Wilkinson weary after World Cup final

Jonny Wilkinson claimed the England team had been on “a hell of a journey” after they relinquished their World Cup crown to South Africa.

The fly-half kicked two penalties at Stade de France but his efforts were in vain as Percy Montgomery booted four of his own, with Francois Steyn adding a long-range fifth to seal the win for the Springboks.

England struggled to make headway against a fierce Springbok defence, although it took the video referee to rule out Mark Cueto’s ’try’ early in the second half for a foot in touch.

“We had a lot of ground to catch up in this tournament and the guys all took the responsibility and I was proud of them all,” Wilkinson said of his team-mates, who lost 36-0 to the same opponents in the pool stage.

“I have given everything I had to this effort. I have never given anything less than everything and it has been a hell of a journey with these guys.

“We have played pressure rugby for all of this tournament and even today there were only a few points in it.”

Wilkinson spoke to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the rostrum after the game.

He added: “The Prime Minister said: ’Well done. All the boys back home are proud of you. Unfortunately it just wasn’t your day today.”’

Cueto insisted there was no question he should have been awarded a try after finishing off a brilliant England attack, sparked by Mathew Tait’s midfield break.

He grounded the ball in the left corner but, after numerous replays, video referee Stuart Dickinson ruled he had brushed the touchline as Danie Rossouw attempted a last-ditch tackle.

It came at a crucial moment, straight after half-time with England 9-3 down.

Cueto said: “I watched it on the replay and I thought it was a 100% try.

“From the front the ball was grounded well. From the back you could see I wasn’t in touch. The foot they thought was in touch lifted up before it went over the line so for me it was a 100% try.

“It was a crucial point. We were six points behind. With the try we would have been within one with Wilko to take the kick.

“It was a tight game. Neither side looked like scoring, so it was a key moment.”

Lawrence Dallaglio, who came off the bench late in the game, admitted it was a contentious decision.

He added: “It was one of those 50-50 decisions. If you are a South African it was a try, if you are English it wasn’t.

“On another day it could have been given but the decisions all went our way in the quarter-final and the semi-final.

“Today was a day we needed all the decisions to go our way.

“It was a big decision which changed the course of the game, we only got three points out of it which ultimately wasn’t good enough.”

Tait made the break and got to within inches of the line before the pass was swung out via Wilkinson to Cueto.

But that was England’s only try-scoring opportunity of the game and as the clock ticked down, South Africa saw out the match in text-book fashion.

They defended stoutly but did not concede any kickable penalties or allow Wilkinson repeated drop-goal attempts.

Mike Catt, at 36 the oldest player to have played in a World Cup final before he limped off in the second half with a thigh strain, also had nothing but praise for his team-mates.

He said: “It has been been a hell of a journey.

“It feels a little bit different being on the other side of it tonight (after winning the World Cup in 2003).

“But what a group of guys to be involved with.”

On the disallowed try, he added: “It was a bit gutting to only get three points out of it rather than seven.”

Toby Flood, who replaced Catt, said: “It is hard to take. It was a bit of a sombre changing room but we can hold our heads up.

“When I came on it was a game that was there to be won but they are a very difficult team to break down. They fully deserved their win.”