2003 Rugby World Cup: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

2003 Rugby World Cup

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	Topics 2003 Rugby World Cup Topic Home The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth rugby union Rugby union Rugby union is a competitive outdoor contact sport, played with an oval ball, by two teams of 15 players. It is one of the two main codes of rugby football, the other being rugby league.... world cup Rugby World Cup The Rugby World Cup is the premier international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the List of international rugby union teams.... and was won by England England national rugby union team The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France national rugby union team, Ireland national rugby union team, Scotland national rugby union team, Italy national rugby union team, and Wales national rugby union team.... . Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans.... and New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands.... , all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World Cup Limited. The pre-event favourites were England and New Zealand, with France France national rugby union team The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England national rugby union team, Ireland national rugby union team, Italy national rugby union team, Scotland national rugby union team and Wales national rugby union team in the Six Nations Championship.... , South Africa South Africa national rugby union team The South Africa national rugby union team , are the current holders of the Rugby World Cup and are currently ranked number 2 in the IRB World Rankings.... and defending champions Australia Australia national rugby union team The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the "Wallabies" and competes annually with All Blacks and South Africa national rugby union team in the Tri Nations , in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the Mandela Challenge Plate with... all expected to make strong showings. le class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:15px;">
City	Stadium	Capacity
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....	Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, presently known as ANZ Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia....	83,500
Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the more common name for the geographic region and Census in Australia of the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area. It is the second List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million and serves as the List of Australian capital cities of Victoria ....	Telstra Dome Telstra Dome Docklands Stadium, also known by its sponsored name Etihad Stadium , is a multi purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Melbourne Docklands precinct of Melbourne, Victoria , Australia....	53,371
Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane is the state List of Australian capital cities of Queensland and its most populous city. It is also the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, behind southern rivals Sydney and Melbourne....	Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Lang Park, presently known as Suncorp Stadium, is a rectangular sporting stadium located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Queensland, Australia....	52,500
Perth Perth, Western Australia Perth is the List of Australian capital cities and largest city of the Australian States and territories of Australia of Western Australia. With a population of 1,554,769 , Perth ranks fourth amongst the nation's cities, with a growth rate consistently above the national average....	Subiaco Oval Subiaco Oval Subiaco Oval, known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Western Australia. It is located in the suburb of Subiaco, Western Australia, about three kilometres west of Perth's city centre....	42,922
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....	Aussie Stadium Aussie Stadium The Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, New South Wales, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988 to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league....	41,159
Adelaide Adelaide Adelaide is the List of Australian capital cities and most populous city of the Australian States and territories of Australia of South Australia, and is the fifth-largest city in Australia, with a population of more than 1.1 million....	Adelaide Oval Adelaide Oval The Adelaide Oval is a playing field in Adelaide, South Australia. It is located between the central business district and North Adelaide and has a history which dates back to the 1870s....	33,597
Townsville Townsville, Queensland Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland....	Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers Stadium is a stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North Queensland Cowboys....	24,843
Canberra Canberra Canberra is the List of Australian capital cities of Australia. With a population of over 340,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall....	Canberra Stadium Canberra Stadium Canberra Stadium is a facility primarily used for rugby league and rugby union games, located adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the capital of Australia....	24,647
Gosford Gosford, New South Wales Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80km north of the Sydney central business district....	Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium is a sports venue in Grahame Park, Gosford, New South Wales, on the Central Coast, New South Wales of New South Wales....	20,119
Launceston Launceston, Tasmania Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia, with a population of 99,675, located at the juncture of the North Esk River, South Esk River, and Tamar River, Tasmania rivers....	York Park	19,891
Wollongong Wollongong, New South Wales Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney....	WIN Stadium WIN Stadium WIN Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium was officially opened in 1911....	18,484

Australia won the right to host the World Cup in 2003 without the involvement of New Zealand after a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World Cup Limited.

