RWC Tickets: Recalling England’s famous Rugby World Cup win in 2003

2023 will see the next part in the RWC, the extreme prize in the world of rugby union. The upcoming sporting spectacular will get underway in the autumn and will be hosted in France. Odds checker, which compares rugby odds and bids, presently makes the hosts the second favourites to lift the Web Ellis Cup for the first time in the nation’s past. And with the best performer in the world, Antoine Dupont, in their lines, it’s clear to see why they are careful candidates.

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Before this year’s Six Nations getting ongoing, however, France’s rugby team were the outright favourite for victory. That tag now goes to Ireland, and the Boys in Green have been in brilliant form over the last year. Last summer, they shocked New Zealand, to claim a first-ever run victory away in NZ. They trailed that up by capering to the Six Nations crown, and Grand Slam no less, earlier this year their first success in the contest for five years.

England’s odds in Rugby World Cup 2023

One state from the Northern Hemisphere that doesn’t seem to be a contender this year, however, is England. The English have been in confusion in recent instalments of the Six Nations, and not even a test series triumph against Australia down under could save ex-head trainer Eddie Jones’ job. Former head Steve Borthwick has taken over from the freshly dismissed Jones and he has a job on his hands if he is to restore his nation to its past wonders.

They ended fourth in the most recent instalment of the contest, and after being drawn in RWC Pool D alongside Japan, Argentina, and Samoa, England needs to make sure they are at their very top if they are to avoid humiliation. England fans, however, have the choice of revisiting some of the supreme moments in the history of the sport to draw motivation, unlike their nearest opponents in the Northern Hemisphere.

One of the standout events in the English sporting past came at the turn of the millennium at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. England came into the contest as contenders having finished unbeaten in the preceding Six Nations, but still outsiders in contrast to Southern Hemisphere nations Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa rugby teams.

They went on to showcase their supremacy in the contest, winning all their games and lifting the famed Webb Ellis Cup for the first time in past. With English hopes looking slim for the upcoming France Rugby World Cup 2023, we decided that now would be the faultless time to look back at greener pastures, perhaps providing some hope for the competition to come. Rugby fans can book RWC 2023 Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

Rugby World Cup Pool Stage

England was in Pool C at the RWC 2003, along with southern hemisphere titans South Africa, the hard-hitting Pacific islanders of Samoa, and underdogs Georgia and Uruguay. Their first game was a huge 84-6 victory against the unannounced Georgians. They followed that up with an inspiring 25-6 triumph against the Springboks before further wins against the Samoans and Uruguayans ensured that England has outdone their pool.

RWC Quarterfinals and Semi-finals

The Welsh ended behind New Zealand in Group D and, as such, had to face off against undying rivals England in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. However, much to the wonder of everybody, it was Wales that raced into an initial lead of early tries from fly-half Stephen Jones and skipper Colin Charvis. England stayed in debate through the brilliant kicking of the all-time great Jonny Wilkinson, and when Will Greenwood motorized over the try line shortly into the second half, the English took the switch.

Wales would find a try late on; however, it was too little too late, and England ran out 28-17 victors. That win set up an all-European semi-final against France. France’s RWC team were hoping to reach their second successive Rugby World Cup Final. They had reached the final four years earlier, but they were finally beaten by Australia in the final. They were marking to put that right four years on and, once again, England would fall behind early.

The Rugby World Cup Final

Backed by a boisterous home crowd, the hosts signified a huge test for Sir Clive Woodward’s men. Once the final got underway, it was a tense and wary affair. England took an early lead from a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal. Australia replied instantly with a penalty of their own before a try from Lote Tuqiri gave the hosts the lead. The guests would strike back on the stroke of halftime through Jason Robinson, and the pair couldn’t be detached as the game headed to extra time. Rugby fans can book England vs Argentina Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

In the end, however, England had the final. Player of the contest Wilkinson, who else? would become the man of the game and cement his legacy as one of his nation’s extreme sporting heroes. He sent over a last-gasp drop goal with just seconds remaining in extra time to lock the victory. The moment is often replayed even 20 years on, and Wilkinson’s drop goal will forever live on in past, not just of English sport but the history of rugby as a whole.

England’s losses in the 2007 and 2019 RWC Finals England came into the 2007 Rugby World Cup in high moods after their victory four years earlier. However, in the four years since their extreme hour, they were in somewhat of a slump, which was evident in the group phases when they were routed by South Africa. Once Jonny Wilkinson returned to fitness though, he would once again lead his side on a charge. Shock wins against Australia and France in the knockout phases set up a second successive Rugby World Cup Final.

However, the Springboks would once again have too much for the English in Paris. The pair would square off in the RWC once again in 2019. After England beat New Zealand in the semi-finals, many likely them to power their way to glory. In the end, though, South Africa once again got the better of their rivals, winning 32-12 in Yokohama to lift the Web Ellis Trophy for the third time in their nation’s past.

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