The atmosphere of a rugby Test match is always charged, but the opening game of a Rugby World Cup crackles with expectation.
There is a magic buzz about the stadium in those precious moments before the first shrill blast of the referee’s whistle.
The colour and vibrancy of the Tournament’s Opening Ceremony has just been completed and the whole world awaits the 30 actors to take their places on the big stage.
All the players feel the pressure like no other match. Especially the home nation, who have figured in all four opening RWC matches and will do so again in 2003.
1987
Sixteen teams took part in the inaugural Tournament hosted by New Zealand and co hosted by Australia.
The undeniable star of the show was brilliant All Black open side flanker Michael “Iceman” Jones.
He made an immediate impact with the first ever RWC try against Italy, on his home ground of Eden Park, on 22 May.
The All Blacks won the match 70-6. Fly half Grant Fox kicked the first RWC conversion and Italian scrum half Oscar Collodo the first penalty.
New Zealand went on to make history by beating France 29-9 to be the first team crowned world champions.
1991
Four years later the RWC was held in the Northern hemisphere for the first time.
Hosts England took on defending champions New Zealand in the opening match at Twickenham on 3 October.
The All Blacks won the match 18-12, with Jones again to the fore, scoring the opening try of the Tournament.
But it was not going to be their RWC this time with
Australia the team that set the fields alight with wing wizard David Campese the star of the Tournament.
After knocking New Zealand out in the semi final at Lansdowne Road in Dublin, the Wallabies went on to beat England 12-6 in a tense final at Twickenham.
The All Blacks finished third, beating Scotland 13-6 in the playoff between the losing semi finalists.
Again 16 teams contested the Tournament with Western Samoa the only newcomers from 1987.
1995
The third RWC was known as the ‘Rainbow World Cup’ because it took place in South Africa – the ‘Rainbow Nation’.
The opening match of the Tournament between South Africa and Australia is considered one of the most important sporting moments in the 20th Century.
It marked the first participation of South Africa in a RWC, having missed the first two because of the apartheid regime.
The Springboks rose to the occasion by winning the game 27-18 and going on to win the Tournament in a fairytale finale against New Zealand.
However, it was a man in black, giant New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu, who made the Tournament his own with some astonishing displays of power and pace.
Fiji and Zimbabwe made way for South Africa and Ivory Coast among the 16 teams who had contested the Webb Ellis Cup in 1991.
1999
The RWC was expanded to 20 teams in 1999 with three teams - Namibia, Uruguay and Spain - making their debuts at the Tournament.
Hosts Wales took on Argentina at Cardiff’s magnificent new Millennium Stadium in the opening game.
The Red Dragons won 23-18 but did not advance beyond the quarter finals.
Australia became the first team the win two RWCs, defeating France in the final. Wallaby inside centre Tim Horan was voted Player of the Tournament.
2003
So to the 2003 RWC, which is now only days away from kick off in Australia.
The host nation will play the opening match against Argentina at Sydney’s impressive Telstra Stadium at 20.30 on 10 October.
It is the second time both sides have been involved in the opening match.
Whether or not that proves to be a good omen for either team is a piece of history that is yet to be written.
Watch this space.