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Encyclopedia

The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union is a competitive outdoor contact sport, played with an oval ball, by two teams of 15 players. It is one of the two main codes of rugby football, the other being rugby league....
world cup

Rugby World Cup

The Rugby World Cup is the premier international rugby union competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the List of international rugby union teams....
and was won by England

England national rugby union team

The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France national rugby union team, Ireland national rugby union team, Scotland national rugby union team, Italy national rugby union team, and Wales national rugby union team....
. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia

Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
and New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous Islands of New Zealand, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands....
, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World Cup Limited. The pre-event favourites were England and New Zealand, with France

France national rugby union team

The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England national rugby union team, Ireland national rugby union team, Italy national rugby union team, Scotland national rugby union team and Wales national rugby union team in the Six Nations Championship....
, South Africa

South Africa national rugby union team

The South Africa national rugby union team , are the current holders of the Rugby World Cup and are currently ranked number 2 in the IRB World Rankings....
and defending champions Australia

Australia national rugby union team

Venues

Venues
City	Stadium	Capacity
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....	Telstra Stadium Telstra Stadium Stadium Australia, presently known as ANZ Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia....	83,500
Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the more common name for the geographic region and Census in Australia of the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area. It is the second List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a population of approximately 3.8 million and serves as the List of Australian capital cities of Victoria ....	Telstra Dome Telstra Dome Docklands Stadium, also known by its sponsored name Etihad Stadium , is a multi purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Melbourne Docklands precinct of Melbourne, Victoria , Australia....	53,371
Brisbane Brisbane Brisbane is the state List of Australian capital cities of Queensland and its most populous city. It is also the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, behind southern rivals Sydney and Melbourne....	Suncorp Stadium Suncorp Stadium Lang Park, presently known as Suncorp Stadium, is a rectangular sporting stadium located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Queensland, Australia....	52,500
Perth Perth, Western Australia Perth is the List of Australian capital cities and largest city of the Australian States and territories of Australia of Western Australia. With a population of 1,554,769 , Perth ranks fourth amongst the nation's cities, with a growth rate consistently above the national average....	Subiaco Oval Subiaco Oval Subiaco Oval, known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia, Western Australia. It is located in the suburb of Subiaco, Western Australia, about three kilometres west of Perth's city centre....	42,922
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....	Aussie Stadium Aussie Stadium The Sydney Football Stadium is located in Moore Park, New South Wales, in Sydney, New South Wales. It was built in 1988 to be the city's premier "rectangular field" for rugby league....	41,159
Adelaide Adelaide Adelaide is the List of Australian capital cities and most populous city of the Australian States and territories of Australia of South Australia, and is the fifth-largest city in Australia, with a population of more than 1.1 million....	Adelaide Oval Adelaide Oval The Adelaide Oval is a playing field in Adelaide, South Australia. It is located between the central business district and North Adelaide and has a history which dates back to the 1870s....	33,597
Townsville Townsville, Queensland Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland....	Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers Stadium Dairy Farmers Stadium is a stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has historically been used mainly for rugby league, and is the home ground of the National Rugby League club the North Queensland Cowboys....	24,843
Canberra Canberra Canberra is the List of Australian capital cities of Australia. With a population of over 340,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth largest Australian city overall....	Canberra Stadium Canberra Stadium Canberra Stadium is a facility primarily used for rugby league and rugby union games, located adjacent to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, the capital of Australia....	24,647
Gosford Gosford, New South Wales Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 80km north of the Sydney central business district....	Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium is a sports venue in Grahame Park, Gosford, New South Wales, on the Central Coast, New South Wales of New South Wales....	20,119
Launceston Launceston, Tasmania Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia, with a population of 99,675, located at the juncture of the North Esk River, South Esk River, and Tamar River, Tasmania rivers....	York Park	19,891
Wollongong Wollongong, New South Wales Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney....	WIN Stadium WIN Stadium WIN Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia. The stadium was officially opened in 1911....	18,484

1999 Rugby World Cup

The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup and the first to be held in rugby union's History of rugby union#The professional era....
in Wales.

The Adelaide Oval underwent a AUS

Australian dollar

The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Islandss of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu....
$20 million redevelopment for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, financed entirely by the South Australian Cricket Association

South Australian Cricket Association

The South Australian Cricket Association is the peak body for the sport of cricket in South Australia. The association runs Adelaide Oval and the Southern Redbacks based in Adelaide, South Australia....
, with two new grandstands built adjacent to the Victor Richardson Gates. The Suncorp Stadium was a new AUS$280 million venue designed specifically for rugby, and was opened just before the start of the 2003 World Cup. The Central Coast Stadium was also a newly built venue, and opened in February 2000 at a cost of AUS$30 million.

Aussie Stadium was one of two venues in Sydney that were used for football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players, and is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the world....
during the 2000 Olympic Games. The other venue in Sydney was the Telstra Stadium

Telstra Stadium

Stadium Australia, presently known as ANZ Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia....
which was the centrepiece of the 2000 Olympic Games. Formerly known as Stadium Australia, Telstra Stadium was built at a cost of over AUS$600 million and was the biggest stadium used in the 2003 World Cup. The only stadium with a retractable roof used was the Telstra Dome in Melbourne.

