Rugby World Cup 1991
The second Rugby World Cup was jointly hosted by England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales from 3 October to 2 November 1991. Australia won the title, defeating England 12–6 in the final at Twickenham.
Champions🏆 Australia
Runners-upEngland
Matches played32
Top points scorerRalph Keyes — 68
Pool 1
New ZealandEnglandItalyUnited States
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 39 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | England | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 85 | 33 | 7 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Italy | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 57 | 76 | 5 | |
| 4 | United States | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 113 | 3 |
Fixtures
England 12–18 New Zealand3 October · Twickenham Stadium, London
Italy 30–9 United States5 October · Cross Green, Otley
New Zealand 46–6 United States8 October · Kingsholm, Gloucester
England 36–6 Italy8 October · Twickenham Stadium, London
England 37–9 United States11 October · Twickenham Stadium, London
Italy 21–31 New Zealand13 October · Welford Road, Leicester
Pool 2
ScotlandIrelandJapanZimbabwe
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 122 | 36 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Ireland | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 51 | 7 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Japan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 77 | 87 | 5 | |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 158 | 3 |
Fixtures
Scotland 47–9 Japan5 October · Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Ireland 55–11 Zimbabwe6 October · Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Ireland 32–16 Japan9 October · Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Scotland 51–12 Zimbabwe9 October · Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Scotland 24–15 Ireland12 October · Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Japan 52–8 Zimbabwe14 October · Ravenhill, Belfast
Pool 3
AustraliaWestern SamoaWalesArgentina
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 79 | 25 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Western Samoa | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 54 | 34 | 7 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Wales | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 61 | 5 | |
| 4 | Argentina | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 38 | 83 | 3 |
Fixtures
Argentina 19–32 Australia4 October · Stradey Park, Llanelli
Wales 13–16 Western Samoa6 October · National Stadium, Cardiff
Australia 9–3 Western Samoa9 October · Pontypool Park, Pontypool
Wales 16–7 Argentina9 October · National Stadium, Cardiff
Wales 3–38 Australia12 October · National Stadium, Cardiff
Argentina 12–35 Western Samoa13 October · Sardis Road, Pontypridd
Pool 4
FranceCanadaRomaniaFiji
Standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 25 | 9 | Knockout stage |
| 2 | Canada | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 33 | 7 | Knockout stage |
| 3 | Romania | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 64 | 5 | |
| 4 | Fiji | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 63 | 3 |
Fixtures
France 30–3 Romania4 October · Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers
Canada 13–3 Fiji5 October · Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
France 33–9 Fiji8 October · Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble
Canada 19–11 Romania9 October · Stade Ernest-Wallon, Toulouse
Fiji 15–17 Romania12 October · Parc Municipal des Sports, Brive
France 19–13 Canada13 October · Stade Armandie, Agen
Knockout Stage
Quarter-finals
France 10–19 England
Scotland 28–6 Western Samoa
Ireland 18–19 Australia
Canada 13–29 New Zealand
Semi-finals
Scotland 6–9 England
Australia 16–6 New Zealand
Third-place play-off
New Zealand 13–6 Scotland
Final
Australia 12–6 England
Twickenham Stadium, London · 2 November 1991
Standout Players
- Ralph Keyes (Ireland) — tournament top scorer, 68 points.
- David Campese (Australia) — joint top try scorer, 6 tries.
- Jean-Baptiste Lafond (France) — joint top try scorer, 6 tries.
- Michael Lynagh (Australia) — 66 points.
- Gavin Hastings (Scotland) — 61 points.
- Jonathan Webb (England) — 56 points.
- Grant Fox (New Zealand) — 44 points.