Rugby Union - World Cup

[Donny]

Wallaby warm-up forced indoors
October 5, 2003

THE Wallabies have been forced to dramatically alter their pre-match routine for Friday's World Cup opener against Argentina in Sydney by warming up in their dressing room.

World Cup organisers have decreed neither Australia or the Pumas can leave the confines of their dressing rooms after their arrival at Telstra Stadium because of the opening ceremony.

"We've been told there's all the opening ceremony going on you have to do your warm-up in your dressing room, it's non-negotiable," Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said today.

"It'd be hard to think that for the 100m Olympic final the athletes wouldn't be allowed to have their normal warm-up, but it's a one-off so we'll just cope with it as best we can.

"It's not satisfactory but if it's the same for both sides, we're prepared to follow it and we'll be doing some practice over the next couple of days to make sure we're prepared for it."

The Australians usually warm up on the playing field at Telstra Stadium, soaking up the atmosphere before returning to the rooms and then running out for the kick-off.

The time on the pitch also allows them to check on ground conditions and gives their kickers a chance to test the wind.

Instead, ahead of one of the biggest matches of their lives, they will be forced to run their drills in an area Jones estimated was about 20m by 20m.

With the match kicking off at 7pm AEST, the Wallabies were hoping to take their goal-kickers to the stadium during the day.

They have also put in a request that Jones and skipper George Gregan are allowed on to the playing surface after their arrival for a quick inspection.

"If the captain and the coach aren't allowed on the field to look at the conditions then I think it really is getting to the absurd stage.

[Donny]

DRAW: - Disregard references to ITV1 & ITV2 and add 10 hours to the starting times.

Pool A

Oct 10 Australia v Argentina Sydney ITV1 1100 AM
Oct 11 Ireland v Romania Gosford ITV2 0800 AM
Oct 14 Argentina v Namibia Gosford ITV2 1030 AM
Oct 18 Australia v Romania Brisbane ITV2 0700 AM
Oct 19 Ireland v Namibia Sydney ITV1 1100 AM
Oct 22 Argentina v Romania Sydney ITV2 1130 AM
Oct 25 Australia v Namibia Adelaide ITV2 0700 AM
Oct 26 Argentina v Ireland Adelaide ITV1 0730 AM
Oct 30 Namibia v Romania Launceston ITV2 0900 AM
Nov 1 Australia v Ireland Melbourne ITV1 0935 AM

Pool B

Oct 11 France v Fiji Brisbane ITV1 1030 AM
Oct 12 Scotland v Japan Townsville ITV1 1100 AM
Oct 15 FIji v USA Brisbane ITV2 0800 AM
Oct 18 France v Japan Townsville ITV2 1000 AM
Oct 19 Scotland v USA Brisbane ITV1 1030 AM
Oct 23 Fiji v Japan Townsville ITV2 1100 AM
Oct 25 France v Scotland Sydney ITV1 1135 AM
Oct 27 Japan v USA Gosford ITV2 0830 AM
Oct 31 France v USA Wollongong ITV2 0830 AM
Nov 1 Scotland v Fiji Sydney ITV2 0500 AM

Pool C

Oct 11 South Africa v Uruguay Perth ITV2 1300 PM
Oct 12 England v Georgia Perth ITV1 1300 PM
Oct 15 Samoa v Uruguay Perth ITV2 1300 PM
Oct 18 South Africa v England Perth ITV1 1300 PM
Oct 19 Georgia v Samoa Perth ITV2 1300 PM
Oct 24 South Africa v Georgia Sydney ITV1 1100 AM
Oct 26 England v Samoa Melbourne ITV1 0930 AM
Oct 28 Georgia v Uruguay Sydney ITV2 0830 AM
Nov 1 South Africa v Samoa Brisbane ITV2 0730 AM
Nov 2 England v Uruguay Brisbane ITV2 0730 AM

