Jonny Wilkinson’s match-winning drop goal will remain the iconic image of the Rugby World Cup 2003 final forever and a day. But the circumstances behind another kick nearly claimed as many column inches once the dust had settled on the Sydney showpiece.
When referee Andre Watson raised his arm to signal a penalty against England with less than a minute to go, after he’d ruled prop Trevor Woodman had not engaged correctly at the scrum, it led to the three points from the boot of Elton Flatley that tied the game – and a post-match enquiry from the English press.
From the 33 scrums in the match, England’s pack, widely perceived to be the most dominant in the tournament, were penalised five times against one to Australia, and Fleet Street’s finest couldn’t figure out how the numbers stacked up.
“I was really criticised, specifically in England for the last penalty in normal time at the scrum time. The argument was how do you penalise the team that dominates at scrum time?" Watson told World Rugby TV.
“My answer was you can dominate but you have got to dominate in a legal way. If there’s anything illegal then it is the referee’s job to blow the whistle. When I made that call, I had no hesitation, it was just a simple call to me – one of many that you do in a game of rugby. But it had one hell of a consequence and there was an aftermath that went on for months.”
Right on cue
Watson was right on the spot when Wilkinson finally delivered his coup de grace, and the 57-year-old still remembers the build-up as if it were yesterday.
“I looked at the clock and there was 34 seconds left. I remember the breakthrough by the scrum-half of England (Matt Dawson) and I remember when Martin Johnson carried the ball for a time and I thought they could score," he recalled.
“Then I saw Jonny drop back for the drop (goal) and I thought, here it comes. The scrum-half picked the ball up and Australia were woefully offside, the backs just shot up too early, and there I was, in the heat of the moment, thinking you are going to have to give a penalty right in front of the sticks of Australia, in Sydney!
"... there I was, in the heat of the moment, thinking you are going to have to give a penalty right in front of the sticks of Australia, in Sydney!"
“As a referee it’s your job to make decisions like that, but you don't want to end games like that, we referees want the players to win it through a bit of brilliance or perhaps a mistake by a player in defence or whatever.
“Whilst I was still thinking this the ball went back to Jonny and the pass went to his wrong side, and again I thought, oh my goodness, Watson, you are going to have to give this penalty.
“But then he gave that kick, off his right foot, and it went wobbly, wobbly and wobbly (over the bar). I don’t mind admitting that for two or three seconds I hoped that ball went over.”
Complete team
From the restart England retained possession and replacement Mike Catt booted the ball out of play. Watson blew the final whistle and England were left to celebrate becoming the first – and still only – northern hemisphere team to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
“England really had a good team, probably the complete team from number 1-15 plus the reserves on the bench," he stated. "I don’t think there was a flaw in their game: they were really powerful in the scrums; they had good lineout jumpers; they could maul; they could run; they could do everything.
“Australia was perhaps the surprise package, because no-one expected them to get there. I did, because you can never write a top team off, and they got into the final and played a very, very good game, and I think to most people’s surprise they kept England in check.
“England never ran away with it; it was tight all along. I am pretty sure there was never more than one score between the two teams right till the end of the game.”
