Título: Stephen Larkham
Seção: 1999 Rugby World Cup drop-goal
Background: Stephen Larkham (born 29 May 1974 in Canberra) is a retired Australian rugby union footballer currently in the role of attack coach for the Australian Rugby Union side, the Wallabies. He is best known for his career with the Brumbies in Super Rugby, for whom he played from the inception of the professional Super 12 in 1996 through 2007, and his long tenure with the Wallabies at international level, for whom he played 102 times. After initial selection at fullback from 1996 to 1997, Larkham was the first-choice Australian fly-half from 1997 to 2007, playing in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. He is married to Jacqueline and has two children, Jaimee and Tiahna.

Conteúdo: Larkham's famous 48m-drop goal to seal victory over South Africa in extra time of the 1999 Rugby World Cup Semi-Final has gone down in rugby folklore as the defining moment in the Wallabies' victorious Rugby World Cup campaign. South Africa had got to the semi final largely through the efforts of Jannie de Beer kicking 5 drop goals in their previous match. By contrast not one of the Australian players on the team had to that date ever scored a drop goal at test level. The fact that Larkham had quite a badly injured knee through the match caused Steve Smith to remark incredulously while calling the game for English ITV "He can barely stand on that leg and yet he just thwacked it over."  The feat was even more remarkable as Larkham's eyesight was very poor at the time. Since 1999 he has had laser surgery to correct his vision, however at the time he could not see the goal posts clearly. Following Australia's victory over France in the World Cup final, several television commercials aired in Australia humorously mocking Larkham's lack of kicking prowess. The commercial featured current & former teammates, junior and senior coaches (including former Australian coach Rod MacQueen) and even Australian rugby icons (such as Phil Kearns) expressing their astonishment that Larkham managed to score.  The commercial begins with Larkham's school coaches saying he was a poor kicker, and had never successfully scored a drop-goal in a match. The climax of the commercial features then-captain

user: What team won the 1999 Rugby World Cup drop-goal?

assistant: the Wallabies

user: How many drop goals were there?

assistant: Larkham's famous 48m-drop goal to seal victory over South Africa in extra time of the 1999 Rugby World Cup Semi-Final has gone down in rugby folklore

user: Did Larkham have any injuries in the World Cup?

assistant: Larkham had quite a badly injured knee

user: Did he ever have to get surgery, if so what year?

assistant: Larkham's eyesight was very poor at the time. Since 1999 he has had laser surgery to correct his vision,

user: Were there any teamates Stephen played with at the World Cup?

assistant: then-captain John Eales,

user: Did they ever beat France in a World Cup?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?

assistant: several television commercials aired in Australia humorously mocking Larkham's lack of kicking prowess.

user: How did the commercial begin?

assistant: The commercial begins with Larkham's school coaches saying he was a poor kicker, and had never successfully scored a drop-goal in a match.