Wilkinson kicks England into final

PARIS, France -- Jonny Wilkinson was again England's hero as the defending champions reached the Rugby World Cup final with a hard-fought 14-9 victory over France in Paris on Saturday night.

The fly-half, who kicked England to victory in the 2003 final and has inspired his side's resurgence in this tournament, landed a penalty and a drop-goal in the final six minutes to stun the hosts.

Wilkinson overcame an indifferent match with the boot, in which he missed a conversion and a penalty and hit the post with a mishit drop-kick attempt, to set up a final showdown with either South Africa or Argentina next Saturday.

It was a bitter blow for Bernard Laporte's side, who knocked out favorites New Zealand in the quarterfinals and had led since a second penalty goal by Lionel Beauxis in the 17th minute.

England took an astonishing lead after only 80 seconds with the fastest try in a World Cup semifinal when Damien Traille misjudged a kick by Andy Gomarsall and Josh Lewsey gathered the ball to crash through the France full-back and score in the corner.

Wilkinson could not convert, and the match deteriorated into a dreary affair dominated by poor tactical kicking for the rest of the half.

Beauxis, who missed two desperate drop-goal attempts, made England pay for indiscipline with penalties in the eighth and 17th minutes after indiscretions by forwards Nick Easter and Andrew Sheridan.

Wilkinson missed a drop-kick in the 26th minute and was just wide with a penalty attempt inside his own half soon after, while Beauxis botched another field-goal effort.

England lost Lewsey to injury just before half-time, with Dan Hipkiss coming on at center and Mathew Tait switching to the left wing.

Beauxis put France 9-5 ahead in the 43rd minute after Easter was again penalized, but Wilkinson cut the deficit four minutes later as Les Bleus infringed in defense after Lewis Moody charged down Yannick Jauzion's chip kick.

Laporte made a raft of changes with half an hour to go as Frederic Michalak - the hero against All Blacks - came on for Beauxis at No. 10.

But Michalak missed a drop-goal from almost in front soon after his introduction, while Wilkinson hit the upright with a right-foot effort in the 59th minute.

Replacement flanker Joe Worsley saved England from falling further behind when his tap tackle on Vincent Clerc denied a certain try for the France winger with 12 minutes remaining.

"That was the turning point," Laporte said. "If we had scored, the game would have been over and we would be in the final."

Both sides emptied their substitutes' benches as the war of attrition took its toll, but it was England who ended the match the strongest.

Wilkinson put England 11-9 ahead with a penalty in the 74th minute after a dangerous tackle on full-back Jason Robinson, who had led his team out to celebrate his 50th Test cap.

And Wilkinson stunned the crowd with a trademark left-foot drop-goal in the 77th minute as England repeated their 2003 semifinal victory against the French and earned the chance to become the first nation to retain the title.

It sealed a remarkable turnaround for Brian Ashton's side, who were written off after being thrashed 36-0 by South Africa at the same venue during the group stages.

"People talk about the British bulldog character, and these lads have it in spades," Ashton said.

"We knew it would be tough. We didn't get it quite right at times but we played a lot smarter in the second half in terms of field position. We knew that if we got in sight of their posts we could put the kicks over."

Laporte, who is standing down as coach after the tournament, added: "The disappointment is huge because it was our aim to win the match and then win the final.

"But congratulations to England. They have proved they are a great rugby nation." E-mail to a friend