Saturday, 6 October, 2007

England 12 Australia 10

England defied the odds to knock Australia out of the IRB Rugby World Cup on Saturday and book their place in next week’s Paris semi-finals with a magnificent 12-10 victory against old rivals Australia.

The defending World Champions were rank 15/1 outsiders ahead of the clash at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, but odds meant nothing to Brian Ashton’s brave men who powered their way to victory with a great effort.

Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson kicked all of England’s 12 points, but this victory was a win for all 22 players against a side desperate to avenge their 2003 World Cup Final heartache.

England set the tone for the match from the very first whistle. Some good early tackles by the Australians kept England scoreless and initially the holders’ downfall was a lack of discipline. They were however let off the hook with Stirling Mortlock missing two penalties from three kicks, leaving England only 3-0 adrift until the 22 minute.

But during those opening 20 minutes England were the team in control. The defending world champions pieced together some great passages of play involving every player on the pitch. A great off-load from Simon Shaw saw Jason Robinson burst through into Australia’s territory, only for it to be turned-over. England were certainly asking questions of Australia and making them panic in the danger zone. England failed to cross the try-line, but Jonny Wilkinson’s 22nd minute penalty brought the two teams level.

Australia came unstuck again minutes later when they collapsed the scrum and Wilkinson 25th minute penalty handed England a 6-3 lead, and Wilkinson the record for most points scored in rugby world cup history.

The fly-half couldn’t repeat his earlier efforts though with another kick at goal moments later and Australia soon showed they were fed up of playing second-fiddle. The Wallabies instead turned the tables with their big backs doing the damage. Eventually it was skipper Mortlock’s strength that saw him burst through England’s defence and set-up Lote Tuqiri on the right wing. England Josh Lewsey and Matt Tait threw in the tackles, but Tuqiri was able to stretch his way over the line. Mortlock’s 33rd minute conversion put Australia 10-6 ahead at the break.

The pressure from the underdogs continued after the restart and Wilkinson soon stole the lead with a penalty within a minute and then another on 60 minutes putting Ashton’s men 12-10 ahead.

The re-enforcements for England then came in the form of Matt Stevens, Toby Flood, Joe Worsley and Lawrence Dallaglio. They certainly added to England’s pressure, helping the side to continue to dominate in the scrum area, maintain the power in the contact and at the breakdown; all helping to continue to unsettle the Wallabies.

Wilkinson had another shot between the posts on 74 minutes, but his miss prolonged the agony for the England fans who were counting down the minutes, especially when Mortlock too had his chance at goal two minutes later. 55 metres out proved too much for the experienced centre though, handing England the semi-final spot against either New Zealand or France on October 13th.

England: 15 Jason Robinson, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Mike Catt, 11 Josh Lewsey, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Martin Corry, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Simon Shaw, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Mark Regan, 1 Andrew Sheridan. Replacements: 16 George Chuter, 17 Matt Stevens, 18 Lawrence Dallaglio, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Peter Richards, 21 Toby Flood, 22 Dan Hipkiss.

Tries:
Conversion:
Penalties: Wilkinson (4)
Drop Goals:
Replacements: Richards for Gomarsall (blood, 22), Chuter for Regan (53), Flood for Catt (63), Worsley for Moody (65), Dallaglio for Easter (68),

Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Stirling Mortlock (c), 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 George Gregan, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Daniel Vickerman, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Matt Dunning. Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Hugh McMeniman, 19 Stephen Hoiles, 20 Phil Waugh, 21 Julian Huxley, 22 Drew Mitchell.

Tries: Tuqiri
Conversion: Mortlock
Penalties: Mortlock
Drop Goals:

Half-time score: England 6 Australia 10

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: Paul Honiss (New Zealand), Nigel Owens (Wales)
Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Ends…