Results of Defending Champions
A defending champion has never won the World Cup. The best result is runners-up by Australia and England in 2003 and 2007, respectively. The worst results were by Australia in 1995 and South Africa in 2011, both exiting in the quarter-finals.
| Year | Defending champions | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | New Zealand | Third Place |
| 1995 | Australia | Quarter Final |
| 1999 | South Africa | Third Place |
| 2003 | Australia | Runners-up |
| 2007 | England | Runners-up |
| 2011 | South Africa | Quarter Final |
Read more about this topic: National Team Appearances In The Rugby World Cup
Famous quotes containing the words results of, results, defending and/or champions:
“Being a parent is unlike any previous job—the results of any one action are not clearly visible for a long time, if at all.”
—Anonymous Mother. As quoted in Between Generations by Ellen Galinsky, ch. 2 (1981)
“How can you tell if you discipline effectively? Ask yourself if your disciplinary methods generally produce lasting results in a manner you find acceptable. Whether your philosophy is democratic or autocratic, whatever techniques you use—reasoning, a “star” chart, time-outs, or spanking—if it doesn’t work, it’s not effective.”
—Stanley Turecki (20th century)
“Is that the Craig Jurgesen that Teddy Roosevelt gave you?... And you used it at San Juan Hill defending liberty. Now you want to destroy it.”
—Laurence Stallings (1894–1968)
“Did all the lets and bars appear
To every just or larger end,
Whence should come the trust and cheer?
Youth must its ignorant impulse lend—
Age finds place in the rear.
All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys,
The champions and enthusiasts of the state:”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)