38 min: Robinson touches down. (Getty Images)

By Reece Killworth

RESULT: AUSTRALIA 17 ENGLAND 20 (AFTER EXTRA TIME)

100 min: England work the restart to Catt and he finds touch. That's it! England are the world champions for the first time in their history. Eddie Jones and Woodward embrace on the touchlines and England are ecstatic.

99 min: DROP GOAL - WILKINSON. Great recycling from England up front and it's worked to Wilkinson in the pocket. It's on his unfavoured right foot, but he slots it over!!

98 min: Rogers is hurried into kicking for touch. England win the line-out.

97 min: PENALTY - FLATLEY. Flatley keeps his cool yet again to slot over the penalty.

97 min: England just manage to get the ball back on their side but Johnson has come in from the side of the ruck and it's a penalty to Australia. Flatley is going for the posts to level things up again.

96 min: Wilkinson finds touch down the right, forcing play up to England's 10m line.

95 min: Good line-out ball for Australia and after recycling it through six or seven phases they go wide. Rogers makes a half-break but he holds onto the ball in the tackle and referee Watson pings him.

95 min: Scrappy line-out ball for England and Australia turn it over. Tuqiri bursts forward on the overlap down the right but Robinson wraps him up. It comes inside but England turn it over and Wilkinson hurries a kick into touch.

94 min: Moody comes up with the ball from the Australian line-out. What an introduction! He works it to Wilkinson, who kicks downfield. He fails to find touch, though, and Rogers' return touch forces play back to the England 10m line.

94 min: Hill does well to gather a kick ahead from Gregan but he slides into touch and goes down with cramp. Line-out to Australia. Larkham is back out of the blood bin but Hill is out of the game. Lewis Moody is on.

94 min: Australia bring Matt Dunning on for Young.

93 min: England work the short side through Greenwood and Hill but it's knocked forward by Catt as he tries to force a pass away on the outside.

92 min: Good work from England at the scrum and they work it to Wilkinson again. He kicks over the top, forcing Tuqiri to track back into his own 22. He kicks downfield and Robinson takes a quick line-out, going himself.

91 min: Australia win the line-out ball and do the hard work up front. A pass inside from Cockbain falls forward, though, and it's England's put-in at the scrum.

91 min: Australia get the second half of extra-time under way. England work it straight to Wilkinson and he hoists it into touch down the left.

HT (in extra-time): Australia 14 England 17.

90 min: Referee Watson allows play to continue but when Rogers hoists it into touch, he blows his whistle.

90 min: Balshaw tries to go on the outside but he's dragged out. That will surely be the last act of the first half of extra-time.

89 min: Wilkinson attempts another drop-goal and again it drifts wide.

88 min: Catt and Hill work a nice move in midfield and England spin it wide. Balshaw takes it into the Australia 22 and sets it up well. England work it to Catt but his drop-goal attempt is blocked. There's a knock-on from Giffin, though, so it's England's put-in.

88 min: Australia look to go from the back of the scrum but Smith knocks on at the second attempt to gather. England's scrum. There are some tired legs on show.

87 min: Australia show some loose hands in the backs but as Catt tries to intercept, he knocks on. Scrum to Australia between the England 22 and 10m lines.

86 min: Rogers pumps the ball into touch just outside the England 22.

86 min: Larkham comes into the blood bin again, with Giteau coming on. England replace Iain Balshaw for Lewsey, who is hobbling.

85 min: Australia work a short line-out and eventually draw a penalty as Johnson is penalised for diving on the ball after Lewsey knocked on. England had done well to turn it over but the error was almost instant.

85 min: Larkham kicks ahead but England get men back and Wilkinson is able to power the ball into touch down the right.

84 min: England go for the simple line-out to Kay and Catt comes powering through. Dallaglio comes up in support taking England into the Australia 22. They recycle it quickly but it all goes to pot with Woodman in the line. He tries a pass inside but the Wallabies turn it over.

83 min: Australia manage to scrape the restart back on their side. Waugh manages to keep the ball in play, but England turn it over. Dawson pumps the ball long and Larkham has to harry across and cover before kicking into touch.

82 min: PENALTY - WILKINSON. Wilkinson slots over the penalty. England lead again.

81 min: Australia are pinged at the first line-out of extra-time, with Johnson pulled down illegally. England are going for the posts.

81 min: England have brought Jason Leonard on for Vickery. Meanwhile, Rogers' first kick of extra-time finds touch down the left.

81 min: The first 10-minute period of extra-time gets under way with Wilkinson kicking off.

FT (80 min): Australia 14 England 14.

80 min: PENALTY - FLATLEY. Flatley keeps his nerve to slot over the penalty. That's the last kick of normal time - we are going into extra-time.

79 min: Penalty to Australia as England are pinged at the scrum. That's a huge call from Watson. Australia penalty on the 22 and Flatley is unsurprisingly going for the posts.

79 min: The scrum is reset as it goes down.

79 min: England bring Catt on for Tindall.

78 min: Kay knocks on again in the line-out and as Australia's attack comes to nothing, the referee pulls it back for a Wallaby scrum.

78 min: Australia win the scrum and push it wide but there's no way through. Larkham kicks ahead and finds a great touch inside the England 22.

77 min: England nick the line-out against the throw but Kay knocks it forward. Nerves are shredded both on the pitch and off it.

76 min: England win the scrum and work it up front before Wilkinson hoists a huge kick into touch down the left, taking play back into the Australia half.

75 min: Australia win the line-out and look to make some ground. They work the ball left and right but can't find a way through some hard-working defence. Smith is the man to end the attack as he knocks forward out wide.

74 min: Australia win the scrum and look to make some hard yards up front. They do just that before Larkham kicks downfield. Robinson covers and fidns touch right on the England 10m line.

73 min: Dallaglio wins the line-out and bursts forward. England recycle it but Wilkinson's pass to Tindall is forward and England squander another attacking chance.

72 min: Lewsey gathers the restart at the second attempt and works it to Robinson. He hoists a lovely kick into touch down the left. Australia line-out.

71 min: England win the line-out and get the rolling maul going. They are held up on the 22 and Wilkinson goes for a drop goal. It's just wide of the right-hand post, though.

71 min: Australia bring Joe Roff on for Sailor.

70 min: England hold firm at the scrum and Rogers has to hack downfield. He finds a good touch down the left, taking play up to the Australia 10m line.

70 min: Giffin goes from the back of the scrum and when a pile-up ensues, Australia get the put-in.

69 min: England win the line-out but decide to spin it wide quickly rather than keep it up front and Greenwood spills it forward.

68 min: After recycling the ball up front England look wide and Tindall hacks ahead. Greenwood is there but he is just beaten to the ball by Rogers, who hacks it out for an England line-out.

67 min: Australia win the ball at the scrum but Larkham's hurried kick is straight down Robinson's throat. He brings it forward and sets it well for the England forwards.

66 min: Thompson finds Hill at the back of the line and England get their trademark rolling maul going. It takes them to the 22 and Wilkinson takes it forward. They work it wide but Cohen is going nowhere. He spills it forward, and it's Australia's put-in.

66 min: Wilkinson takes England to midway between the Australia 10m line and 22.

65 min: Australia recycle the ball well, but the penalty comes to England as Bill Young is penalised at a ruck for coming in at the side.

65 min: Australia win the line-out and Gregan is able to clean up some untidy ball. Mortlock powers forward into a half-gap but is finally dragged down. The momentum is with Australia, though.

65 min: Vickery is penalised at the scrum, this time as his bindings falter. Rogers hoists the ball into touch down the left.

64 min: Larkham is back out of the blood bin, with Giteau unsurprisingly making way.

63 min: England just manage to scrabble the ball back on their side from the line-out and work it wide where Robinson carries it forward. Johnson and Kay power England to the brink of the Australia 22 but Tindall spills it forward in contact. Scrum to Australia on their own 22.

62 min: Giffin gathers the restart and Australia look to get the maul going before working it through their backs. Tuqiri is under all sorts of pressure and has to hurry a kick into touch down the right.

61 min: PENALTY - FLATLEY. Flatley slots over the penalty.

