2003
England supremo Clive Woodward wanted his squad to arrive in Australia as the world-ranked top team and best prepared group of players. Both goals were achieved - and global domination duly accomplished.
England's critical pool game was against South Africa in Perth, and a hard-fought success effectively meant they avoided the All Blacks and Australia until much later in the tournament. Wales, Ireland and Scotland also progressed. Wales then gave England a monumental quarter-final fright in Brisbane, leading impressively at half-time before substitute Mike Catt inspired a fightback and subsequent 28-17 win, while the other three games also went to form, with New Zealand beating South Africa, Australia seeing off Scotland and France knocking out Ireland.
The prospect of an England versus New Zealand final was gathering momentum, but that theory went out of the window when a Stirling Mortlock interception try helped Australia down the All Blacks before England's forwards mauled France in pouring rain at Sydney's Telstra Stadium.
The final proved a nail-biting affair, and it was no surprise when the game moved into extra-time as both sides fought to a standstill. But with just seconds remaining, England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson dropped a match-winning goal, giving English rugby its greatest moment.
Competing countries: Australia, Argentina, Ireland, Romania, Namibia, France, Scotland, Fiji, USA, Japan, England, South Africa, Samoa, Uruguay, Georgia, New Zealand, Wales, Italy, Canada, Tonga.
Winners - England, 2nd - Australia, 3rd - New Zealand, 4th - France.
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