Drop goals are a rarely used point scoring system in rugby, but they can quite often be an incredibly decisive moments in rugby.
5- Stephen Larkham vs South Africa- 1999 World Cup semi-final
Larkham sent his team on their way to the 1999 World Cup when he launched a 48m drop goal over the post in extra time to send them into the final, which they would win. This was particularly impressive as it was against the reigning World Champions, who loved drop goals. Larkham had only recently made the move to fly half before the World Cup and admitted that he had never hit a drop goal before in his professional career.
4- Ronan O’Gara vs Wales- 2009 Six Nations
O’Gara helped Ireland win their first Grand Slam in the modern era. The drop goal came with two minutes to go, although Stephen Jones had just hit one a few minutes prior to put Wales into the lead.
O’Gara’s famous swinging of the arms to tell his team to get back and celebrate will be famous in the minds of any Irish Rugby fan. The reason this drop goal doesn’t feature higher on the list is the fact that Stephen Jones had a chance to undo O’Gara’s work a minute later. Thankfully for Ireland, he managed to miss, and O’Gara’s drop goal kept its significance.
3- Jonny Sexton vs France- 2018 Six Nations
Some moments in sport are big in the moment and then grow in significance further down the line.
When Sexton hit this drop goal, it was big to help Ireland start the tournament with a win in Paris. However, even without this win, Ireland still would have had enough points to win the Six Nations, but it would have destroyed the drama going into the final week at Twickenham. Winning the Grand Slam was hugely significant in 2018. The symbolism of beating England on St Patrick’s Day was incredible. This was also only their second Grand Slam of the modern era and their third in history. None of this takes place without the Sexton drop-goal in Paris. Not only that, but there is also the sheer distance that Sexton slots it from!
2- Joel Stransky drop goals vs New Zealand-World Cup Final 1995
A drop goal to win a World Cup final is obviously the biggest moment of a 4 year cycle. The 1995 World Cup was not only huge for sport but also culturally and politically in South Africa.
The South African out-half hit all 15 points in the game for his side, having also hit a drop goal in the first half. The winning drop-goal came with seven minutes left to play in extra time and secured the victory for the Springboks.
The moment has been relived on the big screen when the movie Invictus showed the importance of the World Cup win for South Africa.
1- Jonny Wilkinson vs Australia- World Cup Final 2003
This drop goal is one of the most iconic moments in rugby history. Not only did it provide England with its only World Cup title (so far). The drop goal came in the final moments of extra-time, which gave England the three point leads. One of the most iconic things about it comes in the detail.
Wilkinson, a left-footed kicker, slotted the most important kick of his career with his right foot.
The details of this kick make it all the better, as the 2003 World Cup took place in Australia. Looking at the video of the drop goal, you can see a few dots of celebrating England fans in a sea of green and gold.
