Wibble Rugby: The Return of the Drop Goal | A Method of Champions

Throughout rugby history, one scoring method has consistently elated fans and shattered hearts: the Drop Goal. In the intense heat of battle, many teams have turned to this tactic to tip the scales in their favor, etching their names into the annals of rugby history.
Today, we delve into the effectiveness of the Drop Goal, exploring its rich history and how it's been imperative to the success of winning teams. We discuss the tactical considerations this underrated tactic requires, dive into the psychological warfare behind it, and how it damages the opposition in more ways than just the scoreboard. We uncover the brilliance behind this tool of champions and how its resurgence could make all the difference at the top of the ever-increasingly competitive world of international rugby.
Today is about learning more about the skill and strategy that have turned moments of pressure into legendary victories.
Grab a beer, sit back and enjoy. It's one hell of a story.
FULL MATCH FOOTAGE AND VIDEO CREDIT GOES TO WORLD RUGBY, WORLD CUP RUGBY, SIX NATIONS LTD AND THEIR OWNERS. THIS VIDEO IS INTENDED FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT MONETISED IN ANY CASE RELEVANT TO "WIBBLE RUGBY".

[@JohnRidley12]

Ooh I love this video. So detailed. I'm old enough to remember 99, and I remember just being so deflated as a fan! On the deception point, I think Ford was talking on a recent Love of Rugby pod about how you should go to the pocket as late as possible for that reason. (Ford ❤). This is probably bullshit, but I think part of what made Wilkinson such a deadly drop goal kicker was his willingness to miss. It sounds odd but he would miss them but it would never stop him from going for more. Whereas I think some players might find it hard to keep doing it if you've missed 3 in a row cos you look like a twat! (Plus he could do snap drop goals of either foot, which is silly really) Love your vids.

[@WibbleRugby]

I think the reason deception NEEDS to be introduced. Makes it so exciting. Appreciate the comments though mate. Glad you learnt something from it!

[@brianmurray6287]

Sextons in Paris in the rain after 42 phases to me is the GOAT...the French knew it was coming but couldn't stop it.

[@SmcdMcd-d2k]

It was 48 for a finish? Then o gara in wales..Crowley against Leinster in a semi final too at the death

[@daveoshaughnessy]

Agree, some of the phases in that try were so unlikely, like the cross-kick to Earls, and the almost-dropped passes, but to go that distance, in the rain, just incredible and unsurpassed IMHO.

[@BigBlack81]

Harlequins-Stade in the 2008-2009 Champions league. Nick Evans. One of the FINEST FINISHES in a back to back series EVER.

[@paraicm17]

The Boks vs Ireland this weekend is a testament to this. Two absolutely clutch kicks. Two hammer blows to the Boks.

[@dannykeevy]

Seconded, the last weekend in Durban proved that you can sneak a win in a hard game.

[@yeladim10]

A drop kick in rugby union is a type of kick that involves someone dropping a ball and then kicking when it hits the ground, in contrast to a punt wherein the dropper kicks the ball without letting it hit the ground first.[1] The 1st drop goal was a punt - it didnt hit the ground before the kick. Should have been disallowed.

[@davidwalker2402]

@@yeladim10hi Stevie wonder how are you. Should have gone to spec savers 😵‍💫

[@jacobusjonck2172]

@@yeladim10 Also thought the same thing...but it was not very clear to see on TV at normal speed.

[@MarkKerrigan-se6st]

@@yeladim10Go back and look at it again. If you pause it at the correct time, you can clearly see if touching the ground. 😊

[@prielknaaphofnar.9754]

A setup I haven't seen attempted yet is taking advantage of the fact that every Test side usually has more than one capable kicker on the field at once. Imagine having one kicker with the typical setup behind the ruck, baiting the defence, then passing to a second option that's left open.

[@joepower6657]

More like "Wibble Rugby - Why he's important and now he's back"

[@WibbleRugby]

Oh you! 😘 Appreciate that mate.

[@MrCravendish]

Drop goals are so exciting, just from an entertainment point of view they're just great to watch, so much skill needed and so much uncertainty. England Ireland and Ireland South Africa both ending in last minute drop goals is amazing for rugby viewership

[@saoirsedeltufo7436]

Sidenote that is only tangentially relevant - I still find it genuinely insane that André Watson talks in interviews about how he knew Australia were offside but didn't want to give a penalty. Like it's bad enough thinking that, but I can't imagine admitting that!

[@chrgf]

Perfect addition to the SquidgeRugby one on the Boks vs Ireland, thanks for sharing!

[@kulvianshun]

Drop goals equates to free points in my opinion and as we saw in the SA v Ireland test allowing a team to get a deserved victory. Ireland was the better team throughout the match and Frawley's drop goals sealed a hard-fought win. A very handy thing to have in your toolkit as a team. Got to say I was very impressed with England during their tour of New Zealand. Borthwick is doing a good job in getting them to be a competitive team again which can only be a good thing for International rugby. Thanks for making my cold, windy and wet Cape Town winters evening a little bit better!