Pool D

Oct 11 New Zealand v Italy Melbourne ITV2 0530 AM
Oct 12 Wales v Canada Melbourne ITV1 0900 AM
Oct 15 Italy v Tonga Canberra ITV2 1030 AM
Oct 17 New Zealand v Canada Melbourne ITV1 1030 AM
Oct 19 Wales v Tonga Canberra ITV2 0900 AM
Oct 21 Italy v Canada Canberra ITV2 1030 AM
Oct 24 New Zealand v Tonga Brisbane ITV2 0830 AM
Oct 25 Italy v Wales Canberra ITV1 0930 AM
Oct 29 Canada v Tonga Wollongong ITV2 0830 AM
Nov 2 New Zealand v Wales Sydney ITV2 0935 AM

Quarter Finals

Nov 8 Winner D v Runner-up C Melbourne ITV1/2 0730 AM
Nov 8 Winner A v Runner-up B Brisbane ITV1 1000 AM
Nov 9 Winner B v Runner-up A Melbourne ITV1/2 0730 AM
Nov 9 Winner C v Runner-up D Brisbane ITV1 1000 AM

Semi Finals

Nov 15 Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 Sydney ITV1 0900 AM
Nov 16 Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 Sydney ITV1 0900 AM

3rd / 4th Place Play Off

Nov 20 Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 Sydney ITV1/2 0900 AM

Final

Nov 22 Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 Sydney ITV1/2 0900 AM

[Donny]

Mortlock illness a body blow
By Wayne Smith
October 6, 2003

THE Wallabies' smooth cup build-up hit a pothole yesterday when illness prevented Stirling Mortlock from training, just two days before the announcement of the side to play Argentina in the opening match of the tournament on Friday.

The hard-running outside centre, who was expected to make his first Test appearance of the season after spending 30 weeks on the sideline recovering from shoulder surgery, was isolated from the rest of the team at their Coffs Harbour base after he was laid low with gastroenteritis.

Although Mortlock has been training solidly, there have been lingering doubts about his match fitness after so long a lay-off.

For him now to have contracted a debilitating illness so close to match day might just be enough to nudge the selectors to err on the side of caution and leave him out of the starting side.

If so, his illness could earn fullback Chris Latham a reprieve, with the man threatening his position, Mat Rogers, the most likely candidate to fill the No.13 jersey against the Pumas. Rogers has started in the last three Tests at outside centre and, after a shaky start there against the All Blacks in Sydney, he has developed into the Wallabies' most penetrative back.

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones claimed yesterday both Australia and Argentina would be disadvantaged by the decision of World Cup organisers to confine the two sides to their dressing rooms before Friday night's match at Telstra Stadium.

The two heavyweight teams will be forced to forgo their usual on-field warm-ups because of the logistical complexities of organising and staging the opening ceremony which will be televised to a worldwide audience.

But while the extravaganza is unfolding outside in front of 83,000 spectators, the Wallabies and Pumas will be indoors for about 80 minutes, forced to do their warm-ups in rooms Jones estimated as being no bigger than 20m x 20m.

Asked if organisers had underestimated the importance of routine in the players' final build-up to a Test of this significance, Jones replied: "Most definitely. It would be hard to think that for the 100m Olympic final, the athletes wouldn't be allowed to have their usual warm-up.

"Whilst we're accepting of it, I don't think it's in the best interests of teams' preparations."

Worst affected will be the goalkickers, with Wallabies kickers Elton Flatley and Joe Roff usually meticulous in taking practice shots at goal from a variety of angles during the warm-up to assess how much to allow for the wind.

Jones conceded the Wallabies had been made aware as early as last January that they would have to warm up indoors, but he said it was only last Friday they were made aware no-one would be allowed to set foot on the ground to at least sniff the breeze before the match.

The Australian team management is seeking the permission of tournament organisers for Jones and George Gregan to make an inspection of the ground before the kick-off. "If the captain and coach aren't allowed on the field to look at the conditions, then it is getting absurd," Jones said.

Rugby World Cup press officer Chris Rea said the Australian request would be considered at the tournament operations meeting today. "Clearly if there is a decision to grant that request, then the same permission would also be granted to Argentina," Rea said.

The Pumas declined to buy into the matter, with a team spokesman issuing a curt "No comment" yesterday.

All indications at yesterday's opening training session pointed to at least three personnel changes to the pack that started against the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup decider on August 16, the Wallabies' last outing.

David Lyons looks set to fill the number eight vacancy caused by the untimely loss of Toutai Kefu for the duration of the tournament with a broken shoulder, while Nathan Sharpe appears on the brink of a recall to the second-row at the expense of Daniel Vickerman.

