Latham scored five tries, which as mentioned is the all-time joint-second best try-scoring performance in a single Rugby World Cup match, alongside England’s Josh Lewsey. Matthew Giteau grabbed a hat-trick, and Matthew Rogers and Morgan Turinuri each scored twice. To score 22 tries is one thing, but to not concede a single point was a whole new level of intense, as the Wallabies marched on towards the Rugby World Cup Final, and an eventual run in with England.
TRIES: 22 (Chris Latham (5), David Lyons, Stirling Mortlock, Lote Tuqiri, Matthew Rogers (2), Jeremy Paul, Matthew Giteau (3), Nathan Grey, Morgan Turinuri (2), Matthew Burke, John Roe)
CONVERSIONS: 16 (Matthew Rogers – 16)