60 min: Australia get good ball from the scrum although Gregan almost knocks it on. They recycle it through several phases and the penalty comes with Vickery penalised for a stray hand in the ruck. Penalty to Australia and they are going for the posts.

60 min: Scrappy line-out ball for England, indeed it's not gone in straight. Scrum to Australia on the England 10m line.

59 min: Wilkinson hoists a kick over the top after good ball retention, but it drifts in-goal and Rogers touches down. Flatley's 22 drop-out finds touch down the right after evading Cohen.

58 min: Penalty to Australia with Vickery pinged for not going in straight. Rogers fails to find his touch and Robinson brings it forward into the Australia half.

57 min: Australia bring Jeremy Paul on for Cannon and Matt Cockbain on for Lyons.

57 min: England win the line-out through Kay and look to work it wide but Greenwood knocks a tricky pass forward in midfield. Scrum to Australia.

57 min: Australia win good line-out ball at the back of the line and work it to Giteau. He just manages to find touch under pressure from Hill.

56 min: Larkham is back into the blood bin with Giteau coming on again.

55 min: England drive the maul forward from the line-out before Dawson bursts around the fringes with Johnson in support. They recycle it and England get the drive on again. Tindall again opts to kick ahead, this time his grubber skips out of play inside the Australia 22.

54 min: Smith returns the restart with a powerful run but he and Tuqiri are forced over the touchline. It's a vital line-out for Thompson and he finds his man well.

53 min: Flatley's penalty falls just short. Greenwood, stood on the tryline, caught it without moving to show just how close it was.

52 min: The conditions are causing havoc for the hookers at the line-outs. This time Johnson is able to nick the ball off the Australian throw. England's attack falters, though, and as Dawson goes on a sniping run there is crossing from the scrum-half and Lewsey and Australia have the penalty.

51 min: England hold firm at the scrum before Tindall hoists a kick over the top. This time he sends it straight into touch so play comes back to inside the England half.

50 min: England spin the scrum to earn the put-in. Great work from the England pack.

49 min: Another poor line-out for England, with Steve Thompson not throwing it in straight. Scrum to Australia.

48 min: David Giffin, who is on for Sharpe, is straight into the action as he gathers the restart. It's worked to Larkham and he finds touch down the left.

47 min: PENALTY - FLATLEY. Flatley makes no mistake.

46 min: Poor decision-making from the Australia backs and a kick from Rogers drifts into touch. The line-out is a poor one from England as again they go to the back and lose it. Australia form the ruck and Dallaglio plays the ball illegally to give Australia a penalty on the England 22.

45 min: Australia win the line-out against the throw, with Cannon gathering Johnson's knock-down and powering forward into the England half.

44 min: Australia finally win a line-out and look to run it out of defence. That doesn't work, so Rogers has to kick into touch down the left. It's a good clearance.

43 min: Australia go for a short line-out but again England nick it. It's worked to Tindall and he sends a superb kick downfield, forcing Australia back into their own 22.

42 min: Johnson nicks the ball on the Australian line-out and England come again. They recycle it through seven or eight phases and suddenly Cohen bursts forward. There's been an obstruction from Richard Hill, though, and Rogers is able to pump the penalty into touch.

41 min: Cohen fails to find touch as does Rogers on the return. Robinson is the cool head around as he does find touch. Johnson then wins the line-out for England against the throw and Tindall is able to find a good touch down the right.

41 min: Australia get the second half under way through Flatley. His kick is well gathered by Dallaglio and Cohen hacks downfield.

HT: Australia 5 England 14.

40 min: Australia win the line-out in probably the last play of the half. They work it wide before recycling again. The ball spills forward in phase six, though, and that's half-time.

40 min: England turn the ball over on a ruck on halfway. Dawson opts to clip a ball over the top aimed at Cohen, but his effort drifts out on the full. Line-out to Australia back on their own 10m line.

39 min: Wilkinson fails to convert from out wide.

38 min: TRY - ROBINSON. England win the line-out and almost out of nothing Dallaglio bursts around the fringes of the ruck, finding Wilkinson on the inside. It's flicked out wide to Robinson, and there's simply no stopping him. It's try time for England!