Qualification

The following 20 teams, shown by region, qualified for the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Of the 20 teams, eight of those places were automatically filled by the teams that reached the quarter-final stages in 1999

1999 Rugby World Cup

The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup and the first to be held in rugby union's History of rugby union#The professional era....
, including hosts and world champions Australia

Australia national rugby union team

The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the "Wallabies" and competes annually with All Blacks and South Africa national rugby union team in the Tri Nations , in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the Mandela Challenge Plate with...
and did not have to play any qualification matches. A record 81 nations from five continents were involved in the qualification process designed to fill the remaining 12 spots, which began on 23 September, 2000.

Americas

(automatic qualifier)

Asia

Oceania

(automatic qualifier and host)
(automatic qualifier)

Africa

(automatic qualifier)

Europe

(automatic qualifier)
(automatic qualifier)
(first-time qualifier)
(automatic qualifier)
(automatic qualifier)

Squads

Format

The teams were divided into four pools of five nations, with the top two in each pool moving on to the knock-out quarter-final stage. For the first time, a bonus point system was implemented in pool play. This system is identical to that long used in Southern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

The Southern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is south of the equator?the word sphere literally means 'half ball'. It is also that half of the celestial sphere south of the celestial equator....
tournaments, and was soon adopted in most European competitions (though not in the Six Nations

Six Nations Championship

The Six Nations Championship , known before 2000 as the Five Nations Championship, is an annual international rugby union competition involving six European sides: England national rugby union team, France national rugby union team, Ireland national rugby union team, Italy national rugby union team, Scotland national rugby union team an...
):

4 points for a win
2 points for a draw
0 points for a loss (before possible bonus points)
1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries, regardless of the final score
1 bonus point for a loss by 7 points or fewer

Summary

First round

The ARU's main promotion for the event was "Show Your True Colours". The Australian media criticised the competition early in the tournament as the smaller nations were crushed by the rugby superpowers by 60 points or more. However, some of these smaller, third tier nations, such as Japan

Japan national rugby union team

For the Japanese Rugby League team see Japan national rugby league team.Japan are traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years....
, acquitted themselves well in their opening matches. The South Pacific island countries of Fiji

Fiji national rugby union team

The Fiji National rugby union team is one of the strongest national rugby union teams of the world, and the third from Oceania, even still as a second tier nation....
, Tonga

Tonga national rugby union team

The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance - the Kailao ....
and Samoa

Samoa national rugby union team

The national rugby union team of Samoa is called Manu Samoa .they are sponsored by PUMA From 1924 to 1997 they were known as Western Samoa. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game....
were reported as being handicapped as several of their key players who play abroad being warned by their clubs that their contracts would not be renewed if they played in the competition.

In the event, the group stage of the competition played out largely as expected, with some tension as to whether some of the "developing" nations would overtake some of the weaker major countries for the second quarter-final qualification place in each pool — in pool A, Argentina

Argentina national rugby union team

The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union ....
lost to Ireland

Ireland national rugby union team

The Ireland rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union, which is a popular sport throughout both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, though only dominant in limited geographical areas....
by only one point, which would otherwise have carried them into the quarter-finals in Ireland's place; similarly in pool B Fiji lost to Scotland

Scotland national rugby union team

The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union....
by only two points, while Italy

Italy national rugby union team

The Italy national rugby union team represent the nation of Italy in the sport of rugby union. The team are also known as the Azzurri . Italy have been playing international rugby since the late 1920s, and today are considered one of the best rugby nations in Europe and compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England nationa...
put up a good performance in pool D. In pool C, Samoa gave England

England national rugby union team

South Africa national rugby union team

The South Africa national rugby union team , are the current holders of the Rugby World Cup and are currently ranked number 2 in the IRB World Rankings....
limped through the pool, eventually capitulating to England to relegate them to a difficult quarter final against New Zealand

All Blacks

The New Zealand national rugby union team, often referred to by their nickname the All Blacks, is the representative side of New Zealand in rugby union....
. Australia

Australia national rugby union team

Wales national rugby union team

The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England national rugby union team, France national rugby union team, Ireland national rugby union team, Italy national rugby union team and Scotland national rugby union team....
pushed the All Blacks to the wire, after adopting an outgoing style of play with a fringe selection. France

France national rugby union team

Knock-out stage

The knock-out quarter-final stage produced the widely predicted set of semi-finalists, although England again made heavy weather of defeating a resurgent Wales. England were widely rated the world's best team, but they struggled against a Welsh side full of belief after their game against New Zealand. France destroyed an Irish side who had gone into the match hopeful of a win, scoring 31 early points to put the game out of reach. In the other quarter-finals, a disappointing South Africa fell to New Zealand and Australia defeated the Scots.

