Memorable Moments of 2011: Rugby
Associated Press
Hide captionThe All Blacks faced an incredible amount of pressure at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which they hosted in New Zealand and hoped to win for the first time in 24 years. After cruising through pool play and the elimination rounds, New Zealand held off France 8-7 in the title game, the closest final in RWC history.
Associated Press
Hide captionMany questioned Australia's form when the Wallabies were upset by Samoa in a Rugby World Cup tuneup, but Aussie fans' hopes were restored when their squad knocked off New Zealand in the de facto Tri Nations title match, 25-20. It was Australia's first Tri Nations crown since 2001.
Associated Press
Hide captionEngland's Chris Ashton sparked debate with his swan-diving theatrics during the annual Six Nations tournament, but there was no doubt that England was the best team in 2011. The English lost to Ireland in the final week and missed a Grand Slam, but still won their first Six Nations crown since 2003.
Reuters
Hide captionPrior to the Rugby World Cup, the New Zealand sevens squad gave the rugby-mad nation its first world title to celebrate in 2011, as the team captured the annual Sevens World Series championship. The Kiwis won four of the eight tournaments in the 2010-11 Series.
Reuters
Hide captionNew Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter was considered to be the key to the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup title hopes, so the nation's anxiety level rose when he was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a groin injury on Oct. 1. The Kiwis ultimately went down to their fourth-string flyhalf, but still won the Cup.
Reuters
Hide captionThe U.S. and Russia may be world superpowers, but they're among the minnows in international rugby. So both nations placed extra emphasis on their Rugby World Cup match, saying that was the game they most wanted to win. The Americans prevailed 13-6, just their third victory in RWC history.
Getty Images
Hide captionCecil Afrika of South Africa emerged as the finest sevens player in the world in 2011, when he was named IRB Sevens Player of the Year. His defining performance was at the Hong Kong Sevens in March, when Afrika scored 88 points, the most by a player in a single World Series event in eight years.
Associated Press
Hide captionThe tiny island nation of Tonga wasn't given much of a chance against powerful France in pool play of the Rugby World Cup, but the Tongans shocked the uninspired Frenchmen with a 19-14 victory. It was the biggest upset of the tournament, and among the biggest in RWC history.
Reuters
Hide captionRussia was the lone nation to make its Rugby World Cup debut in 2011. While they hung tough with the U.S., the Russians were routed in their three other matches. But the country has committed large sums of money to improving the rugby program over the next decade.
Reuters
Hide captionAfter a subpar performance at the Rugby World Cup by England and the usually-reliable kicking leg of Jonny Wilkinson, the flyhalf retired from international play. Wilkinson ended a 13-year English career second on the all-time list for international scoring, behind only New Zealand's Dan Carter.
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