England relish victory

ENGLAND headed for Melbourne last night with their World Cup campaign gathering huge momentum, and red rose supreme Clive Woodward declaring: “I think we are going to get better and better.”

It was a case of mission accomplished at Subiaco Oval after Jonny Wilkinson and Will Greenwood combined to thwart a mighty South African effort and set up a 25-6 win.

And the prize would appear to be a clear run towards next month's World Cup final in Sydney.

England, provided there are no inexplicable slip-ups against remaining Pool C opponents Samoa or Uruguay, will relish the prospect of meeting Wales, then France.

Fly-half Wilkinson's 20-point haul four penalties, two drop-goals and a conversion of Greenwood's breakaway 63rd-minute try put England in charge of their group following a stamina-sapping forward battle.

They prevailed, despite the absence of injured Lions Matt Dawson and Richard Hill, to record a fifth successive victory over South Africa despite never hitting top gear.

"It was a tremendous victory," said Woodward.

In contrast to Wilkinson's deadly accuracy, his opposite number Louis Koen cost the Springboks dear.

Koen missed four penalties, and had an attempted clearance kick charged down by England flanker Lewis Moody that led directly to Greenwood's clincher.

The fly-half's failings spectacularly let down the work of an unrelenting Springboks pack, who matched England's coalface work-rate.

"It might not have been the prettiest game at times, and we were fortunate they missed some kicks in the first-half when we could have gone points down, but it's about winning and keeping going," said England skipper Martin Johnson.

There was no repeat of last November's violence-scarred encounter between the sides, although a late skirmish involving England number eight Lawrence Dallaglio might yet attract the attention of World Cup disciplinary chiefs.

Dallaglio appeared to take a swipe at Springboks wing Thinus Delport when both players were on the floor, although Woodward doesn't anticipate the matter going further.

Tournament rules dictate that the citing commissioner must make a complaint within 24 hours of a match finishing.

Woodward paid tribute to South Africa, who gave England a ferocious contest and perhaps created more in terms of clear-cut scoring opportunities.

"They were excellent," he said. "The South Africans are a world-class rugby nation, with outstanding players, and I think they did themselves credit.

"I have always thought in the back of my mind that whoever lost on Saturday is not out of the tournament, and the South Africans can have a really good go at the All Blacks in the quarter-finals, if that is the game.

"I don't think that the All Blacks are setting this tournament alight at the moment, and the Springboks must go down to Melbourne and believe that they can win, which they can."

England, meanwhile, now don't have to think about such a scenario. They avenged their 1999 World Cup quarter-final defeat against South Africa, and Wilkinson's two second-half drop-goals were like daggers through the Springboks' heart.

It was four years ago that Jannie De Beer teased and tormented England at Stade de France by kicking a world record five drop-goals, but they need no longer be haunted by those painful memories.

England also cleared a major World Cup hurdle, and while there are still potential obstacles along the way, the reward is clearly in sight.