Old rivals lock horns for a fifth World Cup clash

1987 (Sydney): World Cup Group Phase

Australia 19-6 England

Australia:

Tries - Campese, Poidevin

Conversion - Lynagh

Penalties - Lynagh (3)

England:

Try - Harrison

Conversion - Webb

England's first World Cup game could hardly have presented them with a greater challenge - taking on joint hosts Australia in their own backyard.

An England side skippered by Wakefield wing Mike Harrison mounted a passionate rearguard action, but the greater strength of the Australian pack eventually proved decisive as the visitors crumbled in the latter stages.

Things had started spectacularly, with England's opening World Cup points coming courtesy of a well-worked backline move that culminated in skipper Harrison crossing in the corner.

Jonathan Webb's subsequent conversion gave England a six-point advantage, but that was quickly cancelled out by a couple of penalties from the boot of Michael Lynagh.

Australia forged ahead when flanker Simon Poidevin crossed from close range, and the hosts eventually sealed their win with a controversial second score in the final ten minutes.

David Campese wriggled his way over the try-line, but television pictures subsequently revealed that the Australian winger had failed to ground the ball.

Australia went on to beat Ireland in the last eight before losing to France in a semi-final encounter that is still regarded as one of the greatest games in World Cup history. An inconsistent England beat Japan and the United States before losing 16-3 to Wales at the quarter-final stage.

1991 (Twickenham) World Cup final

Australia 12-6 England

Australia:

Try - Daly

Conversion - Lynagh

Penalties - Lynagh (2)

England:

Penalties - Webb (2)

Having beaten France and Scotland to make their first World Cup final, England failed to make home advantage tell as a series of tactical errors led to Australia being crowned world champions.

Despite having progressed to the final thanks to their awesome forward power, England inexplicably attempted to play a free-flowing wide game in front of a capacity Twickenham crowd.

It was a decision that was to prove their downfall, although not before controversy had reared its head once more.

With Willie Ofahengaue and John Eales outstanding in defence, Australia claimed the game's solitary try midway through the first half.

Tony Daly touched down following Ofahengaue's break from a line-out and, with Michael Lynagh adding a conversion and penalty, the Wallabies led 9-0 at the interval.

Jonathan Webb slotted over a penalty to reduce the deficit, but England felt their open, running style should have been rewarded with a six-point haul shortly after.

Peter Winterbottom passed out to winger Rory Underwood after securing an overlap in attack, but the pass was deliberately knocked down by David Campese.

The deliberate knock-on should have led to a penalty try, but Welsh referee Derek Bevan awarded only a penalty. It was to be as near as England came to a comeback.

1995 (Cape Town) World Cup Quarter-Final

England 25-22 Australia

England:

Try - T Underwood

Conversion - Andrew

Penalties - Andrew (5)

Drop Goal - Andrew

Australia:

Try - Smith

Conversion - Lynagh

Penalties - Lynagh (5)

England gained their first World Cup win over the Wallabies in a game that would prove a thrilling precursor to what was to come eight years later.

Rob Andrew's dramatic injury-time drop goal proved decisive and settled a tension-packed epic that made up in drama what it lacked in skill.

Jack Rowell's England side began the game as favourites, and their pack proved too strong for their Australian opponents in the opening 40 minutes.

Rob Andrew and Michael Lynagh traded two penalties apiece before Tony Underwood's dash down the right wing secured a seven-point advantage.

With the Australian forwards shedding possession at the breakdown, England spun the ball wide and left the younger of the Underwood brothers with a simple sprint to the line.

Andrew's conversion made it 13-6, but Australia hauled themselves back into the game within a minute of the re-start.

Damian Smith did the damage, chasing down a grubber kick to score a try that enabled Lynagh to level proceedings with a conversion of his own.

Suddenly, the last-eight clash turned into a war of attrition and, with Andrew and Lynagh again trading penalties, the scoreboard was locked at 22-22 as the clock passed the 80-minute mark.

Crucially, though, England had been awarded a line-out within Australian territory. Martin Bayfield took a clean catch, Dewi Morris swept a superb pass to Andrew, and the future Newcastle Falcons coach landed a fearsome drop-kick from 45 metres.

One week later, however, and the victory was in vain. Jonah Lomu bulldozed the England backs as New Zealand won a one-sided semi-final 45-29.

2003 (Sydney) World Cup final

England 20-17 Australia

England:

Try - Robinson

Penalties - Wilkinson (4)

Drop Goal - Wilkinson

Australia:

Try - Tuqiri

Penalties - Flatley (4)

The greatest night in the history of English rugby saw Sir Clive Woodward's side triumph over the World Cup hosts in Stadium Australia.

If Rob Andrew's winning drop-goal eight years earlier had been dramatic, it was nothing compared to Jonny Wilkinson's extra-time effort in 2003.

Having already disposed of Wales and France to reach the final, England started as favourites. But while they ultimately lived up to their billing as the best team in the world, their crowing glory turned into a close-run thing.

Australia fought tooth and nail to retain the trophy they had won in Wales four years earlier, and claimed a surprise sixth-minute lead when Lote Tuqiri out-jumped Jason Robinson to claim a huge Stephen Larkham up-and-under.

The score was no more than the hosts deserved for their bright opening, but three Wilkinson penalties quickly silenced the home support.

With the rain continuing fall, England's pack, heroically led by captain Martin Johnson, began to dominate and Robinson crossed for a crucial try in the latter stages of the first half.

The critics had claimed that England were totally dependent on Wilkinson's left boot, but Robinson proved otherwise when he scuttled over wide on the left following a powerful midfield burst from Lawrence Dallaglio.

Two sloppy penalties allowed Elton Flatley to bring Australia back into the game and, after Wilkinson missed a drop-goal attempt, a third three-pointer in the final minute tied the scores at 17-17.

A nervy period of extra-time followed, with neither side showing anything like the composure they had displayed in the opening 80 minutes.

Wilkinson and Flatley swapped penalties once more but, just as the game looked like entering a period of sudden-death, the England fly-half landed the killer blow.

With 25 seconds remaining, the English forwards recycled the ball and presented it to Wilkinson 50 yards from goal. One swing of his boot later, and England were champions of the world.