The first semi-final produced an upset, when Australia defeated the hugely fancied New Zealand to become the first defending champions to reach the following championship final. The match was decided by a Stirling Mortlock

Stirling Mortlock

Stirling Austin Mortlock is a professional rugby union player. He is the current Australia national rugby union team and former ACT Brumbies Captain....
interception try, after a loose pass from highly-rated All Blacks fly-half, Carlos Spencer

Carlos Spencer

Carlos James Spencer is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who currently plays at for Gloucester Rugby in England and formerly for the New Zealand All Blacks....
. Unfortunately, it was probably the last match for Australian star Ben Darwin

Ben Darwin

Ben Darwin is a former Australian rugby union footballer. He played 28 times for the national team, the Australia national rugby union team, from 2001 to 2003, including games against the British and Irish Lions and at the 2003 Rugby World Cup....
, who injured his neck in a scrum

Scrum

Scrum can refer to:* Scrum , a way to restart a rugby union or rugby league game after an interruption * Scrum , an agile software development method for project management...
. Although Darwin never played rugby again the actions of Kees Meeuws

Kees Meeuws

Kees Junior Meeuws is a New Zealand rugby union Rugby union positions#1. Loosehead prop & 3. Tighthead prop who currently plays for the Scarlets in the Magners League....
- who immediately stopped exerting pressure when he heard the call "neck neck neck" - may well have saved his opponent's life and certainly prevented further injury. The second semi-final saw France face England. The boot of Jonny Wilkinson

Jonny Wilkinson

Final

The final between Australia and England was played at Sydney's Telstra Stadium

Telstra Stadium

Stadium Australia, presently known as ANZ Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium located in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct of Homebush Bay, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia....
in front of a crowd of 82,957. Australia opened the scoring after they decided to run a penalty instead of kicking for touch. Lote Tuquiri beat England's right wing, Jason Robinson

Jason Robinson

Jason Thorpe Robinson Order of the British Empire is a former English international rugby union and rugby league player. He played Rugby union positions#14....
, to a high cross-field kick and went over for the first try, but Elton Flatley

Elton Flatley

England dominated the rest of the half, opening up a 9-5 lead after Australian indiscipline gave away several penalties, but were unable to capitalise on their dominance. They nearly crossed the line on one occasion, when the Australian defence was stretched after a mistake and Ben Kay

Ben Kay

Benedict James Kay Order of the British Empire is an English international rugby union footballer who plays Rugby union positions#4. & 5. Lock for Leicester Tigers and England....
was given a potential try-scoring pass. He fumbled the ball over the line. Television replays showed Kay's reaction in four-letter words. Towards the end of the first half, England stretched their lead further. Lawrence Dallaglio

Lawrence Dallaglio

Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio, Order of the British Empire is a retired England rugby union player and former captain of the England Rugby team....
made a break and popped the ball inside to Jonny Wilkinson

Jonny Wilkinson

Jonathan Peter Wilkinson Order of the British Empire is an English rugby union player and member of the England national rugby union team. From 2001-2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson rose to fame and was acknowledged as one of the world?s best rugby players....
, who drew the defence before putting Robinson away in the corner for a try. The conversion was missed, but England went in at half time leading by 14-5.

In the second half Australia tightened their discipline, and solid play forced mistakes from England. The game swung from end to end, with both sides having try-scoring opportunities, but neither able to take them. Australia managed to get points on the board and Elton Flatley

Elton Flatley

Elton Flatley is a former Australian Australia national rugby union team rugby union footballer. At his best position of , Flatley was often able to dictate the game by kicking tactically or throwing simple passes in order to retain possession....
scored two penalties to make the score 14-11 to England. In the 79th minute, Australia were putting pressure on England in their half. England had a scrum and just needed to keep hold of the ball until time elapsed. Several scrums were reset after the front rows failed to engage properly and finally, the referee, André Watson, gave a controversial penalty to Australia, despite England's scrum dominating the rest of the game. Flatley converted it with the last kick of normal time to tie the score 14-14 and take it to 20 minutes' extra time.

