Australia had surpassed the All Blacks as the best of the South, with Mark Ella, David Campese, and Roger Gould part of a sparkling back division. France, as always, was strong, featuring a young Philippe Sella at center and a veteran Rives at flank. The Scots had lured Andy Irvine out of retirement for one more go.

Pool A Pool B Pool C Pool D

Australia New Zealand France Scotland

England Wales Ireland Argentina

Canada Fiji W. Samoa USA

Tonga Italy Romania Japan

Ed Burlingame’s Eagles weren’t quite up to surprising the world and beating Argentina, but they played open and risky rugby. Hugo Porta again led the Argentina charge, scaring a delightfully talented Scottish unit until Irvine came on late in the match and engineered a try for the victory. Ella scored four tries in pool play for Australia, who really weren’t tested.

Quarterfinals:

Australia v. Wales

New Zealand v. Argentina

France v. Ireland

Scotland v. England

There are few players you can point to who actually changed an entire sport. Ollie Campbell was one of those. As he did in Ireland, Campbell used the wet British Columbia ground to tee up the ball and launch huge, arcing kicks at goal. A smooth runner and nifty passer, Campbell was known for his boot, which in the early 1980s was at its flawless best. He, along with a few others, changed the game so much that tries were eventually re-scored at five points. Against France, Campbell was perfect, kicking one conversion and seven penalties, while the Irish deep three of Hugo McNeil, Keith Crossan, and Trevor Ringland kept the French speed in check.

The All Blacks had very little trouble with an Argentine team that had actually beaten Australia a year before. Andy Dalton’s men showed little mercy, providing the New Zealand backs plenty of ball.

The big rivalries were mostly defensive struggles, with England trying to hold off Scotland, and Wales and Australia reliving old grudges. The Wallabies won as Ella set Moon free for a decisive score. Scotland opened up its backline again, with Laidlaw and Rutherford finishing off the movements.

Semi Finals:

Australia v. New Zealand

Scotland v. Ireland

Before a huge crowd of 7,000 in Seattle, Australia and New Zealand showed why theirs was once of the great rivalries in the world. Hard hitting from the outset, the game was close all the way. All Black fullback Alan Hewson kicked three penalties, but New Zealand couldn’t gain the line until Murray Mexted scored a try after 70 minutes. In that time, Campese and Ella had scored tries. It was 13-12 New Zealand when a late penalty gave Gould a 45-meter kick at goal. He made it, and the Wallabies were finalists.

The Scots had an experienced and tough pack to go along with their backs. Iain Milne and Colin Deans led Tomes, Leslie, and a young Iain Paxton into the fray with great vigor and more organization than the Scots usually showed. Behind them were Laidlaw, Rutherford, Renwick (still), Robertson, and, of course, Irvine. Overrun early, and unable to come back, Ireland fought bravely. Tony Ward, inserted at center, scored a try, and Campbell kicked 10 points for 18 total for Ireland. Three tries and two Irvine penalties made it 24 for Scotland.

Final:

Scotland 35 (5T, 3C, 3P)

Australia 28 (4T, 3C, 2P)

Playoff:

New Zealand 24

Ireland 6

Andy Irvine scored 19 points, setting his record single tournament haul to 119 points, and his career total in four World Cups to a staggering 326. The Australians started quickly, with Andrew Slack finding space in the middle of a maul to drive over. Scotland kicked the restart too deep and Ella manufactured a move that gave Campese another taste of glory. Down 12-0, Scotland had little choice but to open it up. Irvine took a deep kick out wide, and fed Robertson, who weaved and bobbed to the center. He linked up with Leslie, who fed the long-legged Tomes for a well-deserved try. From then on it was back and forth. Four more Scottish tries came from Irvine, Renwick, Rutherford, and Deans. Ella, lock Steve Cutler, and Gould dotted down to make it 29-28 Scotland. But Rutherford's sidestep and burst under the posts sealed it for the upstart Scots.

1983 Champions: Scotland