Who scored the extra-time drop goal for England to beat Australia 20-17 in the 2003 Rugby World Cup?
The final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup was one of the most exciting matches in the history of the sport. England met Australia at Sydney’s Telstra Stadium on 22 November 2003. The match ended dramatically with England beating Australia 20-17 in extra time. Jonny Wilkinson scored the decisive drop goal that secured England’s victory.
Jonny Wilkinson’s defining moment
Jonny Wilkinson, one of the most famous players in rugby history, emerged as a hero in the final. The match was tied at 17-17 with only a few minutes left in overtime. Wilkinson received the ball and kicked it accurately into the goal with his left foot, although he is a Right-footed player. This drop goal sealed England’s first World Cup in rugby history.
Progress of the match
The match was very even and exciting from start to finish. Here is a brief summary of the main events of the match:
- In the first half, both teams scored and kicked, and England led 14-5 at halftime.
- In the second half, Australia leveled up, and regular time ended 14-14.
- In overtime, both teams scored one penalty kick, making the score 17-17.
- Wilkinson’s decisive drop goal came in the second half of extra time, and it was the last point of the match.
The meaning of Jonny Wilkinson
Jonny Wilkinson’s performance in the 2003 World Cup final has gone down in rugby history. His accuracy and composure under pressure made him a legend. Wilkinson’s career continued to be successful, and he remains one of the most respected players in the history of the sport.
Sources
You can read more about the 2003 Rugby World Cup and Jonny Wilkinson from the following sources:
