List of Australia national rugby union team records explained

Australia have competed in international rugby union matches since 1889. They compete in the annual Rugby Championship series and have appeared at every Rugby World Cup, winning the tournament in 1991 and 1999 and finishing second in 2003 and 2015. The records listed below only include performances in Test matches. The top five are listed in each category (except when there is a tie for the last place among the five, when all the tied record holders are noted).

Team records

Greatest winning margins

OpponentVenueCompetitionDateScoreMargin
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide2003 Rugby World Cup25 October 2003 142–0142[1] [2]
2007 Rugby World Cup8 September 200791–388[3]
1 November 2001 92–1082[4]
Lang Park, Brisbane2003 Rugby World Cup18 October 2003 90–882[5]
Lang Park, Brisbane6 June 1998 76–0 76[6] [7]
Canberra Stadium, Canberra1999 Rugby World Cup Qualification – Third Round22 September 199874–074[8]
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney1994 Western Samoa tour of Australia6 August 199473–370[9]
Stadium Australia, Sydney2005 June International11 June 200574–767[10]
Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane1996 Canada tour of Australia29 June 199674–965[11]
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington2011 Rugby World Cup23 September 201167–562[12] [13]
Villa Park, Birmingham2015 Rugby World Cup27 September 201565–362[14]

Greatest losing margins

OpponentVenueCompetitionDateScoreMargin
30 August 2008 53–845[15] [16]
7 September 2024 67–2740[17] [18]
23 August 199761–2239[19] [20]
Stadium Australia, Sydney31 October 2020 5–4338[21] [22]
Athletic Park, Wellington 6 July 1996 43–637[23] [24]
Eden Park, Auckland 2019 Rugby World Cup warm-up match17 August 2019 36–036[25] [26]
Eden Park, Auckland16 September 1972 38–335[27]
Eden Park, Auckland14 August 2021 57–2235[28] [29]
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu2023 Rugby World Cup24 September 202340–634[30] [31]
Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan2022 Rugby Championship13 August 202248–1731[32]
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria2023 Rugby Championship8 July 202343–1231[33] [34]
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne2023 Rugby Championship29 July 20237–3831[35]

Player records

Appearances and caps

Most appearances[36]
Player Period
143 James Slipper 2010–
139 1994–2007
129 2005–2017
125Michael Hooper2012–2023
121 Adam Ashley-Cooper2005–2019
Most appearances as captain[37]
Player Period
69 Michael Hooper2014–2023
59 2001–2007
55 1996–2001
36 1988–1992
29 2006–2009

Tries and points

Most tries[38]
TriesPlayer Period
64 1982–1996
40 1998–2007
39 Adam Ashley-Cooper2005–2019
37Israel Folau2013–2018
34 2005–2016
Most points[39]
PointsPlayer Period
911 1984–1995
878 1993–2004
698 2002–2016
670 Bernard Foley2013–2022
489 2000–2009

Match records

Points

PlayerVenueCompetitionOpponentDateScoreScore invovlementsPoints
width=55pxTrieswidth=55pxwidth=55pxwidth=55px
Mat RogersAdelaide Oval, Adelaide2003 Rugby World Cup25 October 2003142–02160042
Matt BurkeBallymore Stadium, Brisbane1996 Canada tour of Australia29 June 199674–9392039
Elton FlatleyLang Park, Brisbane2003 Rugby World Cup18 October 200390–81111030
Stirling MortlockDocklands Stadium, MelbourneMandela Challenge Plate8 July 200044–23225029
James O'ConnorStade de France, Saint-Denis2010 Autumn International27 November 201016–59164029
Bernard FoleyTwickenham Stadium, London2015 Rugby World Cup3 October 201533–13234028
Michael LynaghBallymore Stadium, Brisbane1995 Argentina tour of Australia30 April 199553–7234028
Matt GiteauStade de la Mosson, Montpellier2007 Rugby World Cup23 September 200755–12243027
Matt BurkeSydney Football Stadium, Sydney1998 Scotland tour of Australia and Fiji13 June 199845–3144025
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff1999 Rugby World Cup final6 November 199935–12027025
Docklands Stadium, Melbourne2001 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia7 July 200135–14116025
Ben DonaldsonStade de France, Seint-Denis2023 Rugby World Cup9 September 202335–15233025
Chris LathamAdelaide Oval, Adelaide2003 Rugby World Cup25 October 2003142–0500025

