WALLABIES HISTORY AT THE RUGBY WORLD CUP

2015 (hosts England) – Runners-up

Unbeaten, including knockout stage wins over Scotland and Argentina, until running into a great All Blacks side in the Twickenham decider, losing 34-17.

2011 (NZ) – Third place.

Beaten by Ireland in pool play but still advance to a victorious quarter-final against South Africa. Lose 20-6 to eventual champions New Zealand in the semis.

2007 (France) – Quarter-finals

Untroubled in pool play before being kicked out of the tournament by Jonny Wilkinson as World Cup nemeses England prevail 12-10 in the quarters.

2003 (Australia) – Runners-up

Unbeaten on home soil, including a memorable semi-final vanquishing of New Zealand, before being pipped 20-17 by WIlkinson’s England in a Sydney final that went to extra time.

1999 (Wales) – Champions

Among the most dominant winners in tournament history, iced by their 35-12 trouncing of France in the final. Springboks were the toughest foe in a kick-dominated semi-final nail-biter.

1995 (South Africa) – Quarter-finals

Cape Town is the scene of a pool loss to champions-in-waiting South Africa and then again to England, 25-22 in the quarters. Only failure of the 1990s.

1991 (UK and Ireland) – Champions

A coming of age for Nick Farr-Jones’ unbeaten men, who sneak past Ireland late and outclass the All Blacks in the knockout phase before a grinding 12-6 defeat of England at Twickenham.

1987 – (NZ and Australia) – Fourth

Reach the semi-finals effortlessly before Serge Blanco’s late try hands France a 30-24 boilover in Sydney and robs the inaugural tournament of a trans-Tasman finale.