- Can anyone match Simon Culhane’s 45 points in a single match, a record set in All Blacks’ 1995 World Cup win over Japan
- Place kickers for tournament favourites expected to challenge 2015 winner Nicolas Sanchez
The Rugby World Cup in Japan is likely to be decided by the boot of one player and the odds are he will play for one of the teams expected to go the distance in the tournament.
Jonny Wilkinson won it for England in 2003 and the man who is in the conversation for greatest kicker of all time is certainly the best in World Cups. He played 19 times in World Cups from 1999 to 2011, scoring 277 points.
They came from just one try and the rest from his trusty boot " 28 conversions, 58 penalties and 14 drop goals.
It is also a kicker that has the record for the most points in a single match. New Zealander Simon Culhane's total of 45 in the All Blacks' 1995 World Cup thrashing of Japan will be hard to beat this time out. Culhane scored one try in the 145-17 blowout and also kicked 20 conversions.
So who are the players most likely to challenge Wilkinson and Culhane in Japan over the next eight weeks?
These are the favourites with the bookmakers.
Owen Farrell
England's kicker is expected to get plenty of opportunities to add to his 848 points amassed across 77 appearances. The Saracens man has followed in his father Andy Farell's footsteps for both club and country, and at 27 he is already a decade into his pro career. Farrell, who will turn 28 in Japan, has won three European Cups and become the club's leading points scorer in that time.
Handre Pollard
The South African plays his club rugby with Montpellier in France. He has 388 points in 42 tests with his country. The 25-year-old also has experience in Japan, having played for the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes in the South African off-season in 2015. He also missed most of 2016 through injury.
Beauden Barrett
The poster boy of the favourites to win the tournament " and retain their trophy " Barrett could be in Japan for the whole of the World Cup. That will give the All Blacks man a chance to add plenty of points to his tally of 631 points over 78 tests. The twice winner of the World Player of the Year award has not been without his critics, particularly after high-profile matches where he missed half of his kicks for goal. He more than makes up for that with his try-scoring, though.
Richie Mo'unga
The All Black has only scored 78 points in his 12-test career, but he has form in Japan " he scored 22 points during New Zealand's 69-31 win over Japan last November, including his first international try. At 25, he also has a solid scoring career at club level behind him and scored most of the points for the Crusaders in their 2019 Super Rugby final win over the Jaguares. He has had placekicking honours as the team won the last three finals in a row.
Jonathan Sexton
The 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year has been a key part of the Ireland team that have risen to the top of the rankings ahead of the World Cup and also completed a Six Nations grand slam this year. If they are to carry that on, Sexton will lead the charge. He may be 34, and it may also be his last World Cup, but he is in fine form and whatever he can add to his 770 points over 90 tests will help the Irish cause.
Nicolas Sanchez
The Argentina international has 728 points over 77 tests and is the top scorer for Los Pumas. He was also the top points scorer at the last World Cup with 97 points and, now aged 30, is in what should be his peak points scoring years. Argentina may be unfancied to match their fourth-place finish last time out, but Sanchez should add to his own World Cup points haul.
Dan Biggar
A total of 351 points from 73 tests is indicative that Biggar was not the Welsh kicker for the first half of his international career. He took over duties for place kicks at the 2015 World Cup and has not looked back. Wales could have gone into the World Cup as the top-ranked team in the world had they beaten Ireland and there is no reason a Biggar-led side can't show their true form in Japan.
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