One of the best days of my life, and I've never quite looked back at the match. I probably never will. Looking back, I have no memories of what happened on the field. I don't want to worry people because I remember a lot of matches, but this one I can't remember because of the tumult of the occasion and because I didn't think I had a great match so I never brought myself to watch it. I watched it as if it was the first time I had seen the game in my life.
But what I do know is that once we walked onto the field, the rest was easy. Not winning, but playing with that team was easy. We just knew we would all do our jobs at a high level and it would take a damn good team to beat us - which Australia almost did.
Despite the size of the occasion, everything was the same: the same music on the bus on the way in; the same warm-up (which was always too hard!). There was a bit of rain, which was disappointing. I loved playing on dry land. That England team wasn't just a bunch of strikers, as people said. We scored a lot of tries. We were the best in the world - and we proved it.
Martin Johnson sets the tone
While André Waton's 'lads, enjoy the game' acts as the game's prologue, Jonny Wilkinson's left boot gets the match underway, with a long restart on the right side of the pitch. Skipper Martin Johnson leads the charge and cuts Australian catcher, Nathan Sharpe.
WG: The first thing, and that's why he's our captain, but why does the slowest guy over 100 meters make the first tackle? That's exactly what Johnno did. These days it's Will Jordan or Cheslin Kolbe. They are the kick chasers; 10 second 100 meter runners with a rolling start. Somewhere deep inside... I always remember: how did he make the first tackle? It's also a deep restart, and he knocks someone off to get there - he had no shoulders after all these years! - and there he is. You might ask where our wing and back row are, but it's unbelievable. I think he did the same thing in extra time. That's why he was such a great captain - actions, not words.
The story continues
England's scrum dominance is starting to show
After two penalties from Jonny Wilkinson give England a small lead, the favorites turn the screw. The scrum dominance, still with meager rewards, continues, but rather than choosing to highlight their mastery in this area, England opt for three points rather than gamble and push for a penalty.
WG: On a normal day - I spoke to Johnno about this - we would have taken another scrum and pushed for a penalty try and a yellow card. But we just couldn't be sure that Watson would give it. Normally, if you pump them into the scrum like we did, you'd go again; yellow card and penalty try. Kill the game. I always remember that Johnno wasn't allowed to talk to Watson that day - all communication had to go through Matt Dawson. Clive didn't want a 20 stone guy towering over a shorter referee on the big screen. He wanted to keep him away.
Robinson's expert finishing
A failed line-out does not hinder the effort. Ben Kay sweeps up the loose ball and two phases later Dallaglio steams around the corner and silkily feeds Wilkinson home, before the fly-half sets Robinson up for the tryline - England's first and only in the final.
WG: All the kids should see Wilkinson's end-over-end pass in wet weather - no spin - and Robinson diving five yards early. Once he hits the deck, Rogers can't touch him. He first pushes the ball three meters too short. That's done. Smothering the ball. That was the detail that set him apart - and us as a team.
The invisible moment that put England on the road to glory
In the second half, before extra time starts, the Wallabies fight back. Elton Flatley kicks three penalties - the last coming in the 80th minute after a controversial scrum call that sends Johnson into a frenzy - and suddenly England's first-half dominance has melted. After a cagey extra-time, both Flatley and Wilkinson exchanged penalties before the line-out kicked off England's exciting final.
WG: That lineout, which led to the drop goal, came from Lewis Moody. He put pressure on Rogers' clearance and the fullback shook it. His head went straight down. If Moodos doesn't, Rogers kicks into the channel and we have to try to win the game from our own half, rather than close to the Australian 22. Earlier in the tournament, Moodos did the same against South Africa. , which led to my attempt. No sense of self-preservation, taking off at full power, unbelievable. That was the moment that led to the drop goal.
Jonny does it
Result: 17-20 (aet)Kay calls the lineout to the tail, with Moody again taking center stage, leaping and grabbing. Mike Catt - in place of Mike Tindall - bravely clatters into the Australian midfield. With the Wallabies suspecting the immediate drop goal, Dawson shoots, giving England better field position for the kick. Johnson realizes his scrumhalf is buried, so he drives up, allowing Dawson to get back on his feet and feed Wilkinson for the most memorable moment in English rugby history.
WG: I always claimed to Daws that I was just sitting on his shoulder during that break, but I probably wasn't. However, I was close and suffered perhaps the second defeat of my career. Then me and Jason Leonard - instead of Phil Vickery - also hit Johnno's ruck. And where was the advantage due to offside if Wilko had missed? Luckily he didn't. It was a terrible dropkick, but they all count!
The winning moment
Result: 17-20 (aet)With England three points ahead and time all but up, Australia has one last roll of the dice. The Wallabies fall short in a desperate bid to regain possession, but Woodman, England's loosehead, does a great job of gaining possession. The ball comes back to Catt, who sends it spiraling into the stands - and England into delirium.
WG: An incredible version of Trevor. I get the p... taken out of me here as I end up stretched out on the floor before Daws goes to Catty. The two of us were standing next to each other and I just didn't want him to be confused about who he was passing to. The easiest way to avoid that, I thought, was to just lie down. I thought it was remarkably intelligent, but everyone takes the p-. 'What were you doing? Make a table?' Then Catty lands one of the biggest spirals I've ever seen to end the game. Then I jump up and down with Wilko and the party starts. Good times.
Final reflections
Final score: 17-20 (aet)WG: The first 30 minutes after the final whistle were just mental elation. It takes a lot of sacrifices to win. We were the first side in the Northern Hemisphere - and I still can't believe no other side did it. After 2003, only two teams have won the World Cup. We were good, really. We always found a way to win. We were ruthless - not mean, although they could be if necessary - tense, mean; no steps backwards. I wouldn't want to be part of any other English team. It was an honor to be part of that.
