Viewing Single Post From: Rugby Thread

Viewing Single Post From: Rugby Thread
Ninja Boi	Oct 6 2007, 03:16 PM
The Lego Master Posts: 5,686 Group: Admin Member #3 Joined: August 17, 2007	Rugby World Cup 7 Sept - 20 Oct, 2007 By Julian Shea Jonny Wilkinson scored all of England's points Australia (10) 10 Try: Tuqiri Pen: Mortlock Con: Mortlock England (6) 12 Pens: Wilkinson (4) Jonny Wilkinson was the scourge of Australia again as his four penalties put England in the World Cup semi-final after a thrilling win in Marseille. Lote Tuqiri's try put Australia 10-6 up but Wilkinson's boot and England's superior scrum kept them in the game. There was little flowing rugby in the second half but with neither side on top, it made for nail-biting viewing. Wilkinson and Stirling Mortlock missed late chances to win it but England held on for a memorable victory. Despite Mortlock's penalty giving Australia an early lead, he missed two others as England had the better of the opening 40 minutes. An unlucky bounce from Mike Catt's kick-through into the right-hand corner denied Paul Sackey the chance to score for England's opening try. Australia had not had a serious try-scoring threat before England's next one, set up when Jason Robinson's trademark burst of speed tore through the defensive line. Mathew Tait was central to England's next attack, involved several times in a sweeping cross-field move but for all their pressure, the only change to the scoreline was two Wilkinson penalties. The Wallabies made England pay when Tuqiri eluded the grasp of Josh Lewsey to stretch over in the right-hand corner, finishing off after Berrick Barnes' clever dummy allowed Mortlock's battering ram-run to set up the try. Australia's scrum was on the back-foot for the first half and shortly after the restart, it looked like England's pack had set up their first try. The pack was in reverse as George Gregan was smothered by Lewis Moody and Andy Gomarsall, trying to get the ball away. But with the try-line within England's reach, Wilkinson's pass caught Catt unawares and his knock-on cost England their best try-scoring chance so far. Although the attack failed to produce a try, Wilkinson notched another penalty to reduce the deficit to 10-9. Australia were just re-establishing themselves in the game when Tait's inspired hack from a stray pass by George Gregan sent play back down the other end of the field. Rocky Elsom was panicked into conceding a penalty that Wilkinson slotted over to give England the lead. Drew Mitchell's introduction instantly gave Australia more punch in attack but Nathan Sharpe's knock-on at the vital moment scuppered the attack. When Gregan conceded a clear penalty for off-side on the halfway line, it seemed set up for Wilkinson to apply the finishing touch to another memorable win, but his kick drifted inches wide of the left-hand post. Mortlock then had a chance to snatch a late victory for Australia with a penalty, but made a mess of it and England held on for their biggest result since the 2003 World Cup final. England: Robinson; Sackey, Tait, Catt, Lewsey; Wilkinson, Gomarsall; Sheridan, Regan, Vickery (capt), Shaw, Kay, Corry, Moody, Easter. Replacements: Chuter, Stevens, Dallaglio, Worsley, Richards, Flood, Hipkiss. Australia: Latham; Ashley-Cooper, Mortlock, Giteau, Tuqiri; Barnes, Gregan; Dunning, Moore, Shepherdson, Sharpe, Vickerman, Elsom, Smith, Palu. Replacements: Freier, Baxter, McMeniman, Hoiles, Waugh, Huxley, Mitchell.


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