Sorting the 'baggage' ahead of '07

Just a little bit of history repeating?

So let the games commence! Now that we know the full line-ups for four of the 48 fixtures that will make up the 2007 Rugby World Cup, it's time for fans to start to dream - and panic. Indeed, all four match-ups carry plenty of RWC 'baggage', and if you are a follower of one of the home nations sides, you'd best excuse yourself from our brief history lesson ...

ENGLAND v SOUTH AFRICA:
(Played 2: England 1, South Africa 1)

1999: South African fly-half Jannie de Beer kicked 34 points, including a world record five drop-goals, as the defending champions overwhelmed England 44-21 in the quarter-finals at Twickenham.

The match produced just two tries - a superb effort from South African captain Joost van der Westhuizen which gave his side a 16-12 lead over England at the break and an injury-time touchdown by Pieter Rossouw.

Prior to Van der Westhuizen's try, the game had been dominated by penalty kicks with England fly-half Paul Grayson (in for dropped youngster at the time Jonny Wilkinson) kicking four and Jannie de Beer three.

2003: The eventual champions beat South Africa 25-6 in the eagerly-anticipated Pool C clash at the Subiaco Oval in Perth, with England centre Will Greenwood scoring the only try of a battle that was a lot closer than the final scoreline suggests.

Indeed, England's bacon was saved (not for the first time) by their ruthless forwards and the accurate kicking of fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, who scored 20 points.

AUSTRALIA v WALES:
(Played 3: Australia 2, Wales 1)

1987: Wales secured third place in the inaugural Rugby World Cup with a dramatic 22-21 victory over Australia in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Wales had knocked out England in the quarter-finals but were trounced by New Zealand in the semi-finals, and many believed that the Wallabies were ready to add to Welsh woes.

But Wales kept their opponents within sight, and a last-ditch try in the corner by Adrian Hadley moved the reds to within a conversion of taking the lead.

With victory rested squarely on his shoulders, Paul Thorburn stepped up to take the crucial kick. He made no mistake.

1991: Eventual champions Australia put Wales's World Cup hopes to sleep with a crushing 38-3 Pool victory at Cardiff Arms Park.

Wales were still reeling from their shock 16-13 loss to Western Samoa and had no answer to Australia's verve. The Wallabies racked up six tries, with fly-half Michael Lynagh chipping in with 18 points.

1999: Australia again ended the World Cup dreams of Wales - the hosts in '99 - by claiming their place in the semi-finals with a hard-earned 24-9 victory at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Two tries by Australia scrum-half George Gregan and one from wing Ben Tune gave the Wallabies a deserved success on a poor quality pitch, as Wales finally succumbed to their opponents' greater attacking flair in front of a capacity 72,000 crowd.

NEW ZEALAND v SCOTLAND:
(Played 4: New Zealand 4, Scotland 0)

1987: Scotland's biggest World Cup defeat came in this 1987 quarter-final against New Zealand in Christchurch.

Alan Whetton and John Gallagher scored for the All Blacks and the incomparable Grant Fox kicked six penalties and both conversions to end the Scots' run.

As it transpired this defeat was no disgrace to the Scots as New Zealand went on to beat Wales 49-6 in the semi-final and France 29-9 in the Final.

1991: New Zealand snatched back a little pride after their semi-final loss to Australia by claiming a podium finish with a 13-6 victory over the Scots in the third-place play-off at the Arms Park.

Gavin Hastings scored two penalties, but All Black halfback Jon Preston slotted three - and centre Walter Little added a try.

1995: Scotland's World Cup nemesis, New Zealand, returned to haunt them in the 1995 World Cup when the two sides met in the quarter-finals - a repeat of their 1987 clash.

The result was the same, with the All Blacks cruising to a comfortable 48-30 victory scoring a massive six tries in the process.

Gavin Hastings's side did manage a degree of respectability to the scoreline courtesy of two tries from Doddie Weir and one from Scott Hastings. All the tries were converted by Gavin Hastings, who also added three penalties in his final Scotland appearance.

1999: New Zealand steam-rollered their way to an emphatic 30-18 win over Scotland in the quarter-final at Murrayfield.

The All Blacks ran in four tries to two, and won the right to face France in that semi-final at Twickenham.

New Zealand wing Tana Umaga scored two tries, with fullback Jeff Wilson and giant wing Jonah Lomu adding one apiece. Fly-half Andrew Mehrtens kicked two penalty goals and converted the first two tries.

Scotland's points came from late tries from flanker Budge Pountney and wing Cameron Murray, a penalty and a conversion kicked by wing Kenny Logan and a drop-goal from fly-half Gregor Townsend.

FRANCE v IRELAND:
(Played 2: France 2, Ireland 0)

1995: France powered past Ireland in the quarter-finals at King's Park in Durban, recording a 36-12 victory that booked them a semi-final with hosts South Africa.

French centre Thierry Lacroix added eight penalties to tries by skipper Philippe Saint-André and the flying Emile N'Tamack - the latter snatched a loose pass to race away with an intercept try. All Ireland had to show for their efforts on the day were four penalties by Eric Elwood.

2003: France marched into the Rugby World Cup semi-finals with an emphatic 43-21 win over Six Nations rivals Ireland.

Les Bleus - with fly-half Frédéric Michalak coming to the fore - dazzled the Telstra Dome crowd with four high-quality tries.

France dominated all phases of the game and their loose trio of Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen and Imanol Harinordoquy were sublime, providing their exciting backline with copious amounts of quality ball.

Ireland star Brian O'Driscoll hit back with two fine tries, but there is no stopping the French when they get the bit between their teeth.

By Andy Jackson