A DECADE ON from landing the drop-goal that won England the World Cup final, Jonny Wilkinson insisted he’d yet to watch a replay of the celebrated kick.
On November 22, 2003, England beat hosts Australia in Sydney to become the only northern hemisphere side to win rugby union’s Webb Ellis Trophy.
But they only did so in the dying seconds of extra-time, having squandered several chances to win the match, when Wilkinson, a naturally left-footed kicker, dropped a goal with his right boot.
“I’d had a couple of goes before which were very much pot shots, having a dig almost,” Wilkinson, an ambassador for the 2015 World Cup in England, recalled.
“But for this one I was thinking that because of where the guys had put me, I can’t miss….this must go over. I almost remember feeling like ‘the others drifted wide but this one will go over’.
“I knew I’d hit it in such a way that it wasn’t going to be the most powerful kick, but it was going to be accurate. I knew from fairly early on it was going over.
“What surprised me was I actually got lost in that moment, I didn’t know where I was. I remember half celebrating, but not really celebrating.
“It felt like a surreal, dream-like situation. I had to ask ‘is this really happening?’ and that was my facial expression.
“Then there was the realisation that there was still time left and I really wasn’t up for a third game-tying penalty from them before the end.“There was the panic to get back and the urgency to get the ball off the field and finish the damn thing.”
Fly-half Wilkinson, now with French club Toulon, added: “It always seemed strange to me that the World Cup played itself out like it did.
“Not only did we play the final against the host team, but also that it went down to the very last seconds of extra-time and a drop-goal.
“All that hard work we did over the years we were obliged to put into practice in one passage of play. The time when we got it exactly right was the time when we needed it most.
“That made it feel like a really special moment when many destinies came together at one point. It was our time.”
So special in fact, that Wilkinson has avoided ‘contaminating’ his recollections of the match by watching replays.
“I’ve tried to preserve the quality of the memories I have which are wrapped up in the feel, the senses, the smell, noises and atmosphere,” he said.
“I’d rather keep it there and then in that first-person experience than watch it back, which can taint the memory.
“I want to keep it exactly as I remember it, which was one hell of an experience.”
Looking forward to Coutinho in this fixture in 2018. Happy Holidays everyone!
@Whatshisname: Can’t wait to see Ozil and Sanchez facing off in the Manchester derby next year. A pity Arsenal won’t get any money for them.
@Whatshisname: The fact you say happy holidays shows the kind of tool you are.
@Let free speech live: lads not even an arsenal fan man. Just a troll. Better off just muting him
@Let free speech live: Back in the schoolyard I see. You’re a joke
@Whatshisname: I’m fond of Arsenal football club myself but you sir are an embarrassment, every time I come on here you are spouting some drivel. Happy xmas anyway, hoping the new year has me reading less of you.
In an “ordinary” club, Zidane’s job should not be under threat when you consider all they have won since he’s been in charge but this is Real Madrid where past achievements are soon forgotten so anything can happen.
@Sloop John G: it’s no ordinary club that’s for sure , the Real Madrid managers head is on the block almost every game . Zidane has credit in the bank but if say Madrid got whipped on Saturday the atmosphere will change . Ancelotti was fire because of a heavy loss to Atletico Madrid at home that he didn’t manage to redress . Under him Real do perform on the crunch days ( especially in finals) and tend to have a much better second half of the season . A win for Real will kick off the resurgence !
Ah jeez Gavan Casey and Ryan Bailey, seriously who’d ye think ye are? The serious heads on ye with the pouts, the fancy hair do’s and the indoor scarf wearing, and the live link up to some nobody in Madrid. It’s like ye’re playing ye’r favourite game; “media goys r us” Scarlet for ye in all fairness.