Jonny Wilkinson exclusive: 'I've wondered what would have happened if I had missed that drop goal'

 
Chris Jones18 September 2013

Jonny Wilkinson has asked himself the question England fans cannot bear to consider: “What would have happened if I had missed that drop goal to win the Rugby World Cup?”

For those who know Wilkinson’s mentality, the news he has gone down this particular road will come as no surprise because the former England fly-half is prone to this kind of introspection.

And typical of Wilkinson, the answer he offered is wrapped up in “the journey”, one blighted after the 2003 triumph by three years of injury hell that he defied to play in two more World Cups and start a new life in France as a Toulon rugby icon.

His status across the Channel was already immense before his 11 points in last season’s Heineken Cup Final helped big-spending Toulon lift the trophy for the first time to write another chapter in a story that may still run and run if he opts to sign another one-year deal at Christmas.

While success in French club rugby is maintaining his reputation, it is his drop goal in Sydney on November 22 2003 to beat Australia 20-17 that will always dominate and the 10th anniversary of that swing of his right leg is fast approaching.

With today marking exactly two years until England stage the Rugby World Cup, Wilkinson, an ambassador for the tournament, casts his mind back to the moment that changed his life.

The 34-year-old said: “I have wondered what would have happened if I had missed that drop goal. I have come to understand over the years that living either side of that line — when the outcome is down to a single moment — is massive.

“I lost the World Cup Final in 2007 with England and a couple of championship finals with Toulon and those experiences have come at the end of a very long journey. In 2003 we had been travelling for around five years with Clive Woodward.

“The disappointment I would have felt if that drop goal had missed in 2003 would have been because that journey had ended without anything to show for it. In the world we live in, if you don’t win the final you don’t have anything to show for it.

“For the England 2003 Cup-winning squad, the triumph is something no one can ever take away from us and it must be the same for our gold medal winners from the London Olympics and Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

“When something like a World Cup win comes at the end of a career — as it did for Martin Johnson — there is probably nothing better and what a way to feel! Guys like Johnno could wave goodbye knowing they had got to the very top.

“I have been back once to the Sydney Olympic Stadium — for the Second Test of the England tour in 2010 — and because I was on the bench it was a different feeling.

“I suppose the length of time that had passed and so much had happened since the final in my career — with three years out due to injury — meant I basically started my career again and so I didn’t recognise being back in the Olympic Stadium as much as I would have liked.”

Wilkinson believes a combination of the “feel-good factor” generated by the fans and the talent available to England could make 2015 another historic campaign.

“The country was able to ride the wave of enthusiasm generated by the Olympics and again when Murray won Wimbledon and that can happen again with the 2015 World Cup — it will be amazing. I am very excited about the development of the England team and the Argentina tour showed our strength in depth.

“The autumn internationals will be a major indication of what is to come for England and we have seen that the foundations are in place to drive this team onto 2015. It would be fantastic if the team can get through to the final and do something amazing.”

Wilkinson is one of three members of England’s 2003 squad still in action with Mike Tindall coaching and playing centre with Gloucester while Iain Balshaw is with Biarritz.

Of those who have retired, the most dramatic transformation has been achieved by prop Jason Leonard, who will be the RFU president in World Cup year.

“I can’t see myself being able to do what Jason has achieved,” laughed Wilkinson. “I am one of the luckiest people around to be doing this and while the injury stuff in my career was tough to deal with, if I had known this was at the end of it, I would have done the whole thing with more of a smile on my face!”

For news and information on ticketing and volunteering at Rugby World Cup 2015, join The Front Row by going to: rugbyworldcup.com/frontrow

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