1999 Rugby World Cup

The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial international rugby union championship. It was principally hosted by Wales, and was won by Australia. This was the first Rugby World Cup to be held in the sport's professional era.[1]

1999 Rugby World Cup
Cwpan Rygbi'r Byd 1999
Tournament details
Host nation Wales
Dates1 October – 6 November (37 days)
No. of nations20 (65 qualifying)
Final positions
Champions  Australia
Runner-up  France
Third place  South Africa
Tournament statistics
Matches played41
Attendance1,562,427 (38,108 per match)
Top scorer(s) Gonzalo Quesada (102)
Most tries Jonah Lomu (8)
1995
2003

Although the majority of matches were played outside Wales (shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland) the opening ceremony, the first match and the final were held in Cardiff.

Four automatic qualification places were available for the 1999 tournament; Wales qualified automatically as hosts, and the other three places went to the top three teams from the previous World Cup in 1995: champions South Africa, runners-up New Zealand and third-placed France. Qualification for the final 16 places took place between 63 other nations.

The tournament was expanded to 20 teams (from 16), divided into five pools of four teams, a scenario that necessitated a quarter-final play-off round involving the five runners-up and best third-placed team to decide who would join the pool winners in the last eight. The 1999 tournament saw the introduction of a repechage, effectively a second chance for teams that had finished runners-up in each qualifying zone. Uruguay and Tonga were the first nations to profit from the repechage, and took their places alongside fellow qualifiers Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Argentina, Fiji, Samoa, Romania, Canada, Namibia, Japan, Spain and the United States.

The tournament began with the opening ceremony in the newly built Millennium Stadium, with Wales beating Argentina 23–18, and Colin Charvis scoring the first try of the tournament. Australia won the tournament, becoming the first nation to do so twice and also to date the only team ever to win after having to qualify for the tournament, with a 35–12 triumph over France, who were unable to repeat their semi-final victory over pre-tournament favourites New Zealand.[2][3]

The overall attendance for the tournament was 1.75 million.[4]

Qualifying

The following 20 teams, shown by region, qualified for the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Of the 20 teams, only four of those places were automatically allocated and did not have to play any qualification matches. These went to the champions, runners-up and the third-placed nations at the 1995 and the tournament host, Wales. A record 65 nations from five continents were therefore involved in the qualification process designed to fill the remaining 16 spots.

Africa Americas Europe Oceania/Asia

Venues

Wales won the right to host the World Cup in 1999. The centrepiece venue for the tournament was the Millennium Stadium, built on the site of the old National Stadium at Cardiff Arms Park at a cost of £126 million from Lottery money and private investment. Other venues in Wales were the Racecourse Ground and Stradey Park. An agreement was reached so that the other unions in the Five Nations Championship (England, France, Ireland and Scotland) also hosted matches.

Venues in England included Twickenham and Welford Road, rugby union venues, as well as Ashton Gate in Bristol and the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield, which normally host football. Scottish venues included Murrayfield Stadium, the home of the Scottish Rugby Union; Hampden Park, the home of the Scottish Football Association; and the smallest venue in the 1999 tournament, Netherdale, in Galashiels, in the Scottish Borders. Venues in Ireland included Lansdowne Road, the traditional home of the Irish Rugby Football Union; Ravenhill; and Thomond Park. France used five venues, the most of any nation, including the French national stadium, Stade de France, which hosted the final of both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Cardiff Wrexham Llanelli Saint-Denis
Millennium Stadium Racecourse Ground Stradey Park Stade de France
Capacity: 74,500 Capacity: 15,500 Capacity: 10,800 Capacity: 80,000
London Edinburgh Glasgow Dublin
Twickenham Murrayfield Hampden Park Lansdowne Road
Capacity: 75,000 Capacity: 67,500 Capacity: 52,500 Capacity: 49,250
Lens Bordeaux Toulouse Huddersfield
Stade Félix Bollaert Parc Lescure Stadium de Toulouse McAlpine Stadium
Capacity: 41,800 Capacity: 38,327 Capacity: 37,000 Capacity: 24,500
Bristol Béziers Leicester Limerick
Ashton Gate Stadium Stade de la Méditerranée Welford Road Stadium Thomond Park
Capacity: 21,500 Capacity: 18,000 Capacity: 16,500 Capacity: 13,500
Belfast Galashiels
Ravenhill Netherdale
Capacity: 12,500 Capacity: 6,000

