Which Is the Best Rugby World Cup Final Ever? Rating contenders from 1987 to 2019

The Rugby World Cup Final is the single pinnacle match in the international career of the world's best rugby players. The most anticipated contest within the sport takes place just once every four years, and has generated some truly unforgettable matches and moments.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup Final takes place on Saturday October 28th, with the bright lights of the Stade de France set to host this year's showpiece event.

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New Zealand and South Africa are set to meet in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final, for a blockbuster end to the competition in France. Both sides are looking to become the first nation to win four Rugby World Cups, with South Africa also looking to retain their title as World Champions. The All Blacks are the only side to win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, with their heroics of 2011 and 2015 being as yet unrepeated.

We are set for a dramatic finale to the Rugby World Cup this Saturday, but for now let's look back on the history of the Rugby World Cup Final. Here are our picks for the Top 5 Rugby World Cup Final matches, lets take a look at some of the greatest moments in the history of the sport we love.

The 1995 Rugby World Cup Final may not be best remembered for the on-field events, as the match saw the Springboks and All Blacks trade penalties and drop goals for 100 minutes. However, this try-less game is considered to be one of the most significant sporting events in history.

The post-match imagery of Nelson Mandela wearing a Springboks jersey, and handing the Web Ellis trophy to Francois Pienaar will never be forgotten in the history of South Africa's progression away from Apartheid. This symbol of solidarity for a united South Africa is an iconic image from an unforgettable Rugby World Cup Final.

The All Blacks and Springboks battled valiantly throughout the match, yet neither side was able to make a decisive break past their opposition’s defensive lines.

Led by the their Captian Francois Pienaar, South Africa even had the answer to the powerhouse presence of the late, great Jonah Lomu. All the points of the game came from the boots of the All Black's Andrew Mehrtens and Springbok's Joel Stransky for a 9-9 full time draw.

Extra time began, and the All Blacks took a three point lead after Mehrtens slotted another penalty. Stransky levelled the scores once again to 12-12 after 90 minutes, before producing the definitive drop goal on the 92nd minute.

An incredible effort from far and out wide re-claimed the Springboks’ lead, and South Africa were then able to hold out for the remainder of the match, and lift the Web Ellis trophy for the first time in their history.

Another Rugby World Cup Final that was decided with the single strike of a drop goal, England fans need no reminding of Jonny Wilkinson's heroics which saw him bring the Web Ellis trophy home to Twickenham for the first time.

With scores poised on a knife-edge at 17-17, England and Australia were deep into extra time in the era-defining World Cup final. Just 28 seconds remained, when England's fly half used his 'weaker' right foot to send the ball sailing through the Sydney air, to a roar of celebration from the travelling supporters.

The commentary will long be remembered as the perfect pairing to the famous image; “Again, Wilkinson in the place, Jonny Wilkinson… He’s done it! It’s over! At last on the fourth attempt, Jonny Wilkinson is on target.”

The Newcastle Falcons legend has had many career highlights, yet this once in a generation drop goal will forever be the crown jewel in his trophy cabinet.

This iconic rugby moment would never have happened without the previous 80 minutes of action. The match saw a new record set for a Rugby World Cup fixture, as 82,957 fans packed themselves into Stadium Australia.

The Wallabies took an early lead, after Lote Tuqiri scored just six minutes into the game, with Elton Flatley's missing the conversion. Wilkinson's three penalties regained the lead, before a try moments from half time, saw flying winger Jason Robinson go over in the corner.

Flatley's three unanswered second half penalties ended the match at 14-14, with Wilkinson and Flatley trading extra time penalties for a 17-17 score-line. All of this storied drama then led to the final minute of the match, which as they say, is history.

The 2015 Rugby World Cup Final marked the end of an era for six legendary All Blacks, as the Web Ellis trophy was successfully retained by New Zealand. Steve Hansen's men entered the competition with a 'make or break' mentality, with this encapsulated in their fly half Dan Carter.

Carter missed out on the glory of the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final, as he suffered a groin injury just days before the pinnacle event. This training injury weighed heavy on the mind of Carter, and he, along with Richie McCaw, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Kevin Mealamu and Tony Woodcock, got their fairy-tale endings to their All Blacks careers.

This 'last dance' for the All Blacks could only have been against one opponent. The Wallabies took up the role of the villain, and showed glimpses of upsetting the fans at Twickenham Stadium. England were long gone by the 2015 RWC Final, with defeats to Wales and Australia seeing them fail to progress out of the Pool stages on home soil. Naturally, the English fans at 'HQ' sided with the iconic All Blacks, who were off to a fast start.