37 min: Australia win the line-out but again Rogers fails to find touch. Robinson carries it forward and kicks over the top. Gregan gathers but is forced over the line by a huge tackle from Cohen.

36 min: This time England win the ball on their own line-out and work it through the backs. Will Greenwood does superbly to gather the ball off his bootlaces and find Cohen, who carries it into the Australia 22. He's just forced out, though, so it's Australia's line-out.

36 min: Australia nick the line-out at the back yet again and Rogers finds touch down the left.

35 min: Australia nick the ball at the back of the line-out but Larkham's kick is out on the full. Another attacking chance for England at the line-out.

34 min: Good line-out ball for England. They drive in the maul before Wilkinson opts to hoist a kick. Rogers gathers easily, marking it before finding touch down the right.

33 min: Kay catches the line-out and sets up the maul. Dawson opts to kick ahead but fails to find touch with Tuqiri gathering it. He powers forward to well inside the England half but his support dives in too early off their feet and Wilkinson is able to use the penalty to find touch down the right.

32 min: Australia win the line-out and Lyons brings it up down the middle. Australia work the ball well, recycling it through several phases, before Larkham flicks a kick through. It's out before Tuqiri can get there though, so it's England's line-out.

31 min: Wilkinson's 22 drop-out is well gathered by Rogers. He kicks ahead towards Wilkinson again and this time the Newcastle man finds touch down the left. Larkham is back out of the blood bin, with Giteau leaving the field.

30 min: Flatley drags his kick around to the left-hand side of the posts.

30 min: Lewsey gives Flatley a huge hit as he attempts to gather the restart. Lewsey gets a hand in but just knocks on. Scrum to Australia. That becomes a penalty with Woodman penalised. Australia go for the posts.

29 min: PENALTY - WILKINSON. It's a routine kick for Wilkinson as he slots it between the posts.

28 min: Wilkinson opts to go for the posts. A chorus of boos greet the decision from the Australia crowd, but if Wilkinson pops it over, the decision will be the right one.

27 min: England get the shove on from the scrum and the penalty comes with Australia losing their bindings. Phil Waugh is the man pinged by Watson but he could have chosen either of the flankers.

26 min: Australia win the scrum and Rogers kicks ahead. He fails to find touch, kicking it down Robinson's throat. He powers on forward then kicks over the top, drawing a knock-on. Scrum to England no more than 10m out.

26 min: Wilkinson needs treatment on what appears to be a shoulder injury. He's back on his feet though to the relief of England.

25 min: Australia just manage to get the ball away from the scrum quickly enough as England get the shove on. They spill it up in the ruck, though, and suddenly England have men over. They work it wide and have men on the overlap. Kay of all people is the man on the end of the line and with the tryline gaping he spills it forward. Agony for England. Up in the box, Clive Woodward clasps his hands to his head.

24 min: Back does superbly to gather the 22 drop-out despite losing his footing. England look to work it wide but Woodman tries a silly flicked pass around his back and can only divert it forward.

23 min: England work a move down the blind side with Robinson darting forward 10 or so metres to just outside the Australia 22. They recycle it well and Wilkinson attempts a drop goal, but his effort is off-target to the left.

23 min: Australia win the line-out against the throw, but there's a knock-on at the ruck and it's England's put-in at the scrum.

22 min: Australia work a move out wide but Wilkinson crunches into a huge tackle on Giteau and England turn it over. Tuqiri has the pace to beat Lewsey to a kick ahead, though, and turns well to find touch down the left.

21 min: Dawson makes a sniping run around the fringes but there's an accidental offside from Vickery.

20 min: PENALTY - WILKINSON. The cheers from the crowd confirm England are in front as Wilkinson slots over the penalty.

20 min: Larkham needs treatment after his illegal tackle, indeed he's going off for running repairs on a blood injury. Matt Giteau comes on. Meanwhile, Wilkinson is setting up to go for goal.

19 min: Matt Dawson and Dallaglio work a nice move off the back of the scrum and draw a penalty with Larkham penalised for playing a man without the ball. It's very kickable for Wilkinson.