Pools and format

Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D Pool E

 South Africa
 Scotland
 Spain
 Uruguay

 New Zealand
 England
 Italy
 Tonga

 France
 Fiji
 Canada
 Namibia

 Wales
 Argentina
 Samoa
 Japan

 Australia
 Ireland
 United States
 Romania

With the expansion of the Rugby World Cup from 16 to 20 teams an unusual and complex format was used with the teams split into five pools of four teams with each team playing each other in their pool once.

  • Pool A was played in Scotland
  • Pool B was played in England
  • Pool C was played in France
  • Pool D was played in the principal host nation Wales
  • Pool E was played in Ireland

Points system

The points system that was used in the pool stage was unchanged from both 1991 and 1995:

  • 3 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 point for playing

The five pool winners qualified automatically to the quarter-finals. The five pool runners-up and the best third-placed side qualified for the quarter-final play-offs.

Knock-out stage

The five pool runners-up and the best third-placed team from the pool stage (which was Argentina) contested the quarter-final play-offs in three one-off matches that decided the remaining three places in the quarter-finals, with the losers being eliminated. The unusual format meant that two pool winners in the quarter-finals would have to play each other. From the quarter-final stage it became a simple knockout tournament. The semi-final losers played off for third place. The draw and format for the knock-out stage was set as follows.

Quarter-final play-offs draw

  • Match H: Pool B runner-up v Pool C runner-up
  • Match G: Pool A runner-up v Pool D runner-up
  • Match F: Pool E runner-up v Best third-placed team

Quarter-finals draw

  • Match M: Pool D winners v Pool E winners
  • Match J: Pool A winners v Play-off H winners
  • Match L: Pool C winners v Play-off F winners
  • Match K: Pool B winners v Play-off G winners

Semi-finals draw

  • Match J winners v Match M winners
  • Match L winners v Match K winners

A total of 41 matches (30 pool stage and 11 knock-out) were played throughout the tournament over 35 days from 1 October 1999 to 6 November 1999.

Squads

Referees

Pool stage

The tournament began on 1 October 1999 in the newly built Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, with Wales beating Argentina in a hard-fought game 23–18 to get their campaign off to a positive start. The Pool stage of the tournament played out as was widely expected with the Tri Nations teams of New Zealand (who inflected a massive 101–3 win against Italy at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield), South Africa and Australia all winning their pools easily without losing a single game. For the then Five Nations Championship teams who all played their pool matches in their own countries it was a case of mixed fortunes with France winning their pool without losing a game. Host Wales also won their pool, though they suffered 31–38 defeat at the hands of Samoa in front of a home crowd at the Millennium Stadium. However, as expected England, Ireland and Scotland all finished second in their pools and were forced to try to qualify for the quarter-finals via the play-offs alongside fellow runners-up Samoa and Fiji, and Argentina as the best third placed side from all five pools, having been the only third-placed side to win two matches (against Samoa and Japan). Indeed, Argentina had finished level with Wales and Samoa on 7 points each in the group stages, and could only be separated by "total points scored": playing and winning their final match against Japan, they had the chance to overtake either of Samoa or Wales, but were 14 points short of overtaking Samoa's total score and a further 18 points short of Wales.

