OPINION: Always find yourself caught short when everyone's busting out their World Cup knowledge? No problem, Rugby World Cup columnist Jamie Wall has written a comprehensive A-Z guide that will bring you up to speed as the 2019 edition heads to halfway.
Photo: Supplied: RWC
This column originally ran during the 2015 Cup but it's so good we thought it was worth looking at again. Enjoy.
A is for Argentina (2007): Los Pumas have had one memorable RWC, they upset France in the tournament opener, which meant they topped their pool. Unfortunately it also meant that France went on to face the All Blacks in the quarter final, and we all know what happened there.
B is for Bernat-Salles (1999): It was fitting that when the French pulled off their unbelievable upset of the All Blacks that possibly the most French man in the world scored the match sealing try. All Philippe Bernat-Salles needed was a beret to complete his look.
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C is for Canada (1995): Believe it or not, the land better known for double denim formal wear and prolific use of the word ''eh'' played their part in the most ill-disciplined RWC match ever, with two players sent off for fighting in their pool match against the Springboks.
D is for Drinking Laws (2015): Thanks to a law change, punters were able to watch the game in the early morning and have a drink; like Jim Morrison in the song Roadhouse Blues - ''well I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer…''
E is for England (2003): Under the helm of the somewhat twisted Sir Clive Woodward, the English triumphed in the final due to a healthy diet of forward play and the favoured left boot of Jonny Wilkinson. However, it was his right one that knocked over the winning drop goal in extra time.
F is for Fighting (1987): After being knocked out clean with one punch by Buck Shelford in the semi final, Welsh lock Huw Richards woke up to find himself being sent off by referee Kerry Fitzgerald for starting the fight.
G is for George Gregan (2003): ''Four more years, boys'', Gregan's taunt to the All Blacks Is this the greatest sledge ever? Joke was on him as well though, turned out to be eight years.
H is for Hamilton (1991): In easily the most memorable moment of Irish RWC history, flanker Gordon Hamilton sprinted 40 metres to put his Ireland ahead of the Wallabies in their quarter final. Sadly they left the Aussies five minutes to snatch back the lead, which they did on the stroke of full time.
I is for Italy (1987): The good news for Italian rugby is that their entire 1987 RWC team is prominently featured in one of the greatest World Cup tries ever. The bad news is it's because Sir John Kirwan is running around, through and away from all of them in his stunning 80 metre effort.
J is for Jonah (1995 & 1999): The man who brought rugby into the professional era almost single-handedly, Jonah Lomu is undoubtedly the most important player of all time.
K is for Kajihara (1995): Not many test players can claim they've scored two tries in a test against the All Blacks, but Japanese flanker Hiroyuki Kajihara can. He can also claim that his team got 21 scored against them in return, which puts him in a class of his own.
L is for Larkham (1999): Apparently Stephen Larkham's eyesight at the time of the Wallabies epic semi final win over the Springboks was so poor he couldn't even see the goal posts. So just how he managed a 48 metre drop goal to win the game can be put down to dumb luck, really.
M is for Mandela (1995): The Springboks' secret weapon in the final, Nelson Mandela supported the All Blacks when we was in Robben Island prison. First thing he does when he gets out: pulls on a Bok jersey. What a turncoat!
N is for Ngwenya (2007): The United States Eagles have had one memorable RWC moment, when Takuzdwa Ngwenya burnt Bryan Habana to score the try of the 2007 tournament.
O is for The Oaks (1987): Romania's national team have competed at every RWC until the 2019 edition and pulled off a few good wins. But the Oaks would probably be way more of a force had the 1989 Romanian revolution not claimed the lives of several of their top players.
P is for Penalties (1995 & 2007): There's been two finals where all the points have come from the boot, both of them won by the Springboks (the 1995 final was won with a drop goal).
Q is for Quinn (1995): Even non-rugby fans in New Zealand will know Keith Quinn's most famous piece of commentary, reacting with an almost orgasmic 'Ohhh, ohhh!' when Jonah Lomu steamrolled over Mike Catt to begin the 1995 semi final demolition of England.
R is for Rugby: That is 32 years of duds, brilliance heartbreak and glory.
S is for Scotland (2007): The Scots can probably lay claim to the worst uniform in RWC history, busting out an orange abomination to avoid a clash with the All Black jersey.
T is for Tries (1987): The first RWC final is also the one that featured the most tries, with the All Blacks and France combining for four.
U is for Underwood (1995): Tony Underwood, the less talented of the two English brothers on each wing in the 1995 semi final against the All Blacks, made the mistake of winking at Jonah Lomu during the haka. 80 minutes later and all he would've been thinking about were the four tries that went straight past him.
V is for Victor (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015): Bok lineout genius Victor Matfield will play in his fourth RWC, one short of Manu Samoa legend Brian Lima's record between 1991 and 2007.
Victor Matfield Photo: AFP
W is for Wallabies (1991 and 1999): Our mates from over the ditch were the first team to win the RWC twice. They did it with two teams packed full of legendary players and both times had a seriously tough draw to get to the final.
X is for X-Rays: Chances are someone is going to have to get one at some stage. Seriously, what else starts with X? Apart from X-factor. One person who has it is TJ Perenara after scoring THAT try against Namibia, now being touted as one of the greatest tries ever.
Y is for Youth (2011): Welsh winger George North became the youngest player to score a try in an RWC match, aged 19 years and 166 days.
Z is for Zimbabwe (1987): The first African country to play in the RWC (because South Africa still hadn't figured out human rights), the Zimbabweans came within one point of winning their first match against Romania.
Jamie 'The Benchwarmer' Wall grew up in Wellington and enjoyed a stunningly mediocre rugby career in which the sole highlight was a seat on the bench for his club's premier side. He's enjoyed far more success spouting his viewpoints on the game to anyone who'll care to listen.
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