Video - 'Drop of magic' - 9 of rugby's most 'clutch' dropgoals
Yet another thrilling chapter in the history of the Six Nations Championship was written in Paris on Saturday night when Ireland’s Johnny Sexton landed a dramatic late drop goal to give his side a 15-13 victory over hosts France – writes Graham Jenkins.
It was a stunning passage of play orchestrated by a gifted fly-half and executed by a team that simply refused to be beaten.
Sexton’s ability to think clearly and deliver under immense pressure in testing conditions was particularly impressive with an inch-perfect cross-kick to stretch the French defence almost as impressive as his 45m match-winning kick.
But make no mistake, this was a collective effort with the whole team showing incredible discipline and composure to recycle and retain the ball for an incredible 41 phases before scrum-half Conor Murray found his half back partner Sexton who then turned the game on its head in the most dramatic fashion.
But how does Sexton’s mind-blowing feat rank among other such moments of unrelenting will and individual brilliance?
Joel Stransky (South Africa) v New Zealand, Rugby World Cup Final, Ellis Park, Johannesburg, June 24, 1995
Stransky’s sweetly-struck right-footed drop goal in extra time propelled South Africa to their first World Cup success and set the seal on an unforgettable tournament.
With the clock ticking down in a tense and try-less encounter, a knock-on from the All Blacks deep inside their own half gifted the Boks great field position.
Joost van der Westhuizen then fizzed a pass from the back of the scrum to Stransky who slotted his kick under pressure from Mehrtens and with the weight of a nation’s hopes on his shoulders.
His kick gave South Africa a 15-12 lead over their arch rivals with just seven minutes to play at an emotionally-charged Ellis Park but they managed to hold on for a truly memorable triumph.
“I struck it superbly and when I looked up and saw how it was rotating and where it was going, I knew it could not miss,” Stransky recalled some years later.
Jonny Wilkinson (England) v Australia, Rugby World Cup Final, Telstra Stadium, Sydney, November 22, 2003
Wilkinson cemented his place in British sporting history with a superbly struck drop goal, hit with his weaker right foot, with just seconds left of extra time.
Lewis Moody, Mike Catt, Matt Dawson and Martin Johnson all played crucial roles in earning Wilkinson the field position and time to deliver what would be a knock-out blow and their ever-reliable No.10 did the rest from 25m with a host of desperate Wallabies clambering to cloud his view.
England still had to survive one last kick off and they did to the delight of their fans in the stadium and on the other side of the world.
“I knew I’d hit it in such a way that it wasn’t going to be the most powerful kick,” Wilkinson told PA Sport in 2015, “but it was going to be accurate. I knew from fairly early on it was going over.”
Stephen Larkham (Australia) v South Africa, Rugby World Cup Semi-Final, Twickenham, October 30, 1999
Larkham’s monster 48m effort is all the more amazing considering it was the first drop goal he had kicked in his international career.
The boot of Larkham’s team-mate Matt Burke and that of the Springboks’ Jannie de Beer had dominated the contest to that point with the latter landing a drop goal in the 86th minute of the clash to take it into extra time.
De Beer and Burke then traded further blows before Larkham’s outrageous effort, set up by a pass from his long-time half-back partner George Gregan, put them on course for the final. One final kick from Burke put the result beyond doubt and the Wallabies into final where they would beat France.
“I didn’t really think I had a chance,” Larkham told World Rugby in 2015, “so it was a really short run up and down on the foot pretty quick. It was an awkward drop, I remember that, I had to adjust half way through, the ball immediately started hooking and I just thought I hope it gets to the dead ball line, then all of a sudden it squared up and got it’s flight and it went well through the posts which was pretty good.”
Nick Evans (Harlequins) v Stade Francais, Heineken Cup, The Stoop, December 13, 2008
Evans’ entry on this list may not be so easy on the eye but it is more than a match for the others when it comes to drama.
Chasing the game after a Juan Martin Hernandez drop goal had appeared to put Stade in control of the contest, Quins rallied one final time with Evans at the heart of proceedings.
The Kiwi playmaker made two key linebreaks as his side hammered away at a stubborn Stade defence and battled the cold and wet conditions in the hope of earning one final shot at goal.