Qualified for quarter-finals
Qualified for quarter-final play-offs

Pool A

Team P W D L PF PA Pts
 South Africa 3300132359
 Scotland 3201120587
 Uruguay 310242975
 Spain 3003181223
2 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
Spain  15–27  Uruguay
Pen: Kovalenco (5) 7', 40', 48', 50', 68'
Report Try: Ormaechea 23' c
Penalty try 64' c
Cardoso 77' m
Menchaca 80' m
Con: Aguirre
Sciarra
Pen: Aguirre 15'
Netherdale, Galashiels
Attendance: 3,761
Referee: Chris White (England)

3 October 1999
17:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
Scotland  29–46  South Africa
Try: M. Leslie
Tait
Con: Logan (2)
Pen: Logan (4)
Drop: Townsend
Try: Le Roux
Kayser
Van der Westhuizen
Fleck
A. Venter
B. Venter
Con: De Beer (5)
Pen: De Beer (2)
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Attendance: 57,612
Referee: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)

8 October 1999
16:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
Scotland  43–12  Uruguay
Try: Russell
Armstrong
Metcalfe
M. Leslie
Simpson
Townsend
Con: Logan (5)
Pen: Logan
Pen: Aguirre (3)
Sciarra
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Attendance: 9,463
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

10 October 1999
17:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
South Africa  47–3  Spain
Try: Vos (2)
Leonard
Penalty try
Muller
Skinstad
Swanepoel
Con: De Beer (6)
Pen: Velazco Querol
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Attendance: 4,769
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

15 October 1999
17:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
South Africa  39–3  Uruguay
Try: Van den Berg (2)
Van der Westhuizen
Kayser
Fleck
Con: De Beer (4)
Pen: De Beer (2)
Pen: Aguirre
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

16 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
Scotland  48–0  Spain
Try: Mather (2)
McLaren
Longstaff
Hodge
C. Murray
Penalty try
Con: Hodge (5)
Pen: Hodge
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Attendance: 17,593
Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)

Pool B

Team P W D L PF PA Pts
 New Zealand 3300176289
 England 3201184477
 Tonga 3102471715
 Italy 3003351963
2 October 1999
17:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
England  67–7  Italy
Try: Wilkinson
Hill
Luger
Back
De Glanville
Corry
Dawson
Perry
Con: Wilkinson (6)
Pen: Wilkinson (5)
Try: Dominguez
Con: Dominguez
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 73,470
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

3 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
New Zealand  45–9  Tonga
Try: Lomu (2)
Kelleher
Maxwell
Kronfeld
Con: Mehrtens (4)
Pen: Mehrtens (4)
Pen: Taumalolo (3)
Ashton Gate, Bristol
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

9 October 1999
16:30 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
England  16–30  New Zealand
Try: De Glanville
Con: Wilkinson
Pen: Wilkinson (3)
Try: Kelleher
Wilson
Lomu
Con: Mehrtens (3)
Pen: Mehrtens (3)
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 72,000
Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

10 October 1999
19:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
Italy  25–28  Tonga
Try: Moscardi
Con: Dominguez
Pen: Dominguez (6)
Try: Taufahema
Fatani
Tuipulotu
Con: Tuipulotu (2)
Pen: Tuipulotu (2)
Drop: Tuipulotu
Welford Road, Leicester
Attendance: 10,244
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

14 October 1999
13:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
New Zealand  101–3  Italy
Try: Wilson (3)
Osborne (2)
Lomu (2)
Randell
Brown
Cullen
Hammett
Gibson
Robertson
Mika
Con: Brown (11)
Pen: Brown (3)
Pen: Dominguez
McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 24,000
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

15 October 1999
13:00 WEST/GMT+01 (UTC+01)
England  101–10  Tonga
Try: Guscott (2)
Greening (2)
Luger (2)
Healey (2)
Greenwood (2)
Dawson
Perry
Hill
Con: Grayson (12)
Pen: Grayson (4)
Try: Tiueti
Con: Tuipulotu
Pen: Tuipulotu
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 72,485
Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)

Pool C

Team P W D L PF PA Pts
 France 3300108529
 Fiji 3201124687
 Canada 3102114825
 Namibia 3003421863
1 October 1999
21:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Fiji  67–18  Namibia
Try: Lasagavibau (2)
S. Tawake
Rauluni
Satala
Mocelutu
Smith
Tiko
Katalau
Con: Serevi (8)
Pen: Serevi (2)
Try: Jacobs
Senekal
Con: Van Dyk
Pen: Van Dyk (2)

2 October 1999
14:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
France  33–20  Canada
Try: Ntamack
Glas
Castaignède
Magne
Con: Dourthe (2)
Pen: Dourthe (3)
Try: Williams (2)
Con: Ross
Rees
Pen: Ross
Rees
Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Brian Campsall (England)

8 October 1999
21:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
France  47–13  Namibia
Try: Mola (3)
Ntamack
Mignoni
Bernat-Salles
Con: Dourthe (4)
Pen: Dourthe (3)
Try: Samuelson
Con: Van Dyk
Pen: Van Dyk (2)
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Attendance: 34,030
Referee: Chris White (England)

9 October 1999
13:30 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Fiji  38–22  Canada
Try: Satala (2)
Vunibaka
Lasagavibau
Con: Little (3)
Pen: Little (3)
Drop: Little
Try: James
Con: Rees
Pen: Rees (4)
Drop: Rees
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

14 October 1999
20:30 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Canada  72–11  Namibia
Try: Stanley (2)
Snow (2)
Nichols (2)
Charron
Ross
Williams
Con: Rees (9)
Pen: Rees (3)
Try: Hough
Pen: Van Dyk (2)
Stade de Toulouse
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

16 October 1999
14:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
France  28–19  Fiji
Try: Juillet
Dominici
Penalty try
Con: Dourthe (2)
Pen: Dourthe (2)
Lamaison
Try: Uluinayau
Con: Little
Pen: Little (4)
Stade de Toulouse
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

Pool D

Team P W D L PF PA Pts
 Wales 3201118717
 Samoa 320197727
 Argentina 320183517
 Japan 3003361403
1 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Wales  23–18  Argentina
Try: Charvis
Taylor
Con: Jenkins (2)
Pen: Jenkins (3)
Pen: Quesada (6)

3 October 1999
13:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Samoa  43–9  Japan
Try: Lima (2)
So'oalo (2)
Leaega
Con: Leaega (3)
Pen: Leaega (4)
Pen: Hirose (3)
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

9 October 1999
14:30 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Wales  64–15  Japan
Try: Taylor (2)
Howley
Gibbs
Llewellyn
Thomas
Bateman
Howarth
Penalty try
Con: Jenkins (8)
Pen: Jenkins
Try: Tuidraki
Ohata
Con: Hirose
Pen: Hirose
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 72,500
Referee: Joël Dume (France)

10 October 1999
13:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Argentina  32–16  Samoa
Try: Allub
Pen: Quesada (8)
Drop: Quesada
Try: Paramore
Con: Leaega
Pen: Leaega (3)
Stradey Park, Llanelli
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)

14 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Wales  31–38  Samoa
Try: Thomas
Penalty try (2)
Con: Jenkins (2)
Pen: Jenkins (4)
Try: Bachop (2)
Falaniko
Lam
Leaega
Con: Leaega (5)
Pen: Leaega
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 72,500
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

16 October 1999
19:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Argentina  33–12  Japan
Try: Albanese
Pichot
Con: Contepomi
Pen: Quesada (7)
Pen: Hirose (4)

Pool E

Team P W D L PF PA Pts
 Australia 3300135319
 Ireland 3201100457
 Romania 3102501265
 United States 3003521353
2 October 1999
19:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Ireland  53–8  United States
Try: Bishop
Wood (4)
O'Driscoll
Penalty try
Con: Humphreys (4)
Elwood (2)
Pen: Humphreys (2)
Report Try: Dalzell
Pen: Dalzell
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Joël Dume (France)

3 October 1999
19:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Australia  57–9  Romania
Try: Kefu (3)
Roff (2)
Kafer
Burke
Little
Horan
Con: Burke (5)
Eales
Report Pen: Mitu (3)
Ravenhill, Belfast
Attendance: 12,500
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

9 October 1999
19:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
United States  25–27  Romania
Try: Shuman
Hightower
Lyle
Con: Dalzell (2)
Pen: Dalzell (2)
Report Try: Petrache (2)
Solomie (2)
Con: Mitu (2)
Pen: Mitu
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

10 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Ireland  3–23  Australia
Pen: Humphreys
Report Try: Tune
Horan
Con: Burke (2)
Pen: Burke (2)
Eales
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 49,250
Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)