Tries

PlayerVenueCompetitionOpponentDateScoreTries
Chris LathamAdelaide Oval, Adelaide2003 Rugby World Cup25 October 2003142–05
Greg CornelsenEden Park, Auckland1978 Australia tour of New Zealand9 September 197830–164
David CampeseSydney Cricket Ground, Sydney1983 United States tour of Australia9 July 198349–34
Jason LittleCanberra Stadium, Canberra1999 Rugby World Cup Qualification – Third Round22 September 199874–04
Chris LathamBallymore Stadium, Brisbane2000 Argentina of Australia17 June 200053–64
Lote TuqiriDocklands Stadium, Melbourne2005 June International25 June 200569–214
Twenty two players3

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Morse . Ben . 27 September 2023 . ‘What chance did we have’: Remembering Namibia’s record-breaking 142–0 Rugby World Cup defeat . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240131061824/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/09/27/sport/namibia-australia-2003-rugby-world-cup-record-spt-intl/index.html . 31 January 2024 .
  2. News: 25 October 2003 . Australia annihilate Namibia . .
  3. News: 8 September 2007 . Australia 91–3 Japan . BBC Sport .
  4. News: 18 October 2003 . Wallabies storm into record books . .
  5. News: Watt . Stuart . 18 October 2003 . Wallabies demolish Romania . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027040819/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-10-18/wallabies-demolish-romania/1495506 . 27 October 2016 .
  6. News: Richards . Huw . 7 June 2018 . England's 1998 Tour from Hell to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand . ESPNscrum .
  7. News: 6 June 1998 . Sport: Rugby Union – Australia 76 England 0 . BBC Sport .
  8. Web site: Wood . Mike . 25 October 2022 . Never mind the blowouts: Why Australia must do more to make future World Cups better . .
  9. News: 6 August 1994 . Wallabies pulverise Western Samoa: Rugby union . .
  10. News: 11 June 2005 . Wallabies thrash Samoa . ABC News .
  11. Book: Cleary . Mick . Griffiths . John . 1997 . Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook, 1998–98 . Rothmans Publications . 334–335 .
  12. News: Lutz . Tom . 23 September 2011 . Rugby World Cup 2011: Australia v USA – as it happened . . .
  13. News: 23 September 2011 . Rugby World Cup 2011: Australia 67–5 USA . BBC Sport .
  14. News: 27 September 2015 . Rugby World Cup: Wallabies trounce Uruguay, earn bonus point despite fielding second-string side . ABC News .
  15. News: 31 August 2008 . South Africa 53–8 Australia . BBC Sport .
  16. News: 1 September 2008 . Nokwe inspires Boks blitz . .
  17. News: Gallan . Daniel . 8 September 2024 . Argentina 67–27 Australia: men’s rugby union international – as it happened . live . Guardian Australia . Guardian Media Group . https://web.archive.org/web/20240908014317/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2024/sep/07/australia-wallabies-vs-argentina-rugby-test-live-updates-scores-results-kick-off-time-santa-fe . 8 September 2024 .
  18. News: Drennan . Jonathan . Payten . Iain . 8 September 2024 . ‘Fell off a cliff’: Wallabies humiliated by Pumas in biggest ever defeat . live . The Sydney Morning Herald . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240908003031/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/wallabies-humiliated-by-pumas-in-biggest-ever-defeat-20240908-p5k8qv.html . 8 September 2024 .
  19. News: The hosts were down 20–3 before clicking into top gear with 10 minutes to play in the second half, scoring four tries in the last nine minutes. It's the most points the Wallabies have conceded in a test, beating the 61–22 hammering they copped in South Africa in 1997. . 8 September 2024 . Rugby Championship recap: Argentina annihilate Australia in Santa Fe . live . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240908013352/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/argentina-v-australia-live-updates-rugby-championship/CQDTRVTKCBFMJGFW6E3YFCZKIA/ . 8 September 2024 .
