KEY POINTS:
We look at 10 games in World Cup history that have kept the score board operators honest
Over the next three weeks the All Blacks take on the likes of Portugal and Romania.
Already there has been talk of breaking records by the All Black wingers. Doug Howlett is equal to Christian Cullen's All Black test try record of 46.
Cullen can breathe a sigh of relief however, his record will survive for at least another week because Howlett hasn't been selected in the side to take on Portugal this Saturday.
1. New Zealand versus Japan. 145 - 17
The World Cup record, set in South Africa in 1995. Marc Ellis went over the line six times. Nine of his team mates scored at least one try each and Simon Cullhane converted 20 out of 21, and with a try, notched up a personal tally of 45. Japan did manage to nab a couple of bonus tries but they didn't count for much. As an aside, the open-side flanker Paul Henderson got his first and only captaincy of the All Blacks in the match.
2. Australia versus Namibia. 142 - 0
Australia annihilated Namibia in the 2003 World Cup. The Wallabies ran in 22 tries at Adelaide while all the Namibians could do was sit back and watch some sublime rugby. Chris Latham scored the first try in three minutes. Australia were up 69 nil at the half-way stage. They must have wondered if there was any point sending out a full squad at half-time. Latham - who had a hat-trick in 25 minutes - ended up with a bag of five by full-time.
3. England versus Uruguay 111 - 13
At the same World Cup England scorched Uruguay and went on to win the final. The English, criticised for their endless kicking game, ran in try after try. It wasn't easy going early on. Uruguay managed to keep the English out in the early stages and managed a penalty conversion in reply to the first English try. But that was just about the extent of the resistance. Josh Lewsey scored five with half the team nabbing a double.
4. New Zealand versus Italy 101 - 3
The All Blacks trounced Italy in 1999, one week before going down to France. In the game against Italy, a second stringer All Black side saw Italy crumble, only managing a penalty kick from Diego Dominguez. Jeff Wilson got a hat-trick and surpassed the then All Black career try scoring record of John Kirwan - 35. Jonah Lomu, who had just sent shivers through the English side, ran in two, including a 50 metre run.
5. England versus Tonga 101 - 10
Some commentators were picking Tonga to test England after Samoa knocked out Wales earlier in the 1999 pool stage of the tournament. Tonga were in the game for most of the first-half until the Tongan prop Ngalu Taufo'o's forearm connected with the head of England's Richard Hill. Taufo'o was red carded. Minutes later his team mate David Edwards was yellow carded for a punch and Tonga struggled from then on. England went on to score 13 tries to Tonga's one.
6. Australia versus Japan 91 - 3
The Japanese seem to get a hiding at every World Cup and this year has been no different. The Wallabies' debutant Berrick Barnes scored two while Rocky Elsom scored a hat-trick. The Wallabies started slow ending the first half 23 - 3 before putting the foot down in the second half and running in 10 tries.
7. New Zealand versus Tonga 91 - 7
The 2003 game started with moving haka from both sides, with some of the Tongans crossing the half-way line. But that was one of the last times the Tongans made it into All Black territory. The conditions were trying, with the temperature around 29 degrees and rain falling for much of the game. But the All Blacks managed to run in 13 tries, all converted, including the first for Daniel Carter in international rugby.
8. Australia versus Romania 90 - 8
It took the Wallabies 18 seconds to score their first try and the pace didn't let up in 2003. In total the gold and greens scored 13 tries with Matt Rogers nailing a hat-trick and Matt Burke and Stephen Larkham grabbing two each.
9. Scotland versus Cote D'Ivorie 89 - 0
At the time - in 1995 - this was the largest margin ever tallied up in a World Cup game. The Scots ran in 13 tries with Gavin Hastings scoring 44 points personally.
10. England versus Georgia 84 - 6
In 2003 the English crushed the Georgians. At the eight minute mark the scores were tied three all, but that was as close as it got. The English ran in a dozen tries despite the wet conditions and coach Clive Woodward ringing the changes.
