Top 3 drop goals in international rugby history
With teams becoming fitter, stronger, and more evenly matched, it is not uncommon for teams to be within just a few points of each other as the final whistle approaches.
Those last few minutes of a rugby game are quite often the most intensive of the entire match.When two sides are battling it out at the business end of the game, a three point score can quite literally change the result.
Below we look at the three greatest drop goals in international rugby union history:
1: Jonny Wilkinson – Rugby World Cup 2003
Why does it find its way to the top?
The pressure of the occasion, the fact he used his weaker foot, and the fact it is quite possibly the most famous of all drop goals.
Ask any England rugby fan what the greatest moment in rugby history was, and they are almost guaranteed to be unanimous in their responses. Without hesitation, it is likely to be England’s Rugby World Cup victory over Australia in 2003, and the kick that won it for them.
England had progressed through the tournament strongly, with some bruising wins along the way. Jonny Wilkinson had been a vital part of the campaign right up until the final, with his boot keeping the English side moving forward both on the field and the scoreboard.
The final was a typically tense affair. With no love lost between the two foes over the years, it was always going to be a tight one.
Disappoint us it did not, with an exchange of scores all throughout the game, the two sides found themselves level on points at full time.
With mere minutes left to play in extra-time, Jonny held his nerve and slotted the most famous of drop goals.
Jonny explains how he felt at the time:
“I can feel my leg going back but it’s not me kicking it, it’s a knowing of it. As I hit the ball the sensation is what I knew it was going to be.
“It’s only when the ball gets a few yards past the post I then realise what the hell has happened and I do this half-hearted celebration which is almost disbelief because I hadn’t been there to really see it.”
2: Dan Carter, Rugby World Cup 2015
You can’t really have a list with Jonny Wilkinson on, without mentioning Dan Carter, can you?
The three time world player of the year, Dan Carter, has been described as the perfect ten. He was able to do it all.
This was epitomised in his grand All Blacks finale at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Carter had been unfortunate to have picked up a pretty serious injury during his side’s last campaign four years prior, which had led to him missing out on the latter stages of the tournament.
Although New Zealand went on to win the competition in 2011, missing out on playing would have hurt him. So, when Carter’s New Zealand lined up against Australia in the all southern hemisphere final in 2015, it was his chance for redemption.
A man of the match performance from the ever accomplished Carter, his actions in the 70th minute really showed the quality and the maturity of the man.
With Australia still within touching distance, Carter read the situation and delivered a forty metre drop goal to extend the All Blacks lead to over seven points. This of course forced the Aussies to chase the game, and as a result lost rather heavily in the end.
Playing some of his best ever rugby, Carter was able to help his side win back to back world cups for the first time in history.
3: Johnny Sexton, 2018 Six Nations Championship
Former world player of the year Johnny Sexton has to get a mention in this list. Not just renowned for his impeccable game control and the ability to play at such high standards for so many years, he also has a very handy boot.
This particular drop goal in question came in 2018 whilst playing for Ireland against France in the Six Nations Championship. The game had been nothing remarkable up until that point, dominated by mistakes and sub-par play. As the game drew to a close, the Irish found themselves 13-12 down with two minutes to play.
This led to some of the most controlled play we have ever seen on a rugby field. With the stakes as high as they come, the men in green put together a remarkable forty-one phases, hammering against the French defence.
Despite going down with cramp a few phases earlier, Sexton rallied himself to slot over the sweetest of drop goals from just over the forty metre line in the 83rd minute.
With Ireland going on to win the grand slam that year, that piece of individual brilliance proved ever so important.
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
45 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
12 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to comments