Who scored the winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final?

Jonny Wilkinson scored the winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final. His right-footed kick, struck with 28 seconds left in extra time, gave England a 20–17 victory over Australia in Sydney.

The final was level at 14–14 after 80 minutes, so the match went into extra time. Wilkinson kicked a penalty to put England ahead 17–14, but Australia's Elton Flatley levelled the score at 17–17 with a penalty. England then won possession and moved into drop-goal range.

Matt Dawson passed to Wilkinson, who kicked from about 30 metres. The ball sailed between the posts, and Australia could not respond before the final whistle. The result delivered England's first Rugby World Cup title and made them the first Northern Hemisphere team to win the competition.

Wilkinson was England's fly-half and a prolific goal-kicker. He scored 113 of England's 204 points during the tournament, including 35 in the final. The moment is often remembered simply as “the drop goal,” although he had already attempted one earlier in extra time before finding the target.