  20. News: It's the most points the Wallabies have conceded in a Test, passing the 61–22 hammering they copped in South Africa in 1997. . Williamson . Nathan . 8 September 2024 . 'Falling off a cliff': Schmidt reacts after stunning Wallabies defeat to Argentina . live . rugby.com.au . . https://web.archive.org/web/20240908215433/https://www.rugby.com.au/news/falling-off-a-cliff-schmidt-reacts-after-stunning-wallabies-defeat-to-argentina-202497 . 8 September 2024 .
  21. News: 31 October 2020 . Australia thrashed 43–5 by New Zealand in record loss as All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup in Sydney . ABC News .
  22. News: 31 October 2020 . Bledisloe Cup: New Zealand beat Australia 43–5 to lift trophy for 18th consecutive year . BBC Sport .
  23. News: Maharaj . Rajiv . 28 October 2015 . The Joy of Six: Australia v New Zealand classic rugby Test matches . Guardian Australia .
  24. News: 31 October 2020 . 'Gutted' Wallabies suffer biggest loss to All Blacks in 117 years as Bledisloe dreams dashed . The Sydney Morning Herald . The six-tries-to-one thrashing will go down as Australia’s darkest night against the Kiwis, topping the 43–6 defeat in Wellington in 1996. Talk about a turnaround from last year’s 47–26 triumph in Perth. .
  25. News: Thornley . Gerry . 20 August 2019 . Back in Black: New Zealand’s 36–0 win leaves Wallabies thunderstruck . .
  26. News: 18 August 2019 . All Blacks smash Wallabies 36–0 . The Sydney Morning Herald .
  27. News: The most points the All Blacks have scored against the Wallabies at Eden Park was in their 39–10 victory in 2008, while their greatest winning margin at that ground was 38–3 in 1972. . 24 August 2012 . The Stats Don't Lie: A decade of Bledisloe dominance? . The New Zealand Herald .
  28. News: 14 August 2021 . As it happened: All Blacks beat Wallabies 57–22 . .
  29. News: McMorran . Steve . 14 August 2021 . New Zealand beats Australia 57–22 to retain Bledisloe Cup . .
  30. News: 24 September 2023 . WAL 40–6 AUS: Wales crush Australia to book quarter-final berth . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004102952/https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/news/869046/wal-35-6-aus-match-analysis . 4 October 2023 .
  31. News: Griffiths . Gareth . 24 September 2023 . Wales 40–6 Australia: Warren Gatland's side hammer Wallabies to seal World Cup quarter-final spot . live . BBC Sport . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926102209/https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66905617 . 26 September 2023 .
  32. News: Smale . Simon . 14 August 2022 . Argentina crushes the Wallabies 48–17 in the Rugby Championship, All Blacks stun Springboks in Johannesburg . live . ABC News . https://web.archive.org/web/20230409174229/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-14/live-updates-argentina-vs-wallabies-rugby-championship/101331314 . 9 April 2023 .
  33. News: 9 July 2023 . Springboks steamroll Australia 43–12 in Rugby Championship as Arendse scores hat trick . AP News .
  34. News: Decent . Tom . 9 July 2023 . ‘Show some respect’: Jones lashes out at reporter after Wallabies suffer horror 43-12 loss to Springboks . The Sydney Morning Herald .
  35. News: Howcroft . Jonathan . 29 July 2023 . Bledisloe Cup: Wallabies 7–38 All Blacks – as it happened . Guardian Australia .
  36. http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;team=6;template=results;type=player Statsguru / Ordered by: total matches played
  37. http://stats.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?captain=1;class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=matches;team=6;template=results;type=player Statsguru / Ordered by: total matches played as captain
  38. http://stats.scrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=tries;team=6;template=results;type=player Statsguru / Ordered by: total tries scored
  39. http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;orderby=points;team=6;template=results;type=player Statsguru / Ordered by: total points scored

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