In six World Cup tournaments, four countries have claimed the title - Australia and South Africa twice each, New Zealand and England. Here's a look at the previous editions of rugby's signature event held every four years.
1987 - NZ: 29, France: 9
Who can forget the first, and unfortunately
for New Zealand's long-suffering fans, the only title won by the All Blacks, who have been favoured to win every World Cup since then but have come up short.
South Africa was not able to compete in 1987 due to the international sports boycott in the apartheid era, policies that New Zealand rugby fans protested against during a Springbok tour in 1981.
There was no qualifying tournament for the first World Cup: seven of the 16 spots were given to the leading International Rugby Football Board members - New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France. The remaining nine spots were given out by invitation to Argentina, Fiji, Italy, Canada, Romania, Tonga, Japan, Zimbabwe and the United States.
New Zealand's win in the final at Auckland's Eden Park came after France had an upset 30-24 win over Australia in Sydney in the semifinals and the All Blacks overwhelmed Wales 49-6 at Brisbane's Ballymore.
1991 - Australia: 12, England: 6
Rugby's spiritual home at Twickenham, London, provided the venue for the first of Australia's two World Cup titles, with Nick Farr-Jones as captain and Bob Dwyer as coach. The second edition of the tournament was hosted by five countries England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France - the collection which comprised the then Five Nations.
England beat Scotland 9-6 in the semifinals and Australia defeated New Zealand 16-6. In the final, England changed tactics, abandoning its preference for 10-man rugby dominated by forward play and Rob Andrew's kicking, in a bid to beat the Wallabies at their own game - running rugby. It backfired for the English.
The Australians were relieved to make the final and had nothing to lose after their narrow quarterfinal win over Ireland at Lansdowne Road in Dublin, which rates among the all-time classic matches in World Cup history.
1995 - South Africa: 15, NZ: 12
This edition was all about South Africa. It was the first World Cup final needing extra time, and also one of the most dramatic and touching for the hosts.
Playing in the tournament for the first time after the end of apartheid rule, the Springboks emerged victorious at Ellis Park in Johannesburg before 63,000 fans, including then-President Nelson Mandela. Joel Stransky provided all of South Africa's points, including a drop goal in extra time that sealed the win, and Andrew Mehrtens scored all of New Zealand's points.
After the win, Mandela, wearing a cap and Springboks jersey, once considered symbolic of the apartheid regime, presented the Webb Ellis Trophy to South African captain Francois Pienaar.
There were a number of conspiracy theories surrounding New Zealand's unexpected loss, including that many of the New Zealand players may have been suffering from food poisoning in the two days leading up to the final. New Zealand coach Laurie Mains alleged a mysterious waitress known as "Suzie" had deliberately poisoned the All Blacks' water.
1999 - Australia: 35, France: 12
The first World Cup to be held in the professional era of rugby and Australia picked up its second title with victory over France in the final at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
Wales was the principal host, but England, France, Scotland and Ireland once again shared the hosting.
The tournament included 20 teams and had a second-chance round for teams that finished runner-up in each qualifying zone ahead of the finals.
Jonah Lomu scored eight tries in the tournament for New Zealand, but the All Blacks capitulated in the semifinals in a 43-31 loss to France, despite Lomu's two tries and a big early lead.
Australia beat South Africa 27-21 in the semifinals, with Stephen Larkham's wobbly late drop goal helping give the Wallabies a buffer, to advance to the final before 74,500 fans.
2003 - England: 20, Australia: 17
First five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson's drop goal with just 26 seconds left in extra time at Sydney gave England a three-point win, made him a megastar in the sport and earned Clive Woodward an eventual knighthood back in Britain.
It was the first and only title won by a Northern Hemisphere team.
The event was hosted solely by Australia, although New Zealand was supposed to have shared hosting rights until a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World Cup Ltd forced all New Zealand matches to be moved to Australia.
England was in superb form leading into the tournament and considered a favourite for the title but had a difficult time against an unconventional Australian line-up which grew in confidence throughout the tournament.
The England rugby team returned home three days later and, despite arriving at Heathrow airport in the early hours of the morning, thousands of fans turned out to give them a welcome.
2007 - South Africa: 15, England: 6
World Cup organisers said the sixth edition of tournament in France was their most successful in terms of broadcast coverage and overall attendance, including 80,000-plus at the final at Stade de France in Paris.
England had upset Australia 12-10 in the quarterfinal and, once again, Jonny Wilkinson was the star, kicking all of England's points. England then beat hosts France 14-9 while South Africa beat Argentina 37-13.
France had delighted its home crowd by beating favoured New Zealand 20-18 in the quarter-final in a shocking day that saw Australia and the All Blacks beaten by European sides.
The championship match was tryless, with four penalties by fullback Percy Montgomery and one by centre Francois Steyn providing the Springboks with their points. Wilkinson once again provided all of England's points with a pair of penalties.
New Zealand's Graham Henry became the first All Blacks' coach to retain his job after a World Cup failure.
Henry gets another crack at a World Cup when he leads the All Blacks at home in this year's seventh World Cup tournament.