Al Baxter, who made such a strong impression during his 40-minute showing against the All Blacks at Eden Park, has emerged as favourite for the tighthead position, pitching him into a run-on debut against arguably the most ferocious scrummaging side in world rugby.

[Donny]

Pumas plan to crash the party
October 6, 2003

AS some of the Pumas see it, they're the invited guests at Australia's celebration and they're not expected to overshadow the hosts.

But etiquette will be the last thing on the minds of the Argentineans Friday when they oppose the defending champion Wallabies in front of almost 82,000 fans at Sydney's Olympic Stadium in the World Cup opener.

"It's a hard target, but we have confidence. We're looking forward to the game, but not like guests to a party," said Diego Albanese, who scored two tries in Argentina's charge to the 1999 World Cup quarterfinals.

"It will be a big occasion for the Wallabies, the world champions, with thousands of fans wearing gold jerseys," he said. "They're favourites to win the game, we're aware of that. But we're going in to win it."

Argentina also featured in the World Cup opener four years ago, losing 23-18 to host Wales in a brand-new Millennium Stadium packed with 70,000-plus singing Welsh.

Albanese, a 30-year-old winger embarking on his third World Cup, said the Pumas lineup in '99 had been a little daunted and not confident enough to produce an upset.

"When we watched the game afterward, we thought we could have won if we'd believed we could," he said, adding that the last four years had given the team a lot more experience and confidence.

"We've beaten France three times, we lost against South Africa in the last minute, we lost against New Zealand in the last minute.

"We know we're against the odds, but we're not here just to be in the opening game, we're going in to try and win."

The Pumas rallied from their opening defeat in '99 to beat Samoa 32-16 and Japan 33-12 before a 28-24 upset over Ireland to make the quarterfinals for the first time.

While Argentina's form has been solid, the Wallabies have been struggling for points, form and combinations.

The Wallabies are 3-4 this season, including four losses in their last five matches.

But Albanese is expecting a form reversal from the world champions.

"Everybody is talking about the bad Tri-Nations they had, they lost the Bledisloe Cup to New Zealand, but Australia they're the world champions. I'm sure they'll be really up for it," he said.

"I don't think about them in terms of their performances in the last year. I think they'll be at 100 per cent peak."

Australian coach Eddie Jones will announce his lineup on Tuesday and the Pumas were expected to announce their 22-man match squad on Wednesday.

Felipe Contepomi, who is vying with goalkicking flyhalf Gonzalo Quesada for the No. 10 jersey, said the Pumas were treating the Australia showdown as their most important match of the World Cup.

"We have to look at Australia as the first and most important game because it's the next one," he said. "After that, we think about Namibia, Romania, Ireland and then, maybe, the quarterfinals."

Contepomi said the Pumas, whose only win in Australia was in July 1983, worked best in difficult situations and facing Australia in Sydney would give them a lift.

"They are the world champions. They are better than us, they will be better than us after the game. But those 80 minutes you have to play them, anything can happen - you can make an upset," he said. "It would be dangerous for them to underestimate us."

[Donny]

Australia v. Argentina at the Telstra Stadium is about to begin.

[Donny]

11-3 Australia's way at half time. Wendell Sailor scored a try.

[commonwombat]

Full time Australia 24 Argentina 8

Tryscorers for Australia: Wendell Sailor; Joe Roff. Elton Flatley kicked 3 penalty goals and one conversion.

Wallaby second rower David Giffen carried off just after half time with concussion maybe neck injury after head first impact taking kick-off. No further reports on his condition.

Argentine try scorer was Ignacio Corleto. Felipe Conteponi kicked one penalty goal.

Argentine Manuel Conteponi was sent off.

[tazza2000]

Go the Wallabies!

Go Matty Rodgers! Sensational at FB!

Cant wait till be tackle the kiwis and the poms

[Donny]

First points at a price
By Bret Harris
October 11, 2003

They were faster, stronger and superior to their Argentinian opponents but they lacked the absolute quality and finesse to run up a convincing score.

It mattered little in the end, as the Wallabies - who had been much maligned during the Tri-Nation series - found some much-needed confidence.