As the game entered the 85th minute and Quins recycled the ball for the 29th time, Evans dropped deep in the pocket and snatched an epic victory for the Premiership side.
“That was probably the ugliest drop-goal I have hit in my life, but it doesn’t matter how they go over. They all count,” said the former All Black following the game.
Jeremy Guscott (British & Irish Lions) v South Africa, 2nd Test, Growth Point Kings Park, Durban, June 28, 1997
The Lions were out-played and out-scored three tries to one but the boot of Neil Jenkins and ultimately Guscott sealed a famous 18-15 victory and an historic series triumph.
With the score locked at 15-all, the Lions’ forwards rumbled towards the Springboks’ line before Dawson swept the ball out to Guscott who stroked the ball between the posts with his right foot.
“After the final whistle, even though I was jumping up and down and giving it the 2-0 victory sign, back in the dressing room all I could think about was ‘what if I had missed?’,” Guscott told BBC Sport.
“Gregor [Townsend] would have dropped the goal if he had been there. ‘Jenks’ [Neil Jenkins] would have done it if he had been there. It just happened to be me. It was my time, my moment, one of the highlights of my career, for sure.”
Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand) v England, Rugby World Cup Semi-Final, June 18, 1995
New Zealand’s demolition of England at the 1995 World Cup is rightfully remembered as Jonah Lomu’s game thanks to his devastating four-try haul but let’s not forget Brooke’s cameo.
The legendary No.8 pounced on a poor clearance kick from England’s Ben Clarke, scooping the ball up just inside his own half.
He then surged into England territory and on the run and staring into the sun, he thundered over an audacious drop goal from fully 47m.
“My rugby skills came from the farm,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “We had a front yard that was 25 acres. We played rugby golf round the yard. Instead of hitting a ball with a club, you had to kick it into the holes. You really had to manipulate that ball round the course.
“People ask me about ’95, was that part of a plan? There was no plan on dropped-goals, I just went back to rugby golf. The ball came to me, and it was like I was back at home, in the yard, I just hit the thing.”
Ronan O’Gara (Ireland) v Wales, Six Nations, Millennium Stadium, March 21, 2009
If the pressure was building before kick-off in Cardiff with Ireland within reach of their first Grand Slam in 61 years then the heat was certainly on when Wales’ Stephen Jones slotted a drop goal to give the hosts a one point lead with just four minutes to play.
But the Irish were not to be denied. Jones kicked out on the full after Wales had taken the ball back into their 22 and Ireland won the subsequent lineout before driving into position for O’Gara to produce what was later voted the greatest moment in Irish rugby history.
They had to survive one final scare with Wales awarded one final penalty but Jones’ kick fell short and Ireland had their first Slam since 1948.
“David Wallace was lined up to carry and once you see him carrying you know the ball was going to come back,” recalled O’Gara after the game. “I had my point picked out but once we got in from five metres Rory Best decided to get involved.
“The passing channel was blocked so I was roaring at him to get out of the way. I felt they were well offside but there was no way the referee was going to award a penalty so I just had to get the ball up as opposed to drive it up. I was very confident – I had the right imagery and visualised the kick going over.”
Rob Andrew (England) v Australia, Rugby World Cup quarter-final, Newlands, June 11, 1995
England sent defending champions Australia crashing out of the 1995 World Cup thanks to another dramatic final act – this time courtesy of Rob Andrew’s right boot.
With the scores locked at 22-all and 80 minutes long gone on the game clock, Martin Bayfield won a crucial lineout and was subsequently driven into the Wallabies’ half by his team-mates.
Scrum-half Dewi Morris then fed Andrew who sent the Wallabies packing with a brilliant long-range drop goal from an estimate 45m.
The Guardian’s Frank Keating wrote, “Andrew steadied himself and let fly a voluptuous kick. It was still soaring as it bisected the far-away H. For England, Heaven, for Australia, Hell.
“Never can a more daring or flamboyant or conclusive drop-kick ever have settled a game since the beginnings 130 years ago. The epic strike sealed an epic contest.”
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
26 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
26 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
26 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
26 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
26 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments