You know you’ve cracked it when even the Aussies stand to applaud. Never mind the half a million who thronged the streets of London to salute England’s World Cup-winning heroes on their return from Australia in 2003. Never mind the gongs and plaudits that came from Buckingham Palace and Downing St or the endless round of chat shows and gala dinners. You’d expect cheers and celebrations when you’ve brought home the booty, England’s first bit of major team silverware since Nobby Stiles and his mates did their jigs of Wembley delight all those years ago.
But when you consider that Jonny Wilkinson’s dramatic, extra-time drop goal had the Australians eating humble pie, then you realise just how significant the moment was.
Their mocking front-page midway through the tournament, showing Wilkinson in familiar crouch-mode as he prepared to kick, tauntingly captioned: “Is This All You’ve Got ?” was followed up by a front page mea culpa in the Sydney Morning Herald two days after the 20-17 victory over Australia. We were wrong, was the gist, you were not too old, too slow, too bloody boring, too reliant on Wilkinson.
England were regarded as worthy winners. True, it had been close, uncomfortably close, Elton Flatley’s boot keeping the Aussies in the game.
As the rain poured down and referee, Andre Watson, continued to penalise the English scrum, so the 35,000 while-shirted fans in the capacity 80,000 strong capacity crowd began to fret.
A final line-out, an upfield drive from Matt Dawson, a last lunge into the Aussie 22, the ball comes back, Wilkinson’s right peg swings….and the rest is sweet sporting history.

Telegraph