Skysports.com takes a look at the top-five shock results from previous Rugby World Cups.
The Rugby World Cup has a fantastic habit of turning up shock results, with the tournaments not always going to form.
There are a multitude of upsets from over the years to choose from - and with the start of the 2011 RWC almost upon us,
skysports.com takes a look at the top five shock results.
Western Samoa 16 Wales 13 (1991)
Wales were arguably not at their strongest on the day, but given that they were playing at Cardiff Arms Park and had they had finished third in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, a win was viewed as somewhat of a formality.
Western Samoa, however, had very different ideas. Every time the Welsh half-backs, Robert Jones and Mark Ring, tried to put their backline away, they were met with what are now trademark hits from the Pacific Islanders.
In hindsight, we shouldn't be surprised that the Samoans won, given that their team contained players of the calibre of Frank Bunce, Pat Lam, Stephen Bachop, Peter Fatialofa, Apollo Perelini and Brian Lima. At the time, however, only Bunce was a known quantity, with the others generally in their early 20s and new to international rugby.
Western Samoa were absolutely dominated by the Welsh pack on the day, but their backline couldn't make any ground owing to the huge hits flying in from all angles, and in attack the Samoans proved they had a deftness of touch in amongst their obvious physicality. Wales had opportunities to win, but Ring's off-day with the boot ultimately proved costly.
The game goes down as one the Rugby World Cup's true underdog stories. The Pacific Island nation with barely 2,000 rugby players to choose from toppled one of the most famous rugby playing nations in history. Wales subsequently failed to make it out of the pool stages.
South Africa 15 New Zealand 12 (1995)
There was an ominous feeling surrounding the 1995 World Cup. New Zealand, the pre-tournament favourites, had dismissed all of their opponents en route to the final with relative ease, only failing to score less than 40 points against Wales, and looked certain to take victory.
This was the tournament where Jonah Lomu announced his presence on the international stage, notably with a four-try haul against England in the semi-final. Lomu finished the tournament as joint-top try-scorer with seven but his performance against England is still regarded as one of the most devastating individual contributions in Rugby World Cup history.
All the discussion before the final was about Lomu; he was being touted as an unstoppable force. South Africa decided to tighten things up and mark Lomu out of the game. He was given no space to run, and was hit by multiple defenders every time he got the ball in hand. It proved a masterstroke of a strategy and meant that the final was decided by the nerve of the two kickers. Andrew Mehrtens had the opportunity to win the game for New Zealand in the dying seconds of regular time, but missed his drop goal.
Going into extra time, the score was tied at 9-9. The sides exchanged penalties, until Joel Stransky finally won it for South Africa with a drop goal in the closing moments of the game.
France 43 New Zealand 31 (1999)
The France-New Zealand semi-final from the 1999 Rugby World Cup was arguably the most exciting game in the tournament's history.
Once again, New Zealand were favourites. Once again, the All Blacks were dominant in every game leading up to the semi-final. And once again Jonah Lomu was dominating the tournament's headlines too, with six tries already to his name heading into the French clash.
The game started at a frenetic pace, with Christophe Lamaison, a last-minute replacement at 10 for the injured Thomas Castaignede, slicing through the All Black's defence in the opening minutes. The early exchanges, however, were dominated by New Zealand. They relatively quickly built what looked like an insurmountable 24-10 lead, including two Lomu tries. What followed was one of the most famous turnarounds in Rugby World Cup history.
Lamaison was inspired and flawless with the boot. He quickly got France back within touching distance through two drop goals and two penalties in quick succession. The game was teetering on the brink, and then All Blacks capitulated. Christophe Dominici, Richard Dourthe and Philippe Bernat-Salles landed the final blows for France, with Jeff Wilson only managing a late consolation try for the All Blacks.
New Zealand fans, and the rest of the rugby public, were stunned. For the second time in Rugby World Cup history, a rampant kiwi side had come unstuck in the later stages of the tournament.
Argentina 17 France 12 (2007)
The stage was set. It was the opening game of Rugby World Cup 2007, and the hosts, France, who had never previously lost a pool game in the tournament, were set to play an unfancied Argentina side type cast as only having the ability to play 10-man rugby.
Argentina opted for a conservative game plan against the French, but it turned out to be a stroke of genius. They tested the French at scrum time, as expected, and were competitive at the breakdown. Juan Martín Hernández implemented their attacking strategy to perfection. He hoisted up countless up and unders, with the Argentineans chasing with real fervour. The tactic unsettled the French, forcing mistakes as they were continually asked to play from deep. It wasn't pretty, but it was exceptionally effective.
On the 27-minute mark, a mistake from France on the halfway line led to an interception, which Argentinean full-back Ignacio Corleto finished with class.
The Pumas went in at half-time 17-9 up, with the French visibly rattled. The second half was a tense affair, but the Pumas showed grit, determination and organisation in defence. This exceptional second half defensive effort restricted the French to just a further three points.
If this wasn't enough, the two teams met again in the 3rd place play-off game, with Argentina winning 34-10, truly underling their arrival on the international stage as a genuine World Cup threat.
France 20 New Zealand 18 (2007)
New Zealand make it into our chart for a third time, and with good reason, coming unstuck again at the hands of the French in the knockout stages of the competition.
After their disappointment in the 1995, 1999 and 2003 competitions, New Zealand arrived at Rugby World Cup 2007 with a point to prove. They once again had the best team in competition, and coach Graham Henry had assembled a squad with an unbelievable level of strength-in-depth. The All Blacks cruised through the pool stages racking up points at will, before meeting the French in the quarter-finals.
Surely keen not to see a repeat of events in 1999, the Kiwis started well and were 13-0 up on the half-hour mark, including a try from Luke McAlister. Lionel Beauxis finally got the French scoreboard ticking over just before half-time, but New Zealand went in 13-3 up.
Sebastien Chabal's impact on the game was palpable. His entrance on the 50-minute mark galvanised the French and Rodney So'oialo's missed tackle on Thierry Dusautoir left the scores level at 13-13. After So'oialo had made amends with a try of his own to nudge the All Blacks in front, substitute 10 Frederic Michalak lit up the game, putting Yannick Jauzion in for the score. The French comeback was once again complete, with the All Blacks disconsolate in defeat.
