Why they rank here
The fly-half whose right boot won a World Cup and whose obsessive perfectionism reshaped the goal-kicking craft. Wilkinson is best remembered for the drop goal, struck with his weaker foot in the final minute of extra time, that beat Australia in the 2003 final and made England the only Northern Hemisphere side ever to be world champions. But he was far more than one kick: a ferocious tackler for a number 10, a metronomic marksman, and the 2003 World Rugby Player of the Year. He amassed 1,246 Test points across England and the Lions, second only to Dan Carter, and holds the record for most drop goals in international rugby with 36. Injuries robbed him of years at his peak, yet he returned repeatedly, and his combination of icy big-match temperament and relentless practice made him the defining Northern Hemisphere player of his generation.
Career profile
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