[@lindsayburrows9272]

Starting the video with that clip just hit me right in the heart :/ Your truly, Die Hard Wallabies fan. Fantastic video though, appreciate the time and effort you put into these diagnostic studies of the game.

[@WibbleRugby]

As my idol. You getting Joe Schmidt felt the same to be fair 😜 But no worries at all, glad you enjoyed and got something from it. Pretty much the reason I do it :)

[@Doradexplora]

I've been thinking about this for about a year, glad to see this video. Doesn't have to be in-depth, deep, analysis to be good analysis.

[@Ernesto_Sergio]

Great video and analysis as always. I wouldn’t be too concerned with the critics, it’s easy to shout **** from the cheap seats. You’re in the fight, putting it out there, making a video. That needs to be respected and admired!

[@cornelbritz5162]

New Wibble video = Day made. Genuinely flippen happy to see this on my feed. Cheers mate.

[@user-bf8hv5fc5x]

The thing about DG is, you get something out of the attack... lets say you attack until you reach 22... going for the try can be risky, the opponents can turnover the ball and the whole attack was for nothing... but the DG at least gives you something out of that attack, if you feel like the attack is going nowhere... That plus scoreboard pressure

[@WibbleRugby]

Exactly this. Its a way of ensuring red zone efficiency. And is why England in particular were so good in those 2002-2003 years. If the attack bogged down in the 22. They could still come away with points.

[@StanWilks]

Of all the English drop goals at the WC, my guilty pleasure is Faz's against Fiji in the quarter final. Right place, right time. Care called the play perfectly. Love this video from you, mate. It's no coincidence that all of England's fly-halves are now kicking brilliant drop goals.

[@WibbleRugby]

@StanWilks Thanks mate. It just concerns me other teams are starting to do the same 3 years out from RWC 2027 😅 But. At we've certainly started a trend! At least internationally

[@StanWilks]

@@WibbleRugby Very true. I think it was Squidge who said that England had to reveal their drop goal card very early in the World Cup, and now other nations have three years to play catch up. Is the next step training EVERYONE to score drop goals? Will Fin Baxter slot one from fifty metres out? 😂

[@WibbleRugby]

​@StanWilks I mean... he's that good 😅

[@Hiltok]

After Larkham's extra-time DG against the Boks in the RWC99 SF, the next most famous DG in Australian rugby was scored by prop Matt Dunning playing for the NSW Waratahs in a Super Rugby match. Right at the end of the match, the 'tahs had a penalty advantage and had reached the stage of wanting to kill the play to take the penalty kick to the corner to have a shot at getting over with a lineout-maul effort. Dunning pulled the trigger to kill the play by taking a shot at a drop goal. He struck it rather better than anyone expected - even himself - and it sailed through the sticks. The problem was that NSW had been 4 points behind and Dunning's DG ended the match for them with a 1 point loss.

[@giod6266]

I loved it! And I subscribed to your channel!

[@user-ub4cx1ec4e]

Where have you been Mr Wibble great to have you back!

[@bradleypenrith]

Ready for another great video

[@sebastianariashansson]

What a great video. Super Informative. Opened my eyes to the value of the drop-goal! Keep up the good work 😊

[@WibbleRugby]

Glad you enjoyed it mate!

[@waxmolf2674]

There's another strategic advantage worth mentioning. missing the drop goal attempt results in a 22 dropout -> possession comes right back and your attack restarts

[@daithipol]

But when the clock is at 80, and no penalty advantage, that is when the when the big boys go for it

[@LR-vu8gy]

Welcome back Wibble Rugby

[@carlfischer7940]

Welcome back! Have missed your content.

[@WillDugdale-me2ko]

Think the goal line drop out opens up more DG opportunities. Also would love to see a rise in Drop Goals being followed be a rise in fake Drop Goal plays, I.e. drop goal set up to cross field kick

[@benvandermerwe4934]

Jannie de Beer: "Hold my beer..." 🍻

[@Stereo_mike]

The more I see kholbe “slip” the more it looks an awful lot like he is diving

[@user-qe9cx6uf7n]

his foot clearly misses the ground as he step around a player. Don't know if you've ever watched him play to make that comment. Remember in rugby you are more likely to get the penalty with full contact, a brush Dive only exists in football because players would never award a pen for such light contact. The other players react in a high pressure scenario with incomplete information. Appealing is a knee jerk reaction and was not seriously pursued by anyone with half a brain cell. Only reason I yapped so much here is negative complaints ruin the image of the sport. Football fans are the reason the most famous part of the game to outsiders is fake diving... pls don't hurt the reputation of our beloved game thank you

[@Dedbeatz.]

