The English team rose to the occasion and showed that they were as good as everyone had been claiming, when the won tonight's World Rugby Tournament by 3 points in Xtra time.

Johnny Wilkinson as usual, played an outstanding game but this time round didn't win the game alone, his team won with him. England and Australia scored tries and both scored equal penalties.

In the 1st 15 mins the Wallabies looked dangerous & were 1st to score but missed the conversion. Then the English lifted their game managed to pull ahead with a penalties then a field goal.

In the later half of the main game both sides held even sway until a penalty to Australia evened the score at 14 aside.

At official full time the score was even. This meant Xtra Time at 10 mins aside. The English scored 1st with a penalty then in the 2nd 10 min Xtra time and in the last 2 mins, Australia equaled from a penalty kick taking the score to 17 each.

From the restart the English managed to get the ball and with 15 seconds to go Johnny Wilkinson kicked a field-goal to take England to victory.

Everyone watching was rewarded with excellent rugby. All accusations by the Aussies during the week, that England only played a boring kicking game, was contradicted by the total involvement of the English team.

A well deserved win & one that should generate lots of interest in Rugby in the northern hemisphere.

Doug M

[link|http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/3228728.stm|http://news.bbc.co.u...d_cup/3228728.stm] news item
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