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All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw lifts the Webb Ellis Cup following his side's victory over France
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw lifts the Webb Ellis Cup following his side's victory over France © Getty Images
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New Zealand 8-7 France, Rugby World Cup, October 23
New Zealand 8-7 France, Rugby World Cup, October 23
New Zealand 8-7 France, Rugby World Cup, October 23
Australia 21-18 Wales, Rugby World Cup, October 21
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A unique All Blacks skipper, the Currie Cup , the rugby international who invented starting blocks and the 1908 Olympic Final come in for scrutiny in the latest edition of Ask John
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Our pick of the best rugby writing on the web
  • Pool A P W D L Pts
  • New Zealand 4 4 0 0 20
  • France 4 2 0 2 11
  • Tonga 4 2 0 2 9
  • Canada 4 1 1 2 6
  • Japan 4 0 1 3 2
  • Pool B P W D L Pts
  • England 4 4 0 0 18
  • Argentina 4 3 0 1 14
  • Scotland 4 2 0 2 11
  • Georgia 4 1 0 3 4
  • Romania 4 0 0 4 0
  • Pool C P W D L Pts
  • Ireland 4 4 0 0 17
  • Australia 4 3 0 1 15
  • Italy 4 2 0 2 10
  • United States of America 4 1 0 3 4
  • Russia 4 0 0 4 1
  • Pool D P W D L Pts
  • South Africa 4 4 0 0 18
  • Wales 4 3 0 1 15
  • Samoa 4 2 0 2 10
  • Fiji 4 1 0 3 5
  • Namibia 4 0 0 4 0
Video / Audio
Features: Ruck'n Maul - Wallabies
  • Outgoing All Blacks coach Graham Henry addresses the media

    Outgoing All Blacks coach Graham Henry addresses the media
    © Getty Images

  • Graham Henry tells the media he's stepping down as All Blacks head coach

    Graham Henry tells the media he's stepping down as All Blacks head coach
    © Getty Images

About

Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is the sport's showpiece event and is contested every four years by the game's 20 leading nations.

The competing countries are initially divided into four pools and play each other once with the group winners and runners-up progressing to the knock-out stages that consist of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The winners are awarded the Webb Ellis Cup - named after William Webb Ellis, who is credited with inventing the sport.

The first World Cup was hosted by New Zealand and Australia in 1987 with the United Kingdom, Ireland & France (1991), South Africa (1995), Wales (1999), Australia (2003) and France (2007) staging the subsequent tournaments. The 2011 World Cup will be staged in New Zealand with England and Japan set to host the 2015 and 2019 events respectively.

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