The fourth Rugby World Cup broke new ground as for the first time the big eight nations did not qualify automatically. Only the champions, the runners-up, the third place play-off winners from 1995 and the host nation was afforded that luxury.
This meant that South Africa, New Zealand, France and Wales were assured of their places in the expanded 20-team tournament with 65 nations taking part in the qualification process for the other 16 places.
Another innovation for the 1999 tournament, which also featured matches in England, France, Scotland and Ireland, was the introduction of a Repechage, a second chance for teams that had finished runners-up in each qualifying zone.
Uruguay and Tonga were the first nations to profit from the Repechage and took their places alongside fellow qualifiers Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Argentina, Fiji, Romania, Canada, Namibia, Japan, Spain and the United States.
These 20 nations were split into five pools of four, a scenario that necessitated a quarter-final play-off round involving the five runners-up and best third placed team to decide who would join the Pool winners in the last eight.
The Pool stages saw England and New Zealand score 101 points against Tonga and Italy respectively, while Argentina ended a run of eight straight World Cup defeats to claim their place in the quarter-final play-offs as the best third-placed team.
Romania also ended their losing run, beating the USA Eagles 27-25 for their first win since the 1991 tournament, while Uruguay enjoyed a dream debut by beating fellow new boys Spain 27-15.
The first Rugby World Cup in the professional era saw defending champions South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, France and Wales top the five Pools to secure the direct route to the quarter finals.
England, Scotland, Fiji, Ireland and Samoa went into the play-offs. England proved too strong for Fiji with a 45-24 victory, while Scotland ended Samoa’s hopes of another last eight appearance 35-20.
Ireland had been expected to progress to a quarter-final at Lansdowne Road but, despite leading 21-9 midway through the second half, it was Argentina who emerged 28-24 victors to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Four years after being destroyed by New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu, one man again proved England’s downfall. Springbok fly-half Jannie de Beer kicked a world record five drop goals to clinch a 44-21 victory to put South Africa through.
The other quarter finals saw New Zealand beat Scotland 30-18, Australia overcome Wales 24-9 – the first time the hosts had failed to reach the final – and France defeat Argentina 47-26.
The semi-final stage was, though, where Rugby World Cup 1999 truly came alive, with Australia needing extra-time to win a tight contest with South Africa 27-21, Stephen Larkham’s drop goal in the second period breaking the deadlock.
New Zealand were the expected opponents in the final, especially after establishing a 24-10 lead against France. However, the French suddenly sparked themselves into life and 26 points in a 13-minute spell in the third quarter ensured that they emerged shock 43-31 winners.
The Millennium Stadium then saw Australia take on the French in an eagerly anticipated final. France had of course reached the inaugural final in 1987 but, just as on that occasion, they simply had nothing left as Australia became the first nation to win the World Cup twice with a 35-12 triumph.
John Eales lifted the Webb Ellis Cup together with Tim Horan and Jason Little as the Wallabies retained their mantle as the only team to win the World Cup away from home.
Horan, arguably the greatest centre of his generation, was deservedly named Player of the Tournament, while de Beer and Argentina’s Golden Boot winner Gonzalo Quesada also deserve special mention.