14 October 1999
17:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Australia  55–19  United States
Try: Staniforth (2)
Latham
Whitaker
Foley
Burke
Larkham
Strauss
Con: Burke (5)
Roff
Pen: Burke
Report Try: Grobler
Con: Dalzell
Pen: Dalzell (4)
Thomond Park, Limerick
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

15 October 1999
19:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Ireland  44–14  Romania
Try: O'Shea (2)
Ward
Tierney
O'Cuinneagain
Con: Elwood (5)
Pen: Elwood (2)
Drop: O'Driscoll
Report Try: Sauan
Pen: Mitu (3)
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 33,000
Referee: Brian Campsall (England)

Ranking of third-placed teams

Qualified for quarter-final play-offs
Team W D L PF PA Pts
 Argentina 20183517
 Canada 102114825
 Uruguay 10242975
 Romania 102501265
 Tonga 102471715

Play-off stage

The quarter-final play-offs were three one-off knock-out matches between the runners-up of each pool and the best third-placed side from all five pools to decide the remaining three places in the quarter-finals. The matches were played in mid-week between the completion of the pool stage and the start of the quarter-finals. The matches produced fairly easy wins for England, beating Fiji 45–24, and also for Scotland, beating Samoa 35–20. However, the final match produced the shock of the round where Argentina upset Ireland 28–24 in Lens.

Quarter-final play-offs

20 October 1999
13:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
England  45–24  Fiji
Try: Luger
Back
Beal
Greening
Con: Dawson
Wilkinson
Pen: Wilkinson (7)
Report Try: Satala
Nakauta
Tiko
Con: Little (3)
Pen: Serevi
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)

20 October 1999
15:30 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Scotland  35–20  Samoa
Try: C. Murray
M. Leslie
Penalty try
Con: Logan
Pen: Logan (5)
Drop: Townsend
Report Try: Lima
Sititi
Con: Leaega (2)
Pen: Leaega (2)
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

20 October 1999
20:30 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Argentina  28–24  Ireland
Try: Albanese
Con: Quesada
Pen: Quesada (7)
Report Pen: Humphreys (7)
Drop: Humphreys

Knockout stage

The winners from the quarter-final play-offs, who had played in mid-week, joined the pool winners, who had enjoyed a week long rest, in the quarter-finals. England, hosts Wales and Scotland were all knocked out, and France, who beat Argentina, were the only team left from the Northern Hemisphere.

The semi-finals, which were both played at Twickenham, produced two of the most dramatic matches of the tournament, with Australia beating South Africa 27–21 in extra-time after normal time ended with the scores locked at 18-18. The second semi-final between favourites New Zealand and underdogs France was an all-time classic, as France overturned a 24–10 half-time deficit to win 43–31 and reach their second World Cup final. France and Australia met at the Millennium Stadium on 6 November 1999, with Australia winning 35–12 to become the first team to win the Webb Ellis Cup twice. The cup was presented by Queen Elizabeth II to Australian captain John Eales.[2][3]

The overall attendance for the tournament was 1.75 million.[5]

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
24 October – Stade de France, Paris
 
 
 South Africa44
 
30 October – Twickenham, London
 
 England21
 
 South Africa21
 
23 October – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
 
 Australia (a.e.t.)27
 
 Australia24
 
6 November – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
 
 Wales9
 
 Australia35
 
24 October – Murrayfield, Edinburgh
 
 France12
 
 New Zealand30
 
31 October – Twickenham, London
 
 Scotland18
 
 New Zealand31
 
24 October – Lansdowne Road, Dublin
 
 France43 Third place
 
 France47
 
4 November – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
 
 Argentina26
 
 South Africa22
 
 
 New Zealand18
 

Quarter-finals

23 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Wales  9–24  Australia
Pen: Jenkins (3)
Report Try: Gregan (2)
Tune
Con: Burke (3)
Pen: Burke
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 72,000
Referee: Colin Hawke (New Zealand)

