1987 Aust/NZ16 Unions (by invitation) took part in first Rugby World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand. Sixteen teams gathered in Australia and New Zealand, but there were only three real contenders for the trophy.
The semifinal match between the European champions France and favorites Australia was billed as the match of the tournament. France would defeat the men from Down Under in the semi-finals, only to lose to New Zealand in the final 29-9 at Eden Park on June 20.
The gap between the established and the emerging nations was apparent, illustrating that rugby was still far from a global game and that the form of the British and Irish, with the exception of Scotland, was weak. Despite some initial apathy, the sixteen-nation tournament began to capture the public imagination as it progressed.
The competition gave the likes of Argentina, Fiji, Japan and Romania the chance to prove they were more than mere cannon fodder.
But it showed in stark focus the widening gulf between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres which would soon herald the end of the amateur game.
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RUGBY WORLD CUP RESULTS 1987
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POOL A
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POOL B
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POOL C
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POOL D
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Australia 19 - 6 England
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Canada 37 - 4 Tonga
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New Zealand 70 - 6 Italy
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Romania 21 - 20 Zimbabwe
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USA 21 - 18 Japan
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Wales 13 - 6 Ireland
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Fiji 28 - 9 Argentina
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France 20 - 20 Scotland
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England 60 - 7 Japan
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Wales 29 - 16 Tonga
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New Zealand 74 - 13 Fiji
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France 55 - 12 Romania
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Australia 47 - 12 USA
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Ireland 46 - 19 Canada
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Argentina 25 - 16 Italy
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Scotland 60 - 21 Zimbabwe
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England 34 - 6 USA
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Wales 40 - 9 Canada
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Italy 18 - 15 Fiji
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Scotland 55 - 28 Romania
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Australia 42 - 12 Japan
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Ireland 32 - 9 Tonga
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New Zealand 46 - 15 Argentina
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France 70 - 12 Zimbabwe
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POOL A
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P
|
W
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D
|
L
|
F
|
A
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PTS
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Australia
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3
|
3
|
0
|
0
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108
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41
|
6
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England
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3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
100
|
32
|
4
|
|
USA
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
39
|
99
|
2
|
|
Japan
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
48
|
123
|
0
|
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POOL B
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
PTS
|
|
Wales
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
89
|
31
|
6
|
|
Ireland
|
3
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
84
|
41
|
4
|
|
Canada
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
65
|
90
|
2
|
|
Tonga
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
29
|
98
|
0
|
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POOL C
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
PTS
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|
New Zealand
|
3
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
190
|
34
|
6
|
|
Fiji
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
56
|
101
|
2
|
|
Argentina
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
49
|
90
|
2
|
|
Italy
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
3
|
40
|
110
|
2
|
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POOL D
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
PTS
|
|
France
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
145
|
44
|
5
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|
Scotland
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
0
|
135
|
69
|
5
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|
Romania
|
3
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
61
|
130
|
2
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
53
|
151
|
0
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QUARTER-FINALS
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SEMI-FINALS
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3rd PLACE PLAY-OFF
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FINAL
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New Zealand 30 - 3 Scotland
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France 30 - 24 Australia
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Wales 22 - 21 Australia
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NEW ZEALAND 29 - 9 FRANCE
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France 31 - 16 Fiji
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Australia 33 - 15 Ireland
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New Zealand 49 - 6 Wales
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Wales 16 - 13 England
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NEW ZEALAND 29 (John Kirwan, David Kirk, Michael Jones tries; Grant Fox four penalty goals, conversion, field goal) bt. FRANCE 9 (Pierre Berbizier try; Didier Camberabero penalty goal, goal) at Eden Park, Auckland. Crowd: 46,000. Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald (Australia).
New Zealand: 1. John Drake, 2. Sean Fitzpatrick, 3. Steve McDowell, 4. Murray Pierce, 5. Gary Whetton, 6. Alan Whetton, 7. Michael Jones, 8. Buck Shelford, 9. David Kirk (c), 10. Grant Fox, 11. John Kirwan, 12. Joe Stanley, 13. Warwick Taylor, 14. Craig Green, 15. John Gallagher.
France: 1. Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou, 2. Daniel Dubroca (c), 3. Pascal Ondarts, 4. Jean Condom, 5. Alain Lorieux, 6. Dominique Erbani, 7. Eric Champ, 8. Laurent Rodriguez, 9. Pierre Berbizier, 10. Franck Mesnel, 11. Patrice Lagisquet, 12. Denis Charvet, 13. Philippe Sella, 14. Didier Camberabero, 15. Serge Blanco.
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