18 min: Free-kick to Australia as England transgress at the scrum. George Gregan taps and goes but in the third phase, Brendan Cannon knocks on. The Aussie hooker is struggling - two poor line-out throws and now a knock-on.

18 min: England hold firm at the scrum and get the ball wide. Lewsey tries to pass Tuqiri on the outside but the winger has him all wrapped up, forcing a knock-on.

17 min: The ball spills out of the side of the ruck but Sharpe knocks it on as he tries to gather. England's put-in at the scrum.

16 min: England win the line-out with Ben Kay to the fore. England work it wide to Cohen but he is well marshalled. England recycle the ball well, though, and keep it coming.

15 min: England steal it against the throw yet again and the penalty comes with Lyons again penalised, this time for coming in from the side. Wilkinson finds touch.

14 min: England win the line-out against the throw. It's worked to Josh Lewsey but his hurried kick is screwed into touch still inside the England 22.

14 min: Rogers pumps the ball into touch down the left. Australia's line-out on the edge of the England 22.

13 min: Australia get good line-out ball and Stirling Mortlock gets his first chance to burst. He makes a half-break and draws a penalty from Neil Back, who puts a stray hand in at the ruck.

12 min: Ben Cohen gathers the restart and lays the base, allowing Wilkinson to find touch inside the Australia half down the left.

12 min: PENALTY - WILKINSON. Wilkinson slots over England's first points. A brilliant kick.

10 min: Penalty to England just inside the Australia half with Lyons penalised at the ruck. Wilkinson is going for the posts. This is a pressure kick in these conditions.

9 min: Play continues with Vickery still down, but Johnson wins the line-out. Australia get the shove on with England a man down so England work it wide. Robinson takes the ball up to the halfway line and England go again. Vickery is back on his feet.

8 min: Australia again work the restart into Flatley's hands and he finds a good touch down the right, taking play back into the England half. Phil Vickery is down.

7 min: Flatley hits the left-hand post with his conversion attempt.

6 min: TRY - TUQIRI. England get the shove on so David Lyons has to pick up and go from the base of the scrum. It's worked to Stephen Larkham and he hoists a huge kick over towards Tuqiri. He uses his height advantage to leap higher than Jason Robinson and touch down.

6 min: Free-kick to Australia as England have one too many in the line-out. Australia go for the scrum.

5 min: Referee Watson, after consulting with his touch judge, pulls play back to the England 10m line with Trevor Woodman pulled up for a swinging arm. Rogers goes for touch, and finds it inside the England 22.

4 min: England win their first line-out with Martin Johnson claiming it. The ball is worked into Tindall's hands in the three-quarters and he finds a good touch down the right with a spiralling kick.

4 min: More good line-out ball for Australia and again they go wide. Rogers grubs a kick forward aiming to find Wendell Sailor, but his kick skips into touch on the England 10m line.

3 min: Dallaglio has to pick up and go from the base with Australia getting the shove on. He sets the base and the ball is worked into Wilkinson's hands. He finds a good touch down the right almost on halfway.

2 min: Australia win good line-out ball and work it wide where George Smith is in the line. He makes a good 10 metres before Australia set the ruck. Mat Rogers finds a half-gap but just fails to find Lote Tuqiri on the overlap. Knock-on, England scrum.

1 min: Nathan Sharpe gathers the kick-off and Australia work it to Elton Flatley. He fails to find touch and Jason Robinson gathers, just managing to keep his footing in greasy circumstances. England look to move the ball wide but Lawrence Dallaglio's ball goes astray and it's out for an Australia line-out.

0 min: England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has the first kick of the final on the whistle of Andre Watson.

Pre-match: There are tears in the eyes of several players during emotional renditions of the national anthems.

Pre-match: England's judgement day has arrived under the Telstra Stadium floodlights - in conditions more akin to Salford than Sydney. Australia's World Cup capital has borne the brunt of heavy rain all day. England are at full-strength, making one change from the semi-final as centre Mike Tindall replaces his Bath colleague Mike Catt. Australia bring tight-head prop Al Baxter in for the injured Ben Darwin.