Practice pays off for England hero
 |
Wilkinson's drop-goal prowess proved the difference in a thrilling World Cup final.
Story Tools
|
SYDNEY, Australia -- It was a case of practice makes perfect for England's hero Jonny Wilkinson as his last minute drop-goal broke Australian hearts and gave his team the William Webb Ellis Trophy for the first time.
"I've been practising those type of kicks since I was five years old both on my right and left feet," said world player of the year Wilkinson.
"It's undescribable. It's something we've wanted, we've worked for so long both individually and as a team," he added.
Wilkinson finished with a haul of 15 points in England's 20-17 victory in Sydney and also supplied the pass for Jason Robinson's first half try, but he was quick to pay tribute to a team effort.
"The work goes back four or five years. We've tried to put it in for every single game, we've put ourselves on the line."
The 24-year-old world player of the year saved his best for extra time, restoring England's lead with a long-range penalty to put them 17-14 ahead, only for Elton Flatley to pull the Wallabies level again.
But he Wilkinson kept his nerve, and having failed with several attempted drop-kicks earlier in the match, made no mistake with a right-footed effort that sent a large contingent of England fans delirious.
His heroics in the six-week long World Cup tournament are set to make the unassuming Wilkinson a fortune in endorsements and sponsorship and he has already appeared in a high-profile advertisement with England football captain David Beckham.