England opened the scoring in extra time with another Wilkinson penalty, but with two and a half minutes of extra time remaining Australia were awarded another penalty, which Flatley kicked successfully. With 21 seconds left before sudden death, Wilkinson scored a drop goal to win the match and with it the world championship.

Post-final

Three days after the final, the new World Champion England team landed at Heathrow Airport in the early hours of the morning, emerging from their plane to a huge reception, despite the time. On December 8 a national day of celebration took place in the form of a massive victory parade in the streets of London

London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
.

Results

Pool stage

Qualified for the quarterfinals
Eliminated, automatic qualification for RWC 2007 2007 Rugby World Cup The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a Anniversary#Latin-derived numerical names international rugby union world championship inaugurated in 1987 Rugby World Cup....
Eliminated

All times French time (UTC+2

Central European Summer Time

Central European Summer Time is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used as a summer daylight saving time in most European and some North African countries....
)

Group A

Won	Lost	For	Against	BP	Points
4	0	273	32	2	18
3	1	141	56	3	15
2	2	140	57	3	11
1	3	65	192	1	5
0	4	28	310	0	0

Group B

Won	Lost	For	Against	BP	Points
4	0	204	70	4	20
3	1	102	97	2	14
2	2	98	114	2	10
1	3	86	125	2	6
0	4	79	163	0	0

Group C

Won	Lost	For	Against	BP	Points
4	0	255	47	3	19
3	1	184	60	3	15
2	2	138	117	2	10
1	3	56	255	0	4
0	4	46	200	0	0

Group D

Won	Lost	For123	Against	BP	Points
4	0	282	57	4	20
3	1	132	98	2	14
2	2	77	123	0	8
1	3	54	135	1	5
0	4	46	178	1	1

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Third-place play-off

Final

Statistics

Team

Team statistics
Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points Difference	Tries Scored	Conversions	Penalties	Drop Goals	Yellow Cards	Red Cards
	7	7	0	0	239	36	27	23	8	1	0
	7	6	0	1	267	43	32	21	1	1	0
	7	6	0	1	260	52	40	6	1	1	0
	7	5	0	2	112	29	22	22	4	5	0
	5	3	0	2	104	27	17	7	1	1	0
	5	3	0	2	63	20	16	9	1	1	0
	5	3	0	2	23	17	14	11	1	2	0
	5	3	0	2
12	8	13	1	1	0
	4	2	0	2	83	18	13	6	2	1	0
	4	2	0	2
10	6	12	0	3	0
	4	2	0	2	21	18	12	8	0	1	0
	4	2	0	2
5	5	14	0	2	0
	4	1	0	3
9	7	9	0	1	0
	4	1	0	3
4	2	9	1	1	0
	4	1	0	3
8	5	5	0	1	0
	4	1	0	3
6	4	6	0	0	0
	4	0	0	4
6	5	12	1	0	0
	4	0	0	4
7	4	1	0	4	0
	4	0	0	4
1	1	12	1	2	0
	4	0	0	4
4	4	0	0	1	0

Top point scorers

Top ten point scorers
Player	Position	Played	Tries Scored	Conversions	Penalties	Drop Goals	Total Points	Yellow Cards
Jonny Wilkinson Jonny Wilkinson Jonathan Peter Wilkinson Order of the British Empire is an English rugby union player and member of the England national rugby union team. From 2001-2003, before and during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson rose to fame and was acknowledged as one of the world?s best rugby players....	Fly-half Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	6	0	10	23	8	113	0
Frédéric Michalak Frédéric Michalak Fr?d?ric Michalak is a France rugby union footballer who played for his hometown team, Stade Toulousain, in the Top 14 and in the Heineken Cup, and recently moved to South Africa to play for the Natal Sharks in the Super 14 after the 2007 Rugby World Cup....	Fly-half Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	6	2	17	18	1	101	0
Elton Flatley Elton Flatley Elton Flatley is a former Australian Australia national rugby union team rugby union footballer. At his best position of , Flatley was often able to dictate the game by kicking tactically or throwing simple passes in order to retain possession....	Centre Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	6	1	16	21	0	100	0
Leon MacDonald Leon MacDonald Leon Raymond MacDonald is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays Rugby union positions#10. Fly-half and Rugby union positions#15. Full back, and is happily married to Mrs....	Centre Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	7	4	20	5	0	75	0
Chris Paterson Chris Paterson Chris Paterson is a Scotland rugby union footballer. He is a "utility back", capable of playing , or , who plays for Edinburgh Rugby and Scotland national rugby union team....	Fly-half Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	5	3	7	13	1	71	0
Mat Rogers Mat Rogers Mat S. Rogers is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the NRL. He is also former rugby union player ? a dual-code international....	Full-back Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	7	5	16	0	0	57	1
Mike Hercus Mike Hercus Mike Hercus is an United States rugby union footballer who plays at Rugby union positions#10. Fly-half for the United States national rugby union team and Japanese rugby club IBM Big Blue...	Fly-half Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	4	2	7	9	0	51	0
Rima Wakarua Rima Wakarua Rima Wakarua is an Italy rugby union footballer. He plays for SKG Gran Parma at fly half..He is a naturalized Italian, having moved there in 1999, and is born of a New Zealand father and Scottish mother....	Fly-half Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	3	0	4	14	0	50	0
Earl Va'a Earl Va'a Earl Va'a is a Samoan rugby union footballer. He plays as a Rugby union positions#10. Fly-half.Va'a started his career playing rugby league in New Zealand and in 1994 and 1995 he represented the Wellington City Dukes in the Lion Red Cup....	Fly-half Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	4	1	10	8	0	49	0
Daniel Carter Daniel Carter (rugby player) Daniel William "Dan" Carter is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. In the 2009 northern hemisphere winter he is playing for USA Perpignan in the French Top 14 competition, and in the 2009 southern hemisphere winter will play for his regular team, the Crusaders , in New Zealand's Super 14, and the All Blacks if selected....	Centre Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	5	2	19	0	0	48	0

