In appalling conditions at Telstra Stadium that were the direct antithesis of Saturday’s first semifinal, England overcame a gallant French side 24-7 to reach the World Cup final for the first time since 1991. They will play Australia in the final, a repeat of 1991.
Driving rain more akin to Twickenham in February that Sydney in November neutralised the French effort, but it might have been very different. France scored the only try of the match, but their flyhalf Frederick Michalak missed two eminently goalable penalties in the first quarter and thereby allowed an edgy England team to settle.
They were helped by playing against 14 men for 10 minutes after Christophe Dominici was yellow-carded for a cynical trip on Jason Robinson. To make matters worse for France Dominici injured himself in the incident and couldn’t return to the field after his suspension was up.
The other advantage for England was at flyhalf where Jonny Wilkinson had his most influential game of the tournament so far. Wilkinson missed two long-range penalties and a third easier one, but made up for it with a hat-trick of drop goals. He also succeeded with five penalties and was responsible for all England’s points.
France scored a try through Serge Betson in the ninth minute, when England messed up a lineout in their own 22, which allowed the diminutive flanker to break clear. It took five minutes to confirm that Betson had not lost the ball as he crossed the line, but the right decision was made and France dominated proceedings for the next 15 minutes.
But the longer the half went on the more England settled into their familiar and highly effective game, driving the ball down the middle of the field with their magnificent forwards, galvanised by the return on the flank of the great Richard Hill.
Starved of possession France began to give away penalties at the breakdowns, culminating in a late tackle on Wilkinson that earned Betson a yellow card in the 55th minute. Wilkinson got up to kick the resultant penalty and then finished off a typical driving maul by stroking his third drop goal, this time off the left foot after using his weaker right for the first two.
Betson was also not reintroduced after his 10-minute break and when Frederick Michalak was replaced with 15 minutes left, the two most influential French players of the tournament were gone, played out of the game by England.
Replacement prop Jason Leonard spent about five minutes on the field and thereby passed the great French centre Phillipe Sella to become the most capped international of all time with 112.
It was another example of English doggedness finally overcoming French flair and while France may have been the team of the first month at this tournament, England look set to be remembered for finding their game when it mattered most.
Clive Woodward’s team has been nicknamed Dad’s Army for the age of its forwards, but they only need to win one more match to ensure that they are never forgotten.