Wjat a brilliant video. Thanks man 👍

[@WibbleRugby]

No dramas man. Glad you liked it!

[@niall3666]

Dropped goals are very disheartening for the opposition. Completely agree, they seem like cheap points, but they are daggers in tight games. And refocus wide defenders - if not in the last minute, defences need to crowd the midfield, where generally dropped goals are scored

[@adamclark1972uk]

Drop goals are the original way to score in rugby. In the beginning you only got points for goals, there were no points awarded for tries (all you got was a chance to TRY to kick a goal, hence the name, "try").

[@TaTa-wv9kl]

Excellent piece of trivia. Thank you!

[@adamclark1972uk]

@TaTa-wv9kl Thank you. Rugby and soccer were a lot more similar originally. Soccer officially began in 1863 and until 1870 you were allowed to catch the ball with your hands. You weren't allowed to run with the ball in your hands, though.

[@edgreen7390]

Great video, thanks Wibble! I feel that Ireland's learning was from the '23QF against NZ - they strung together so many phases and came up short again a NZ defence. I felt they recognised that a SA defence is even more restrictive and that they should play the odds going for goal as opposed to piecing together a multi-phase attack for the win (or gamble on a penalty).

[@StephenBrown-vh8mz]

Lions 1971 probably the birth of attacking rugby but for me JPR drop kick was the moment remember balls were like bricks back then and a heavy pitch it was a superb kick and helped the lions

[@brianmsahin]

Excellent video !! Well worth doing !👍👍👍👍👍

[@spartanworrior4519]

In rugby league, it’s quite common to see 2 kickers. They’ll have one kicker set and then another kicker as a passing option if there is too much pressure on the first kicker

[@ivandeetlefs]

Naas Botha will be proud. For me, he is still the king of the drop goal.

[@mrlee9213]

Being a part of my english friends 3 day celebration makes JW drop kick to win the world cup is the Goat. Also NZ rugby has a greedy style of play and drop goals are 😺 style. Forever keeping us from absolute domination 😂

[@adrianhall4547]

Agree with the concept. Anyone interested in zero warning DGs could do worse than look at some old vids of Barry John, Although he was a "one off" practice will achieve great results.

[@bobbler42]

18:00 I Like the line on it as a counter to the goal-line drop out rule change, which goes fro, a scrum 5 to taking the ball back from near halfway. Not what Frawley did on Saturday, but it you can set one phase and immediately ping it over, granted, it’s not the full 5, but it keeps the scoreboard moving. Cannot help but think that being held up by NZ and losing yet another qf narrowly will be playing on this side.

[@daithipol]

Then dropping the GL DO. .... don't remind me!

[@daithipol]

I see so many end game drop goals missed because the attackers lose possession by over doing the phases trying to get into the perfect position or just bottling. Leinster in the 23 euro final for eg. I love how Frawley just thought i can go from here. Even in the Euro final when he missed (by inches) his next chance came and he didn't think 2ce. I also remember a euro semi in RDS v Clermont and brock james could have won the game but he visible hid so as to avoid taking the chance.

[@joeogle7729]

Let's be honest, we all love a drop goal...

[@headintheclouds6935]

11:15 I would like to highlight it isn't a "risk free" taking of the game. If Marcus Smith does miss and r92 tap it down or it goes dead, that's no longer a goal line drop out but a 22. A much more advantage situation where racing can actually begin to take back the game.

[@matthewvanrensburg3824]

The Boks, are the Boks are why its back😂 Why they so happily have played no possession rugby is because nobody would do this, a free meal ticket for years with Rassie and Nienaber. Curious how it got figured out after Nienaber went to Lein... Wait... That's in Ireland right? 🤣 Jig is up... Just in time for Brown to step in.

[@Dreyno]

Don’t be silly. Ireland beat France with a drop goal after 42 phases back in 2018. O’Vara made a career out of drop goals. What’s helped bring it back is the goal line dropout and having a player who has the presence of mind and ability to score them.

[@shonunezekiel]

Great video! Would be interested to know what the average number of (non-drop goal) points per entry into opponents 22, vs average rate of dropgoall success from just outside opponents 22 (eg for England)... ie does it make sense to only go for drop goals, even if you are not in a situation like England were i RWC v Argentina where it was going to be hard to score tries.

[@user-rv4go7ry3v]

How about a video on missed drop goals that lost games?

[@falkkiwiben]

I don't really see a reason for this to be a South African or English-style thing for any other reason than tradition. Imagine a team with the attack of 2023 France or the potential height of this Razor All Blacks but with the ability to score drop goals when parked outside the 22. Using tactical kicking in combination with incredible phase-play to get to the 22, and instead of wasting resources batting away at a defence in the zone it's the easiest to defend, you take the droppie. In practice this kinda inverts the standard way of saving energy by never attacking out of your own half. Instead, be able to attack at any time, create the front foot, kick well, keep momentum, get to the 22, drop it and repeat. I sense this could become something razor wants to implement, if only we had that calibre of goal kickers.. If Ntamack wasn't injured this feels like something he'd do in 2023, but I'm not very thrilled of what I've seen from France's new attack coach. Although same could be said for Ireland in 2020-21 so maybe it's the start of something incredible. Anyways great video! Will be interesting to see how this evolves.