Carter got points on the board in the early goings, and Nehe Milner-Skudder’s try established a 16-3 lead by half time. Ma’a Nonu’s career defining solo try from his old enemies' 10m, built a healthy 21-3 lead early in the second half. Yet the Wallabies battled back, with tries from David Pocock and Tevita Kuridrani narrowing the game to just four points.

Dan Carter then reached deep into his arsenal of tricks, and executed a staggering 40m drop goal to re-build the All Blacks lead. This was only Carter's seventh drop goal in 111 All Blacks tests, with the effort stunning the mentality of Australia, who never fully recovered.

It was only fitting for the final try to come from Beauden Barrett, as the game was put out of reach for Australia. Carter passed the torch to his successor, as Barrett’s try marked the beginning of a new generation of All Blacks. Carter’s final conversion sent the fly half off into the sunset, with the perfect Rugby World Cup winning swansong.

The inaugural Rugby World Cup Final saw the Web Ellis trophy lifted for the first time, with the All Blacks crowned as first ever World Champions. This emphatic score-line stood as the benchmark for Rugby World Cup Final dominance, with the 20-point deficit only ever replicated once again (more on that later, Springboks fans).

The All Blacks were comfortably the best team in the world ahead of the 1987 competition, and they rightfully knew it as well. New Zealand wanted a pedestal to place themselves upon, as their global dominance coupled with an eagerness to be crowned as champions, became major driving forces towards the the tournament's inception.

It was decided that the first ever Rugby World Cup would be held across New Zealand and Australia, with the final to be played in the spiritual home of the All Blacks, Auckland's Eden Park. New Zealand dominated the opposition during the competition, recording 70-6 and 74-13 wins over Italy and Fiji. Argentina proved a tougher test, yet were still despatched of 46-15.

The All Blacks then cruised past IRFB founding members Scotland and Wales in the knock-out stages, before their coronating match against France. Les Bleus were exhausted, after their semi-final heroics saw them surpass Australia 30-24, in what is considered to be the best match of the entire debut competition.

The All Blacks took a 9-0 lead into half-time after a cagey 40 minutes. A try from Michael Jones and added extras from the boot of fly half Grant Fox created the separation at the break. France's Didier Camberabero slotted a penalty promptly after the re-start, yet the floodgates soon opened in favour of the All Blacks. The dominant set-piece proved vital, as this opened up gaps in the defence that David Kirk and John Kirwan capitalised upon for two additional tries.

Fox's persistent goal kicking took the match out of sight, and the All Blacks received their formal recognition as officially the best international rugby team in the world.

Look away England fans as this one may still be a bit sore. The 2019 Rugby World Cup was a rollercoaster experience for Eddie Jones' side, as they outperformed expectations and found themselves in their first Rugby World Cup Final since 2007. The semi-final victory over an almighty All Blacks side will forever be remembered as England's peak under Jones, as Manu Tuilagi's firecracker start, led to England putting in one of their best performances that esteemed critiques and rugby personnel had ever seen.

However, the roaring fire that burned ahead of the clash against New Zealand, was withered down to no more than a smouldering ash before the final against the Springboks. England's brash and cocky swagger which was iconified in the 'arrow' formation in response to the haka, Joe Marler stepping over the half way line and 'that' image of Owen Farrell smirking. Yet this vigour was no where to be seen against the Springboks.

However retrospectively, England fans were still confident. Pubs were full by 06:00am as time-zones proved to not bother the supporters who watched on from home. South Africa were seen as the lesser of two evils in their semi-final showdown with Wales. The Welshmen were considered greater threats, due to the local rivalry, and how a mortifying 'banana peel slip' may occur in Tokyo.

South Africa took this to their advantage, and clinically dissected England with first half penalties and a second half beat-down. The second 40 minutes racked up a score-line that a Rugby World Cup Final hadn't seen since the aforementioned dominance of the All Blacks in '87. England's persistent discipline issues, Cheslin Kolbe's step on Farrell and Ben Young's 'pass to nobody' all summed up the one sided onslaught that the South Africans took to England.

After re-occurrent penalties from the tee established a 12-6 Springboks lead, Makazole Mapimpi scored the first try in the 66th minute. This marked a monumental moment for the Springboks, as they scored their first try in a Rugby World Cup Final. Cheslin Kolbe followed up with another try eight minutes later, gliding past Farrell with tricky footwork, and making the final score 32–12.

This score-line has become a simple, re-occurring phrase that 'Boks fans have used to get under the skin of England supporters, as the score is a stark reminder of one of the greatest and most unexpected shut-out victories in Rugby World Cup history.

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