MELBOURNE, Nov 4: New Zealand are just one try away from setting the record for the most tries in a World Cup tournament.

The All Blacks, with a 70-7 victory over Italy (11 tries), 68-6 over Canada (10), 91-7 over Tonga (13) and 53-37 over Wales (eight), have crossed their opponents’ line 42 times in just four games.

The 1987 All Blacks side, who went on to win the final, scored 43 tries in six games. This year’s team have already surpassed the 41 scored by the 1995 side, who also made the final before losing to South Africa in a tryless game.

Fullback Mils Muliaina and wing Doug Howlett are the tournament’s joint top-try scorers with six each, but still trail record holder Jonah Lomu, who grabbed eight in the 1999 World Cup.

Lomu, who is undergoing dialysis for a rare kidney complaint and was not considered for the tournament, also holds the career record for tries with 15 after he scored seven in the 1995 World Cup in South Africa.

Host nation Australia are currently second in the try-scoring list, with 38. They scored 22 tries in their 142-0 thrashing of Namibia in a pool game.

England, who thumped Uruguay 111-13 by running in 17 tries on Sunday are third on 34.

All three sides are within sight of the points-scoring record of 327 set by the 1995 All Blacks. New Zealand have scored 282 points, while Australia are on 273 with England a further 18 points back on 255.

New Zealand, who will take over the International Rugby Board’s number one ranking from England if they beat South Africa by more than 15 points in the first quarterfinal on Saturday, remain the bookmakers’ favourites to win the tournament despite their scratchy performance in beating Wales on Sunday.

The All Blacks are now A$2.50 (return on every dollar invested) favourites to win the Webb Ellis trophy, while England have firmed from $2.90 to $2.75.

Champions Australia, who sneaked past Ireland 17-16 in Melbourne on Saturday slipped from $4.75 to $5.25.—Reuters