[@WibbleRugby]

"In practice this kinda inverts the standard way of saving energy by never attacking out of your own half. Instead, be able to attack at any time, create the front foot, kick well, keep momentum, get to the 22, drop it and repeat." This is what I don't understand. This was the key behind England 03' and no-one seemed to want to apply the lessons for a very long time. Rather attacking (as you say), the easiest part of the field to defend. So many results could be affected by this. And in regards to Arlettaz, I completely agree. Labit was so much better.

[@falkkiwiben]

@@WibbleRugby I'm going to try to make my point a bit more clear. My reasoning is that if you rely on kicking the ball in your own half, trusting your defence and staying patient, you are in some way still hoping for opposition mistakes. If you instead have an attack good enough for you to have a mindset of never ending attack, from every part of the field, you should in theory be able to get down field completely on your terms. All kicks contestable or attacking stabs, always keeping you in control. Now marry this to then scoring drop goals whenever your attack has gained the ground necessary, and I can see a quite excellent strategy. It's kind of like what the All Blacks did against the Springboks in the RC in 2023, but with drop goals. This is really more of a question but in the form of a statement, I really do not know what I'm talking about. Would love to hear flaws in this approach

[@WibbleRugby]

@falkkiwiben I think I get what you're saying now. I think it's not so much hoping for as forcing opposition mistakes. The attack from everywhere is exceptionally hard to do if they know you won't kick. As if so. They'll just load 14 men into the front line and you're not getting through that. The contestables is a key part of the England strategy in their own half. But yeah its only to laugh an attack against a hopeful disorganised defence. Once you're there. If your attack does get bogged down. Break down onus by the opposition (5+ seconds) ruck speed. You're gonna struggle to break that down. Hence I agree as long as you're in field position. A DG is possible. Is that what you were thinking?

[@Randombourg]

How can you not mention the best ever 5/8th, Steven Larkin's dg v South Africa 1999

[@Doradexplora]

Commenting for the algo - haven't even watched the vid.

[@michaelmartin2075]

England deserved that win against Ireland. However... That wasn't a clutch drop goal. There was no pressure on Marcus Smith to get that drop goal. The referee was playing advantage for an infringement in front of the post. If he missed wouldn't there be a penalty in front of the posts.

[@daithipol]

As us irish fans knew the penalty was coming it pit us out of our misery sooner.

[@hedonaut]

Didn't realise England "brought the drop goal back".

[@BS2Dos]

It’s cruel to only give us a couple of videos a year. You’re far too lazy! I’ll take what I can get though! 👍👍

[@adamclark1972uk]

Wilkinson kicked that with his weaker foot

[@WibbleRugby]

He did. Really showed how good he was.

[@StanWilks]

Not to mention he tried plenty of times with his cultured left boot, and to no avail. England's best ever player.

[@WibbleRugby]

@@StanWilks No argument from me. Though Martin Johnson is a colossus among men. But for the sheer professionalism and excellence in his attitude and prep. Completely agree. He changed that area for so many.

[@StanWilks]

@@WibbleRugby Well, I'll always be a bit bias because he sent me his signature in the post when I was but a wee lad. 😂

[@NefatiousK]

Sorry to burst the bubble, but England didnt bring back drop goals to win tight games - go back to the 1995 rugby world cup mon fre

[@kjr4946]

They used it more than any other national team in the last 10 years, in the RWC no-less. It's fair to say

[@frankvendetta9230]

The Return of the Drop Goal - I was waiting for this for so long and that is exactly why SA lost vs Ireland last week 13/7/24. On the SA side no one thought of it because 24-22 was not enough.

[@fredkelly6953]

A pom thought so. Anyone who thinks kicking should decide the outcome of a rugby game ought to stick with the round ball.

[@WibbleRugby]

DC, Bernie Larkham, Joel Stransky, Nass Botha, Morne and Francois Steyn and Andrew Mehrtens all have decided games on it. I suppose they'd still be good with the round ball.

[@guyfaux3978]

@@WibbleRugby That attitude pervades the NFL too, so much so that to break a tie in extra time, if you score by a touchdown (try) you win even if the other team hasn't touched the ball, but if you kick a goal the other team gets at least a set of four downs (tackles).

[@davidwalker2402]

Of course you can do something about drop goals defend them.

[@davidwalker2402]

How many games lost with drop kicks when time is up, the pressure at that stage is enormous…