"The first game is always a hard game," Wallabies captain George Gregan said.

"Argentina are a very good international team. We are happy to build on that [effort]."

The only low of the evening was the injury to forward David Giffin, who suffered heavy concussion early in the second half.

The Wallabies led 14-3 at halftime, but they could have been in front by a much greater margin if they had been able to translate their overwhelming dominance of possession and territory into points.

The Wallabies gave the Pumas grief in the lineouts, winning seven to four, with Puma hooker Mario Ledesma having all sorts of problems with his throw-ins.

Wallaby five-eighth Elton Flatley scored the first points of the tournament with a penalty goal from 30 metres in the fourth minute to put Australia ahead 3-0.

Argentine five-eighth Felipe Contepomi had a chance to level in the eighth minute, but missed a long-range penalty attempt.

Flatley put the Wallabies ahead 6-0 in the 15th minute with another penalty goal.

The Wallabies showed the Pumas respect by taking the easy points on offer rather than going for tries while deep inside Argentine territory.

But they squandered several try-scoring opportunities with poor handling out wide.

No.8 David Lyons and five-eighth Stephen Larkham made numerous breaks, and it was only a matter of time before the Wallabies crossed over.

Wallaby winger Wendell Sailor crashed over in the right-hand corner midway through the first half. The try was sparked by a brilliant run by winger Joe Roff down the left touchline. Cornered by the cover defence, Roff changed the point of attack and the Wallabies swept towards the right corner.

Fullback Mat Rogers flicked the ball inside to Sailor five metres from the Argentine line, and the powerhouse winger pushed off Puma No.8 Gonzalo Longo, brushed aside halfback Agustin Pichot and took secondrower Patricio Albacete over with him.

Flatley failed to convert the try from near the sideline, but at 11-3 ahead the Wallabies looked in control of the game.

Contepomi missed another penalty goal in the 25th minute, recalling his horror night with the boot in the Pumas' 17-6 loss to the Wallabies in Buenos Aires last November.

Just when things looked like they could not get any worse for Argentina, they did.

Contepomi's twin brother, outside centre Manuel, was given a yellow card in the 32nd minute for a dangerous tackle on Rogers as the Wallaby fullback was attempting to take a high ball from Felipe's boot.

With the Pumas reduced to 14 players for 10 minutes, the Wallabies had a golden opportunity to amass more points, but it was the Pumas who emerged, with Contepomi's penalty goal matching Flatley's fourth goal.

The Wallabies took just an 11-point lead into the break in a game that the Pumas were, on possession statistics, never in.

The Wallabies suffered a setback at the start of the second half when vice captain and second rower David Giffin was carried from the field on a stretcher in the 46th minute with concussion.

A veteran of the Wallabies'1999 World Cup victory, Giffin leapt high in a lineout and seemed to twist in the air before coming down hard on his head and shoulder.

Reserve secondrower Daniel Vickerman, on the bench after starting in all the Tri Nations games, replaced Giffin.

The Pumas had some rare possession early in the second half, but Contepomi missed an attempt at field goal, which showed Argentina's lack of attacking options.

But the Wallabies crept further ahead when Flatley landed another penalty goal from close in the 50th minute after the Pumas were penalised for not releasing in the tackle.

With possession levelling out in the first 20 minutes of the second half, the Pumas had a chance to narrow the gap in the 55th minute, but Contepomi missed yet another attempt at penalty goal.

AUSTRALIA 24 (W Sailor, J Roff tries; E Flatley 4 pens con) ARGENTINA 8 (I Corleto try; F Contepomi pen) at Telstra Stadium. Referee: Paul Honiss (NZL). Crowd: 81,350.

