England captain Martin Johnson surveyed his battered troops last night and announced proudly: ”It wasn’t pretty, but it’s all about winning.”
Johnson, a huge, craggy character who knows all about the merits of not being pretty, said: ”There was a lot of pressure on us, but it’s great to play a tough Test match like that and win it. The guys responded really well.
”What can you say about Jonny? He’s fantastic. His penalties were great and he pegged them back with drop goals.
”We go on to another huge game against Samoa, we had a disruptive week with guys pulling out late with injury.
Coach Clive Woodward admitted his side were nowhere near their best.
He said: ”Everyone was very calm at halftime. We knew we weren’t playing well.
”We didn’t hit the standards we wanted to, but I never felt we wouldn’t win it, even at 6-6.
”By our own standards, we weren’t anywhere near our best, but we’ve beaten the Boks five times in a row now. And we did it with a bit to spare.
”This was a game with massive consequences for the side which lost. It was a must win game and we won it.
”South Africa can beat New Zealand. We can beat New Zealand. They’re not the dreaded force. South Africa played very, very well tonight.
”Our forwards were outstanding. They’re a tough bunch of lads. We didn’t concede a try.”
Scrumhalf Kyran Bracken, who was doubtful all week after a back spasm, said: ”The back felt fine. The medical team got me through. I was more tired than sore.
”In the back of my mind I thought I’d be on a plane home if I didn’t come through this game. I’m very pelased to come through it.”
Try scoring hero Will Greenwood said: ”Lewis Moody had the energy to chase down Koen, he followed through and the ball bounced nicely for me.
”The first touch was Shaun Goater style, next thing you know, the ball hit the back of the net. Fatastic.”
But what about the awful moment when he failed to dot down a missed Koen penalty int he first half, gifting the Boks a try on our line? ”It was an aberration. You dust your self down, you know you’ve made a cock-up. It was very fortunate. I very much hope I won’t do it again. Let’s move on and not write too much about it!”
Woodward, asked if Pirnce Harry had been a lucky charm, joked: ”Was Prince Harry there? The fans were absolutely fantastic. It gets the momentum going. If Prince Harry was there, I hope he was wearing a white shirt and enjoyed it. ”
England’s bloodied hero Neil Back, who came off briefly during the second half for treatment on a head wound, said: ”I had some staples in the cut. It’s quicker. I had very good medical care.
”It’s great to have two good looking girls looking after you.”
He shrugged off any suggestion of heroism saying: ”All these head injuries look worse than they are.”
For South Africa, the suggestion of brave defeat rankled.
Coach Rudi Straueli said: ”Maybe it was the difference between experience and youth.
”And Jonny Wilkinson kicking those penalties and drop goals.
”Obviously we spilled chances. They were vulnerable. I don’t want to be too harsh on Louis Koen for missing four penalties. I haven’t talked to him yet.”
Embittered Bok scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen barked: ”England are vulnerable. They’re beatable. The packs were quite even and it wasn’t a structured try.
”We’re very disappointed.
”Oh ja, they’re good enough to win The World Cup, but so are New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
Captain Corne Krige said: ”I am proud of this team. They’ve been through more than any other team at this World Cup. I know that for sure.
”But it’s a very sad day for South African rugby if we’re satisfied with a loss.
”We’ll keep putting our bodies on the line until we’ve got our nation back where it should be. At the top of the game.”
Straeuli insisted: ”It’s not all over yet. We have to play the top teams somewhere along the line.
”It showed that there’s possibility, there’s hope. We hope to go to the quarter final in Melbourne against the All Blacks and surprise them.
”I think, let’s leave Lawrence Dallaglio’s punch for the citing and the officials. As South Africans we decided we wanted to change and play some decent rugby.”
Krige insisted: ”At one stage I heard the England players swearing at each other. I was very happy about that. We knew we could frustrate them.
” We showed they could be beaten.”