"I hoped that ball went over" - Andre Watson

Jonny Wilkinson

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Speaking on a video for World Rugby, Watson says he remembers the Australian defence being “woefully” offside as Wilkinson lined-up the kick to break the 17-17 deadlock deep in extra time.

“I looked at the clock and there was 34-seconds left,” Watson says.

“I remember the breakthrough by the scrumhalf of England, I remember Martin Johnson carrying the ball for a time and I thought they could come and score.

“Then I saw Jonny drop back for the drop and I thought ‘ok, here it comes’ and the scrumhalf 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 I was thinking ‘you’re gonna have to give a penalty right in front of the sticks of Australia, in Sydney.

“I don’t mind that, that’s your job but we as referees, we don’t want to end games like that. We want the players to end it by a bit of brilliance or perhaps a mistake by a player in defence.

“The ball went back to Jonny and the pass went to the wrong side - Jonny’s left footed, it went to his right - and thought ‘oh my goodness Watson, you’re going to have to give this penalty.

“He gave that kick and it went wobbly, wobbly, wobbly, and I don’t mind admitting that for two or three seconds, I hoped that ball went over. Which it did.”

The match ended 20-seconds later with England claiming their first World Cup trophy.

The old foes go head to head again this weekend with England needing a win to secure passage through to the quarter-finals.

The match kicks-off at 6am on Sunday, October 4 (AEST).

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