[Donny]

Results, standings
October 17, 2003 - Fox Sports

Pool A
Australia 24 Argentina 8
Ireland 45 Romania 17
Argentina 67 Namibia 14

Standings
P W L D F A Pts
Argentina 2 1 0 1 75 38 5
Ireland 1 1 0 0 45 17 5
Australia 1 1 0 0 24 8 4
Namibia 1 0 0 1 14 67 0
Argentina 1 0 0 1 8 24 0
Romania 1 0 0 1 17 45 0

Pool B
France 61 Fiji 18
Scotland 32 Japan 11
Fiji 19 USA 18
P W L D F A Pts
France 1 1 0 0 61 18 1 5
Scotland 1 1 0 0 32 11 1 5
Fiji 2 1 0 1 37 79 0 4
United States 1 0 0 1 18 19 1 1
Japan 1 0 0 1 11 32 0 0

Pool C
England 84 Georgia 6
South Africa 72 Uruguay 6
Samoa 60 Uruguay 13
P W L D F A Pts
England 1 1 0 0 84 6 1 5
South Africa 1 1 0 0 72 6 1 5
Samoa 1 1 0 0 60 13 1 5
Georgia 1 0 0 1 6 84 0 0
Uruguay 2 0 0 2 19 132 0 0

Pool D
New Zealand 70 Italy 7
Wales 41 Canada 10
Italy 36 Tonga 12
New Zeland 68 Canada 6

New Zealand 2 2 0 0 138 13 2 10
Wales 1 1 0 0 41 10 1 5
Italy 2 1 0 1 43 82 0 4
Tonga 1 0 0 1 12 36 0 0
Canada 2 0 0 2 16 109 0 0

[Donny]

Wallabies go in for kill
By Peter Jenkins
October 18, 2003

SKIPPER George Gregan has compared the Wallabies to a pack of hungry dogs ready to rip Romania to shreds in response to claims that the World Cup holders lack passion.

Gregan sparked concerns earlier this year when he claimed emotion alone was an over-rated asset within the Test rugby cauldron.

But on the eve of Saturday's Pool A clash with Romania he coolly explained how the defending champions have a taste for success to match the insatiable appetite of his pet dog Arthur.

"I own a staffordshire bull terrier," he said after the Wallabies wound up their Brisbane preparations. "Every time I feed it osso bucco he eats it like it's his last meal.

"I think I'm like, and this team is like, my staffordshire bull terrier when it comes to meal times. That's how hungry, that's how passionate we are."

While Gregan confirmed Arthur enjoys lamb shanks Italian-style every night of the week, the Wallabies are rarely afforded the opportunity to gorge as they will at Suncorp Stadium on a diet of footballing minnow.

Not that the Australians plan to judge their display by the final, almost assuredly, lopsided scoreline.

The target is precision in performance – a philosophy Gregan has long embraced and the very reason he downplayed the significance of passion in on-field results.

The heart without the head, he suggests, will never be enough.

But if the sporting public, and a few former Wallabies, had been waiting for Gregan to show more off-field verve as the World Cup campaign hots up, they received a double bill yesterday.

Former Test captain Mark Ella had claimed the Australians lacked the killer instinct to back themselves.

"I don't know if he's watched too many of our games," replied Gregan, pointing to his penchant for ignoring penalties to chase tries when hard on attack.

"We back ourselves to get the job done. I think that's been in evidence over the last couple of years where we've backed ourselves to score tries.

"Sometimes we've scored them, sometimes we haven't. We've probably been criticised for it but there's no lack of backing ourselves, no lack of belief in going for a try. And we'll continue that way. That's our mentality."

Australian coach Eddie Jones has closely guarded his game-day goals as the Wallabies send out a fully laden artillery against the Europe B-grade champions.

But at the top of his list after a rusty opening against Argentina will be better backline cohesion, an improvement in the general play kicking of five-eighth Stephen Larkham, and continued progression in the development of an evolving forward pack.

Gregan is confident the Wallabies are closing in on the kind of performance that will exorcise the disappointments of the past 12 months when Ireland, England, New Zealand and South Africa have conquered them in Tests.

"It starts with your set piece play, and it goes from there," he said. "Our team's a team that if we do that well we find our rhythm.

"And if we can find that rhythm we're hard to play against. That's what we're aspiring to do over these coming weeks."

The player most under pressure today will be outside centre Matthew Burke as midfield line-breaker Stirling Mortlock prepares to ease his way back from the bench after a long injury layoff.

[Donny]

Funny game, this.

Australia wallop Romania, 90-8 and the commentators sound like we've just won the whole bloody tournament with an amazing comeback against the best team in the world.

Gordon Bray exclaims, "A fantastic win by the Wallabies!!"

