Over the coming weeks we’ll be publishing excerpts from The Rugby World Cup 2019 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Rugby World Cup.

Written by Graeme Copas, a respected sports journalist and editor of more than 25 years, the book is an ideal gift ahead of the tournament.

Here we focus on a chapter called ‘Six of the best Rugby World Cup memories’ and continue by heading back to the 2003 World Cup.

2003: Wilkinson delivers for England

England were favourites to win the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2003 and so they did, but it could not have been tighter or more dramatic.

The final in Sydney delivered a first, and so far only, victory for a northern hemisphere team, vindicating the professional coaching ethos of Clive Woodward and confirming fly-half Jonny Wilkinson as a worldwide rugby superstar.

England had been the best team in the world for the previous two seasons and their game-plan was simple; defend like demons, be powerful up front and allow Wilkinson to kick them to glory.

This got them to the final against hosts Australia, but despite a controlled performance they could not shake off the Wallabies who had their own kicking sensation on the day.

The match went into extra-time after Wilkinson collected three penalties to add to Jason Robinson’s try.

However, Australia’s Elton Flatley also held his nerve to kick three penalties which, in addition to Lote Tuqiri’s early try, meant extra-time.

Both kickers also scored a penalty apiece in extra-time leaving the score at 17-17 and both teams facing the prospect of sudden death for the first time in a World Cup.

This tense, nerve-wracking contest was finally decided in the last of the 100 minutes played when the left-footed Wilkinson hesitantly struck a right-footed drop goal which crept between the posts and over the bar.

Nothing captures this moment in rugby history better than the iconic commentary from BBC radio’s Ian Robertson, delivered in that rasping, Scottish brogue which, with the drama unfolding, had been pushed to breaking point.

“Martin Johnson has it,” he said. “There’s 35 seconds to go. This is the one. It’s coming back for Jonny Wilkinson. He drops for World Cup glory. It’s up. It’s over! He’s done it. Jonny Wilkinson is England’s hero again.”

He added: “And there’s no time for Australia to come back. England have just won the World Cup.”

It proved to be the pinnacle for both England and Wilkinson.

It was no surprise that many of the England team – which had been dubbed Dad’s Army ahead of the tournament – retired after the victory, and while Wilkinson would compete in two more World Cups injuries and insecurities took their toll on his performances.

However, regardless of what was to follow, Wilkinson, with that tournament-winning drop goal, will always be remembered as the arch-finisher of a world-beating team and the man who put the smile back on the faces of England’s fans.