England finished as runners-up in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They reached the final in Paris after defeating France 14–9 in the semi-final, but lost 15–6 to South Africa in the title match.
England’s campaign was notable because they began badly, losing 36–0 to South Africa in the pool stage. They recovered to beat Samoa and Tonga, then defeated Australia 12–10 in the quarter-final. Their defensive discipline and Jonny Wilkinson’s kicking carried them through the knockout rounds.
The 2007 final was a low-scoring contest decided entirely by penalties. South Africa’s Percy Montgomery kicked four penalties, while England’s Wilkinson kicked two. The result gave the Springboks their second World Cup title, after their 1995 triumph.
A common mix-up is confusing England’s 2007 runners-up finish with their 2003 championship. England won the World Cup in 2003, but South Africa prevented them from becoming back-to-back champions four years later.