Top try scorers

Top ten try scorers
Player	Position	Played	Tries	Conversions	Total Points	Yellow Cards
Doug Howlett Doug Howlett Douglas Charles Howlett is a professional New Zealand rugby union player of Tongan descent. He is primarily a but he has also covered at national and international levels....	Wing Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	7	7	0	35	0
Mils Muliaina Mils Muliaina Junior Malili Muliaina , better known as Mils Muliana, is an international rugby union player for the All Blacks.He was born in Salesi, Western Samoa, but moved with his family to Invercargill at the age of 2....	Full-back Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	7	7	0	35	0
Joe Rokocoko Joe Rokocoko 'Josevata Taliga "Joe" Rokocoko' is a professional New Zealand rugby union player.Rokocoko is known for his speed and strength which has accounted for his incredible try strike rate....	Wing Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	5	6	0	30	0
Will Greenwood Will Greenwood William John Heaton "Will" Greenwood, Order of the British Empire is a former England rugby union player.He was educated at St. Mary's Hall, Stonyhurst, where his mother taught mathematics until 2007....	Centre Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	6	5	0	25	0
Chris Latham Chris Latham (rugby player) Chris Latham is an Australian rugby union player, who plays for the Worcester Warriors, following a long career with the Queensland Reds and Australia national rugby union team....	Full-back Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	1	5	0	25	0
Josh Lewsey Josh Lewsey Owen Joshua Lewsey Order of the British Empire is an England rugby union footballer who plays Rugby union positions#15. Full back, Rugby union positions#14....	Full-back Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	5	5	0	25	0
Mat Rogers Mat Rogers Mat S. Rogers is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans of the NRL. He is also former rugby union player ? a dual-code international....	Full-back Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	7	5	16	57	1
Lote Tuqiri	Wing Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	7	5	0	25	0
Pablo Bouza Pablo Bouza Pablo Bouza is a rugby union player and former rugby league player who has so far won 38 Cap playing at Rugby union positions#8. Number eight, Rugby union positions#6....	No. 8 Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	2	4	0	20	0
Christophe Dominici Christophe Dominici Christophe Dominici is a former France rugby union footballer. He played Rugby union positions#14. & 11. Wing for Stade Fran?ais and France national rugby union team....	Wing Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	5	4	0	20	1
Caleb Ralph Caleb Ralph Caleb Stan Ralph is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. Ralph began his first-class career with Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, then moved to Auckland Rugby Union before heading to Canterbury RFU....	Wing Rugby union positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements....	2	4	0	20	0

See also: 2003 Rugby World Cup drop goal scorers
2003 Rugby World Cup drop goal scorers

This article charts the drop goal scorers during the 2003 Rugby World Cup.8 drop goals* Jonny Wilkinson2 drop goals* Ronan O'Gara* Dimitri Yachvili...
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2003 Rugby World Cup

Venues

Qualification

Squads

Format

Summary

First round

Knock-out stage

Final

Post-final

Results

Pool stage

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Third-place play-off

Final

Statistics

Team

Top point scorers

Top try scorers

External links