ANGLETERRE 100 - FRANCE 0 - Bravo !

Quel plaisir cette presse Anglaise ! - Comment revenir de nul part !

ENGLAND'S rugby stars are dreaming of retaining the World Cup after dumping the French. Brian Ashton's heroes squeezed out Les Bleus with a gutsy display in Paris. Jonny Wilkinson missed FOUR kicks at goal as the pressure told. But the 2003 final hero came up trumps again with a 75th-minute penalty to put England into a 11-9 lead. And Wilko killed off the host nation three minutes later with another of his trademark drop goals to put England into next Saturday's final. The victory continues the world champions' transformation from a team that looked down and out when it was trounced 36-0 by South Africa in the same stadium four weeks ago. But the mental strength that underpinned victories over Samoa, Tonga and Australia once again surfaced at the Stade de France. England made a spectacular start, taking the lead after just 80 seconds when Josh Lewsey took advantage of a slip by Damien Traille to leap over his man in the corner. Wilkinson missed the touchline conversion and Lionel Beauxis kicked an eighth-minute penalty to bring France into the game. But the French were rocked by the loss of lock Fabien Palous, who came off worse in a collision with Wilkinson, the Caveman Sebastien Chabal replacing him. England themselves lost Lewsey with a hamstring problem but went in at the turnaround only 6-5 in arrears ...

• The sun - France 9 England 14 Beauxis landed another penalty after Andrew Sheridan was punished for incorrect binding.