[commonwombat]

Donny,
Unfortunately, too many Australian Rugby AND Cricket media are not objective commentators but Cheerleaders. They're sickening!!!

To believe these Rugby talking heads, the Wallabies are never fairly beaten; it's always "the ref was against us", "they cheated" or "the other team played dirty".

Despite my years spent in S.Africa, rugby is a shit of a game. Too stop start and for the one great game per year there's too many shit ones.

[Donny]

King George unleashes hell
By Peter Jenkins
October 19, 2003

Australia 90 Romania 8

WALLABIES skipper George Gregan promised a pack of hungry canines and his World Cup hopefuls removed the muzzles to gorge on Romania in a record romp at Suncorp Stadium yesterday.

But there was still the sense of a dog's breakfast about the 80-minute meal where the Australians bloated themselves on 13 tries.

They would have been groan for groan in the respective coaching boxes.

Australian boss Eddie Jones, demanding slick and clinical execution after the bumblings against Argentina eight days before, waded again through an extensive error sheet.

He was upbeat later, asking: "What more could we do?"

But the obsessive perfectionist that is the Australian coach will not repeat the question to his players. He will spell out where they can improve.

Four handling errors for fullback Mat Rogers, despite scoring three tries, a couple for five-eighth Stephen Larkham and winger Wendell Sailor – the only back in the Australian squad not to complete a five-point play.

There were 14 ball spills in all, occasional loose passes and a disturbing lack of vigour at the breakdown in the first half despite the Australians going to the break with a comfortable 38-8 buffer.

At least Jones can trot out an impressive statistical flip side.

The Wallabies equalled their highest ever winning margin in a Test, alongside the 92-10 slaughter of Spain in Madrid almost two years ago.

Thirteen tries also equalled the number they scored against Spain and killed off Korea with in 1987.

It was their biggest win in a World Cup match, surpassing the 57-9 victory over Romania in Stellenbosch in 1995.

Goalkicking centre Elton Flatley, with 11 conversions, also surpassed the previous all time record of 10, set by his midfield partner Matt Burke.

Jones preferred to target the pluses while admitting the scoreline had flattered his side.

"All we wanted to do today was play well," he said. "We weren't interested in cricket scores or records.

"It was important just to play well and move our game on.

"In the end we won by 80-odd points. But we can play better. We're satisfied with what we've done but there's space for improvement and we're going to fill that space."

Asked if it was a step up on the 24-8 win over Argentina last week, Jones replied:"It's hard to equate.

"In matches like today you can struggle the whole game and win by 30.

"Or you can put 'em away, and we did that. What more can you do?

"Certainly we dropped some ball but they were positive mistakes. I don't know how many balls New Zealand dropped against Canada last night.

"But I thought Canada stuck it up the All Blacks for 30 minutes. And that was a Canadian B team.

"We'll get confidence out of our performance. At the same time we'll identify areas we still need to work on.

"We did what we had to do."

The Wallabies onslaught yielded a try within 18 seconds. Australia won the kick-off with a tap down to hooker Brendan Cannon. He took the ball into contact, it was fired out to the backs and Flatley beat two defenders to cross.

Another Flatley bust, with twin left-handed fends allowed Rogers to grab the first of his hat-trick with 12 minutes gone.

A glitch for the Australians at the lineout allowed a Romanian steal midway through the half and prop Petrisor Toderasc burrowed over. It was, for the Romanians, as good as it got.

They chased and covered with courage. But when the clock hit the hour, they hit the wall. Their defence collapsed, along with their legs. Australia ran in seven tries over the final 23 minutes.

The last of them came from a scrum shove near the Romanian line, with NSW winger Lote Tuqiri packing at blindside flanker, having been injected into the game when flanker Phil Waugh sustained a minor back spasm and was replaced as a precaution.

Tuqiri, the last man on the bench, came into the game in the forwards. He scored one try when surging into a ruck and finding the ball at his feet. He picked up and pirouetted for his first Test try.

Three minutes later he helped drive the Romanian scrum to the right and George Smith, at No.8, strolled across.

"It was Lote's first time there," joked Smith. "But he handled it very well. I think there's a positional change there for the future."

Jones told how his last instructions to the former Kangaroos speedster were: "Just play like a running back".

