After Sydney 2003 could it possibly be Paris 2007? Surely it is not even remotely possible that England can achieve the unthinkable, the unimaginable, the downright impossible?

But we’ve been saying this ever since Brian Ashton dragged his bedraggled, battle-scarred troops back into shape and into a position to successfully defend their world crown. Is it just possible that England are about to turn this montage of glorious uncertainty on its head?

They were given no chance against Australia in the quarter-final but prevailed. Against the host nation France in the Stade de France last night the odds were not much better, but on another glorious night for English rugby they once again produced a super-human effort to beat France 14-9 and book their place in the final against either South Africa or Argentina.

'If England thought the going was tough, it was about to become doubly so when Fabien Pelous hobbled to the sidelines only to be replaced by the fearsome Sebastien Chabal'


What a magnificent victory. They trailed by a single point until the 75th minute when Jonny Wilkinson placed a penalty straight between the sticks and a couple of minutes later produced another spot of drop-goal magic to turn a 9-8 deficit into a wonderful victory.

England got away to a dream start with the quickest try in World Cup history and when Andy Gomersall launched a speculative ball deep towards the corner where full-back Damien Traille  hesitated and Josh Lewsey steam-rollered over him for a five-point opener in one minute 20 seconds.

It couldn’t have been scripted better for the reigning champions, but France slowly got the upper hand and two penalties from Lionel Beauxis put them one point ahead by the 17th minute.

England’s discipline was brought into question as Andrew Sheridan, hero of England’s shock win over Australia last week, and skipper Phil Vickery conceded penalties that served to feed France’s growing confidence.

If England thought the going was tough, it was about to become doubly so when Fabien Pelous hobbled to the sidelines only to be replaced by the fearsome Sebastien Chabal. Not what England wanted to see so early in the game.

Jonny Wilkinson, who’s kicking is always so important to England, was unlucky with a penalty attempt from just inside his own half, but as both sides seemed happy to employ kicking tactics it became obvious that accuracy would be a telling factor.

Fortunately for England Jason Robinson, on his 50th appearance for his country, was rock solid at the back.

But once again England’s indiscipline let them down and Nick Easter was penalised for coming in from the side and Beauxis put France into an 9-5 lead with the penalty.

But within a minute Wilkinson hit back with a penalty to raised English spirits – and it was interesting to see that before taking the kick he insisted on being given an official match ball for his difficult kick instead of the the ball he had been handed by some French official.

With only a one-point advantage France gambled on replacing kicking ace Beauxis with Frederic Michalak, a veteran of so many French triumphs.

Suddenly it was nail-biting time as a Wilkinson drop goal effort smashed into the upright and Robinson produced a dynamic 60-metre drive to carry England deep into French territory.

The tackling was brutal, the pace intense, the game in the balance as first France, and then England, fought tooth and nail for possession. But one final devastating run by Robinson caused the French to concede a penalty right in front of goal and Wilkinson did the rest.