Leslie Massey
Australia has won the Rugby World Cup twice, in 1991 and 1999. In 2003, England beat Australia in the final, becoming the first side from the Northern Hemisphere to win the tournament. In 2015, Australia lost to New Zealand in the final, and in 2019, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by England. In the 2023 World Cup, Australia was defeated by Fiji in the group stages.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country that beat Australia in the 1987 Rugby World Cup | New Zealand |
| Country that beat Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup | England |
| Country that beat Australia in the 2015 Rugby World Cup | New Zealand |
| Country that beat Australia in the 2023 Rugby World Cup | Fiji |
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What You'll Learn
England beat Australia in the 2003 final
England beat Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final, held in Sydney, Australia. The match was played at Stadium Australia in front of a record Rugby World Cup crowd of 82,957, with an additional 22 to 30 million television viewers.
England's Jonny Wilkinson kicked four penalties and then a drop goal in extra time to win the game 20-17. This was the first time a Northern Hemisphere team had won the tournament, ending 16 years of dominance by Southern Hemisphere teams. England are currently the only Northern Hemisphere team to have won a Rugby World Cup title.
England were widely regarded as the best team in the world at the time, and entered the tournament as favourites. They topped Pool C and went undefeated with four victories and no draws before beating Wales in the quarter-final and France in the semi-final.
Australia, the defending champions, had defeated New Zealand 22-10 in the semi-final. They had also gone undefeated in the group stage, topping Pool A with four wins and no losses or draws.
The victory was celebrated in England with a national day of celebration and a victory parade in London. The England squad received several honours, including the Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year, and every member of the playing and senior coaching staff was appointed at least a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2004 New Year Honours.
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South Africa beat Australia in the 1995 tournament
South Africa beat Australia in the opening match of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, with a score of 27-18. This was the first time South Africa had competed in the tournament, as they had previously been banned due to apartheid. South Africa went on to win the 1995 tournament, beating New Zealand 15-12 in the final.
The 1995 tournament was hosted by South Africa, and it was the first time that all matches were held in one country. It was also the first World Cup that South Africa was allowed to compete in, following negotiations to end apartheid. South Africa emerged as winners, claiming their first-ever Rugby World Cup title.
The final was a tense match, with no tries scored by either team. Joel Stransky of South Africa scored all 15 points for his team (three penalties and two drop goals), including the final point in extra time, which secured South Africa's victory. Andrew Mehrtens of New Zealand scored all 12 points for his team (three penalties and one drop goal).
The 1995 Rugby World Cup final is remembered as a significant moment in South African history. South African President Nelson Mandela presented the Webb Ellis Cup to the South African captain, Francois Pienaar, while wearing a Springbok rugby shirt and cap, bearing the number 6. This gesture symbolised national unity and reconciliation, showing that sport could help heal old wounds in a divided nation.
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New Zealand beat Australia in 2015
New Zealand beat Australia in the 2015 Rugby World Cup final, winning 34-17. This was the first time a team had won the Rugby World Cup three times, and the first time a team had retained the title.
The match, played at Twickenham Stadium in London, was a tight contest. Tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ma'a Nonu and Beauden Barrett, along with four penalties, two conversions and one drop goal from fly-half Dan Carter, secured the win for New Zealand.
Australia put up a strong fight, with David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani scoring tries in quick succession to give Australia hope after being demolished in the first half. However, New Zealand's strong performance, with 70% possession and territory, proved too much for the Australian team.
New Zealand's victory in 2015 added to their previous wins in 1987 and 2011, solidifying their position as one of the most successful teams in the history of the tournament.
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Fiji beat Australia in 2023, for the first time in 69 years
Fiji beat Australia in the 2023 Rugby World Cup for the first time since 1954, ending a 69-year win drought. The Fijians' 22-15 victory over the Wallabies in Pool C on 17 September in Saint-Étienne, France, was a historic moment for the team.
Fiji's performance was confident and disciplined, with only seven penalties conceded compared to Australia's 18. The Fijian kicker, Simione Kuruvoli, was on form, landing five from five before going off, while Josua Tuisova scored the crucial try. Fiji's victory was well-deserved, as they outplayed Australia, particularly around the ruck, and executed three times more turnovers.
Fiji's head coach, Simon Raiwalui, expressed his pride in the team, saying, "I'm emotionally drained at the moment. I'm really proud of the boys. It was a great contest, a great Australian side. We're Pacific neighbours so we know each other well. It was a great match. It kept us guessing until the end."
Australia's captain, David Porecki, and head coach, Eddie Jones, acknowledged Fiji's superior performance, with Jones stating, "They outplayed us, particularly around the ruck. They executed three times more turnovers than us, and in a close game like that, that's the difference."
This win puts Fiji in a strong position to reach the World Cup knockouts for just the third time. Australia, on the other hand, faces the important game against Wales, with the risk of recording their worst-ever finish.
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South Africa beat Australia in the 2019 final
South Africa beat England 32-12 in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, claiming their third Rugby World Cup title. The match was hosted at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, and was the United Kingdom's most-watched TV broadcast in 2019, attracting a peak audience of 12.8 million viewers.
South Africa's World Cup campaign began with a loss to New Zealand in their opening match in the pool, but they followed it up with bonus-point wins over Namibia, Canada and Italy to progress in second place in Pool B. In the quarter-finals, they played the hosts, Japan, winning 26-3. In the semi-final, they played Wales and won 19-16. This was South Africa's third appearance in the World Cup final, following victories over New Zealand on home soil in 1995 and England in France in 2007.
England started as favourites for the final but had an unfortunate start to the game as Kyle Sinckler was substituted in the third minute. In the first half, the only points scored were from penalties, with South Africa leading 12-6 at half-time after several handling errors by England. Two more successful penalties for each side made the score 18-12 early in the second half. Makazole Mapimpi scored the first try in the 66th minute, making South Africa's lead 25-12 after the conversion. Cheslin Kolbe followed up with another try eight minutes later, making the final score 32-12.
This victory meant South Africa climbed to the top of the World Rugby Rankings for the first time since 2009, knocking England down to third.
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Frequently asked questions
Fiji beat Australia in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
England beat Australia in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand beat Australia in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
England beat Australia in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