Tuqiri did, and played like a running forward as well.

[Donny]

England bounce Springboks
October 19, 2003

England 25 South Africa 6

IN front of Prince Harry, world No.1 England made a solid case for the World Cup crown in their win over a spirited South Africa in Perth.

The bad blood between the two pool C sides was never exposed as loyal subject Jonny Wilkinson's trusty left boot guided England to victory with 20 points.

The five eighth kicked five from five and booted two drop goals in another ice-cool display.

It sees the Red Rose move toward a likely quarter-final with Wales while the Springboks are now on track to meet the All Blacks in the final eight.

The two teams played in front of the Webb Ellis Trophy and competed like everything was at stake tonight in a tight contest until late in the second half.

But England coach Clive Woodward will be concerned about the way his renowned forward pack struggled to dominate the 'Boks' big men.

However his players did exact revenge for the 44-21 quarter-final loss at the last World Cup and kept South African from breaching their tryline.

It was only the 1995 World Cup winners' second loss in tournament history after losing in the semi-finals to Australia four years ago.

Springboks five eighth and goalkicker Louis Koen (two from six) had a lamentable night and it was a Will Greenwood try from a charge down of his kick which turned the match in the 63rd minute.

Flanker Lewis Moody charged down Koen's kick on his defensive 22 with Greenwood soccering the ball ahead before touching down.

England halfback Kyran Bracken's delivery was serviceable at best while there was some bizarre options taken by a nervous England team at times.

Woodward feared the ill feeling between the two sides would result in fireworks in the tunnel before the match.

However his request for teams to run out separately was not adhered to as both sides ran out together.

Wilkinson started nervously with an errant kick but soon had the first points on the board with a penalty goal in the third minute.

It was a torrid opening with 'Boks prop Richard Bands leaving the field under the blood rule four minutes later as England dasher Jason Robinson continually stretched the South African defence.

Flanker Neil Back had a poor attempt at drop goal before winger Ben Cohen was put into space on the left flank but centre South African Jorrie Muller pulled off a try-saving tackle in the 11th minute.

The Africans responded with their opening penalty from Koen before he failed to make the distance from a halfway shot.

Sharpshooter Wilkinson eased England's nerves with another penalty from out wide in the 29th minute.

Koen had another long range attempt which bounced off the post and then sent his next two penalties wide.

But Greenwood made a schoolboy error from the miss, passing the ball forward without touching it behind the line first.

The fundamental mistake led to Koen levelling the scores just before the break.

England started the second half well with Wilkinson registering another penalty from close range.

However the 'Boks responded with a sweeping counter-attack with the diminutive Jason Robinson bundling powerful second-rower Bakkies Botha into touch near the tryline.

Robinson soon after kicked and chased and forced a fumble, England received another penalty. and Wilkinson maintained his perfect record.

The match turned into a real battle before Moody's decisive play with Greenwood making up for his earlier blunder.

Another surging England move soon after resulted in a Wilkinson drop goal which sealed the result.

England captain Martin Johnson said he was relieved more than anything to get the result.

"I think that's the word. We've got to enjoy it. It was a huge game ... they (South Africa) put a huge emphasis on it," he said.

"There was great support for both teams and we have enjoyed Perth."

Johnson added that England failed to pressure the South Africans enough in first half with the Greenwood try being the difference in the end.

"I think Will's charge-down try was the difference and we managed to slot a couple of field goals," he said.

"The first half we struggled. There was too much pressure on Jonny (Wilkinson), our forwards didn't get enough ball and there was enormous pressure on Jonny's kicking. We've come through and benefited from a proper Test match."

Despite the loss South African Corne Krige was proud of his team's strong showing.

"We played like we wanted to play," he said.

"They have done it (pressure) to so many teams in the past we needed to try to get hold of the ball more. We got good position but in the end they took their opportunity."

"They took their points – massive disappointment for us. We worked hard and want to thank our people back home for coming to support us."

ENGLAND 25 (Will Greenwood try; Jonny Wilkinson 4 pens, con, 2 drop goals) bt SAFRICA 6 (Louis Koen 2 pens) at Subiaco Oval, Perth. Referee: Peter Marshall (Aus). Crowd: 38,834.