24 October 1999
14:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
South Africa  44–21  England
Try: Van der Westhuizen
P. Rossouw
Con: De Beer (2)
Pen: De Beer (5)
Drop: De Beer (5)
Report Pen: Grayson (6)
Wilkinson
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
Attendance: 75,000
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

24 October 1999
18:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Scotland  18–30  New Zealand
Try: C. Murray
Pountney
Con: Logan
Pen: Logan
Drop: Townsend
Report Try: Umaga (2)
Wilson
Lomu
Con: Mehrtens (2)
Pen: Mehrtens (2)
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Attendance: 59,750
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

24 October 1999
15:30 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
Argentina  26–47  France
Try: Pichot
Arbizu
Con: Quesada (2)
Pen: Quesada (3)
Contepomi
Report Try: Garbajosa (2)
Bernat-Salles (2)
Ntamack
Con: Lamaison (5)
Pen: Lamaison (4)
Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

Semi-finals

30 October 1999
15:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
 Australia 27–21
(a.e.t.)
 South Africa
Pen: Burke (8)
Drop: Larkham
Report Pen: De Beer (6)
Drop: De Beer
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 72,000
Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

31 October 1999
15:00 WET/GMT (UTC+00)
 France 43–31  New Zealand
Try: Lamaison
Dominici
Dourthe
Bernat-Salles
Con: Lamaison (4)
Pen: Lamaison (3)
Drop: Lamaison (2)
Report Try: Lomu (2)
Wilson
Con: Mehrtens (2)
Pen: Mehrtens (4)
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

Third-place play-off

4 November 1999
20:00 WET/GMT (UTC+00)
New Zealand  18–22  South Africa
Pen: Mehrtens (6)
Report Try: Paulse
Con: Honiball
Pen: Honiball (3)
Drop: Montgomery (2)
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Peter Marshall (Australia)

Final

6 November 1999
15:00 WET/GMT (UTC+00)
Australia  35–12  France
Try: Tune
Finegan
Con: Burke (2)
Pen: Burke (7)
Report Pen: Lamaison (4)

Statistics

The tournament's top point scorer was Argentina's Gonzalo Quesada, who scored 102 points. Jonah Lomu scored the most tries, eight in total, a rugby world cup record.

Top 10-point scorers
Player Team Position Played Tries Conv­ersions Penal­ties Drop goals Total points
Gonzalo Quesada  Argentina Fly-half 503311102
Matt Burke  Australia Full-back 6217190101
Jannie de Beer  South Africa Fly-half 501715697
Andrew Mehrtens  New Zealand First five-eighth 501119079
Jonny Wilkinson  England Fly-half 41816069
Christophe Lamaison  France Fly-half 61912265
Silao Leaega  Samoa Wing 421110062
Neil Jenkins  Wales Fly-half 401211057
Paul Grayson  England Fly-half 401210054
Kenny Logan  Scotland Wing 40911051

Broadcasting

British television rights holders ITV acted as the host broadcaster for the tournament,[6] with coverage shown in 209 countries, to an audience of 3.1 billion viewers.[7] In Australia, the event was broadcast by Seven Network.

Broadcast UK history

  • ITV (1 October 1999 – 6 November 1999)
  • S4C (1 October 1999 – 6 November 1999)

References

  1. The International Rugby Board opened the sport to professionals in August 1995, after the 1995 tournament had been completed.
  2. "1999: France 43–31 N Zealand – BBC Sport". BBC News. 24 September 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  3. "1999: Aussies rule world again". BBC News. 24 September 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  4. "New Zealand Wins 2011 Rugby World Cup – Background and History". Goaustralia.about.com. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  5. "Rugby World Cup Background and History". Goaustralia.about.com. Retrieved 10 October 2011.
  6. "ITV Sport tackles Rugby World Cup coverage with help from BT". BT Broadcast Services. 19 April 1999.
  7. Cain, Nick; Growden, Greg (2011). "17". Rugby Union for Dummies 3rd Edition. John Wiley & Sons. p. 261. ISBN 9781119991823.
External video
Rugby World Cup 1999 Semi-Final: New Zealand v France on YouTube
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