From incredible All Blacks to Zinzan via Prince Harry, Nelson Mandela and more, enjoy an alphabetical journey through the event’s most memorable moments
All Blacks World champions and the overwhelming favourites. But, remarkably for a team that have been exceptional for decades, they have never won the World Cup away from home.
Behaviour (Bad). England let themselves down at the 2011 World Cup under Martin Johnson with some off-field antics, so Stuart Lancaster is determined not to let lightning strike twice. Manu Tuilagi, pleading guilty to two counts of assaulting a police officer in April, has been banned from this World Cup.
Concussion Modern rugby’s main talking point. George North, Mike Brown and Geoff Parling have been high-profile victims in recent months. The technical details on head injury protocols are sure to feature highly during this tournament.
Dropped goals Forget brilliant tries, it’s the match-winning dropped goals that define World Cups. Rob Andrew, Zinzan Brooke, Jannie de Beer (five in just one match) and Stephen Larkham have all made their mark. Oh, and some guy called Jonny (see Jonny).
Ellis, Marc Forget drop goals, it’s scoring lots of tries that defines World Cups. And Marc Ellis scored six of them in a game against Japan in 1995. Still the most in a World Cup match.
Fanzones There has been an imperative to set up giant screens, inflatable stuff and bars serving dubious-tasting lager at outrageous prices in inappropriate vessels since world sporting events went a bit mad at the start of the century. This summer London has the chance to show the world how to do this best as 15 sites open for business when the action starts. Find your nearest one at rugbyworldcup.com/fanzones.
Grant Fox Remains the highest points scorer in RWC history with his 126 in the inaugural competition in 1987.
HQ Aka Twickenham, Twickers or (for those of a certain age) the Cabbage Patch. The venue for all of England’s pool games as well as the final, just as it was in 1991.
diot’s guide The laws of the game are often baffling even to the experts, so the organisers are considering ways of issuing basic information to novice fans. Ideas under consideration include providing pamphlets explaining some of the laws to the uninitiated, as well as graphics shown on big screens before and during matches and at Fanzones across the country (see Fanzones).
Jonny Wilkinson George Ford might win the Webb Ellis Cup for England at Twickenham by jinking past an entire team of defenders and touching down sublimely under the posts, but he’ll surely never get close to surpassing the pedestal reserved in the public consciousness for Wilkinson and that dropped goal in 2003.
Kingsholm Stadium Yes, organisers have allowed a rugby ground to host some of the games too! Not necessarily the biggest games, but they love their rugby down Gloucester way and there is sure to be great noise from The Shed for Scotland v Japan and the like. Exeter’s Sandy Park is the only other Premiership ground to host matches.
Lomu, Jonah At 6ft 5in and nearly 19st, he was the scourge of England in both 1995 (poor old Mike Catt) and 1999. The first rugby superstar of the professional age, he revolutionised the way the game was played.
Millennium Stadium Cardiff is hosting World Cup matches for a record fourth time. No city has ever held so many fixtures. It is the only non-English venue on the roster and always provides plenty of pre‑match rows about whether or not to open the roof.
Nelson Mandela It was 20 years ago that Mandela provided the Rugby World Cup with its most memorable moment for a global audience, when he presented the trophy to Francois Pienaar and the host Rainbow Nation rejoiced.
Oz (Wizard of) Fancy a game of headline bingo? This one is certain to be trotted out as and when the mercurial/enigmatic/troubled Kurtley Beale struts his stuff for Australia.
Prince Harry Was there in 2003 when Sir Clive and the boys did it for England, and there again at the ‘100 days to go’ media launch. We are pretty sure he will be there at most England games at this World Cup, too.
Quesada, Gonzalo Holds the record for most penalties in a tournament, striking 31 for Argentina in 1999.
Red cards A total of 16 red cards have been shown in Rugby World Cup history. Wales captain Sam Warburton was the last person to be shown one when sent off by referee Alain Rolland in the semi-final against France in 2011 for a tip-tackle on Vincent Clerc — a decision that is still hotly debated.
Swing Low Sweet Chariot A century-old American slave song appropriated by England rugby fans in recent decades. Stirring the first few times you hear it, expect to be thoroughly fed up if England reach the final. The vuvuzela of international rugby.
Thrashing A World Cup is not complete without one hapless nation shipping 100 points against a team who are bigger, stronger and faster, more organised and skilful. In 2003 Australia beat Namibia 142-0.
Upset Although these are far rarer than in less physical sports such as football, there is still a good chance one big side will be humbled. Wales, for some reason, are often the fall guys – think Western Samoa (1991), Samoa (1999) and Fiji (2007).
Volunteers ‘The Pack’ will consist of 6,000 volunteers who will be at every venue to make sure your ‘match experience’ is everything you want it to be.
Webb Ellis Cup You can catch a glimpse of it as it goes on its tour, starting today in Jedburgh. Go to rugbyworldcup.com/trophy-tour
X-Ray Stick 30 men of large physical dimensions on one pitch and watch them run at each other at full pelt. There will be injuries.
Yokohama Will be hosting matches at the 2019 World Cup (it is in Japan).
Zinzan Brooke He was already a legend in his own lifetime before he decided to have a go at a 47-metre dropped goal against England in 1995
