England’s 24-7 Rugby World Cup semi final victory against France was masterminded by flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson who became the top drop goal scorer in Rugby World Cup history.
He scored all 24 of his team’s points to equal the Rugby World Cup record for a sole points scorer.
Wilkinson’s total of seven drop goals in RWC 2003 is also a record. He has scored drop goals in four different RWC matches which is a record for a single Tournament and only one match behind Canadian fly half Gareth Rees’ all-time record.
Wilkinson’s international drop goal total of 20 is only bettered by Hugo Porta (who scored 26) and Rob Andrew (21).
The English points machine also became only the second player in international rugby history to pass 200 points in a year with his haul against France.
His French counterpart Frédéric Michalak is also in the top ten.
Most Rugby World Cup drop goals
7 Jonny Wilkinson England 1999 & 2003
6 Jannie de Beer South Africa 1999
5 Gareth Rees Canada 1987, 1991, 1995 & 1999
5 Rob Andrew England 1987, 1991 & 1995
Sole points scorer for a country in a Rugby World Cup match
24 Rob Andrew England Argentina 27 May 1995
24 David Humphreys Ireland Argentina 20 Oct 1999
24 Jonny Wilkinson England France 16 Nov 2003
21 Jannie de Beer South Africa Australia 30 Oct 1999
18 Gonzalo Quesada Argentina Wales 01 Oct 1999
18 Andrew Mehrtens New Zealand South Africa 04 Nov 1999
Most points in international rugby in a calendar year:
263 Neil Jenkins Wales 1999
218 Jonny Wilkinson England 2003
196 Gavin Hastings Scotland 1995
189 Matt Burke Australia 1996
181 Neil Jenkins Wales 1994
171 Jonny Wilkinson England 1999
167 Toru Kurihara Japan 2002
166 Andrew Mehrtens New Zealand 1999
160 Frédéric Michalak France 2003
157 Matt Burke Australia 2001