The game has changed dramatically since England were hosts in 1991 and though the past offers some pointers,this tournament should be full of surprisesEngland’s 2003 World Cup triumph in Australia seemed to go down quite well, celebrated as dear musty rugby had never been celebrated before. What parties might be thrown now the tournament is to be played not on the other side of the world but at domestic? Or what might happen whether England suffer in Pool A for agony? It is a richly uncertain tournament, and where as many doubts will be raised on the sporting front as pounds on the commercial. That is,lots.
The final time the Rugby World Cup came to England, 24 years and six versions ago, and rugby union was a very different beast. In 1991 it was amateur,no longer so universally resolute in its commitment to remaining so, but still sufficiently attached to its unpaid traditions to create the tournament a cultural rather than a business opportunity. The competition began and ended at Twickenham, and but stretched across the territories of the musty family of the Five Nations. To reach the final – thanks to defeat by New Zealand in the opening game –– England had to beat France in Paris and Scotland at Murrayfield.
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Source: theguardian.com