Why do so many of England's critics think that tough gritty forward play is boring, and creative jinky tries are the only thing that makes the game exciting? Physical, pounding forward play is 50% of what makes 15-a-side rugby the greatest game in the world, while 7-a-side is a pleasant Sunday afternoon distraction.

David hope, Laguna Beach, California

For the last few years I have been entralled by the game of Rugby. This is certainly the toughest sport I reckon, played by men willing to push their bodies beyond the extraordinary unlike the American style football which looks second rate

Certainly last night was one of the highlights in the game's longstanding history. Congrats England. All the very best in the final. Let the Aussies stop moaning they always do, be it cricket or any other sport.

Also it's good to see the game growing with the lesser known countries doing well.

Francisco M, London, England

Well Done England. You deserve to be in the final, you played the game & won. No matter how you won, you got the most points on the day.
Bet the whole of England are going to cheer for the Argies tonight, cause they do not want to face the Springboks again, after that 39-0 run the other night. On that night England did not even deserve the 0. Going to be interesting!
Go Bokke!!!

Arthur, Durban, South Africa

Whats the difference between a Wallaby, an All Black & Viagra? At least you get a Semi with Viagra!
Awesome England! Just hope the Boks beat Argies...
Then we in for a wonderful final!
Go Bokke!!

Arthur, Durban, South Africa

So biased reffing is OK Dave, as long as its to your advantage. Get the blinkers off. The IRB wanted France in the semis not New Zealand and the officials were instructed accordingly, or are all English refs ignorant of the offside law.

Ian, London, UK

England have been playing boring rugby for years now it is amazing that they have made the final again. They killed the ball and kicked the snot out of it in 2003 now again in 2007. What would England do if Wilkinson wasn't available they would go back to getting flogged, they can't win without Johnny's boot. The English are a very strange breed fancy make giving Johning a MBE for kicking a rugby ball very wierd I hope the English get Flogged.

Knighty, Sacramento, California

Robert from Boston

I played on a tour in the USA in 1982. We played Brookline Highschool in Boston as well as Fairfield Prep, Xavier (Brooklyn) and others in DC and Maryland.

Back then we could much understanding of Rugby and you are not showing much now.

Bill from Oz

What missing is you winning. Bye loser. Let's see if you can get your game together for 2011.

Andy G, London, UK

Its great to be a Pom in Australia!!!!
The Aus commentry of the game was great but the media commentry after the game - 'We should have one...' and etc just smacked of sour grapes.

Why can't the Aussies be more like the French?

James, Melbourne, australia

Utterly magnificent! It is sooooooo good to be English. England are winners. Australia are whiners. You've disgraced yourself with your mean-spirited nastiness. And the Kiwis who went to the match last night draped in French tricolours - you must enjoy repetitive losing syndrome. I'm proud of the boys, their spirit, determination their try-scoring, kicking and their good grace towards the opposition. The character of a mature nation, not the adolescence of the sore losers who comment here and elsewhere. How on earth can you complain about how England score their points when they scored in every way possible!?

Nigel Davies, Manchester, England

I didn’t particularly like the French…Until now.

Gracious hosts, determined in action, dignified in defeat. They have done their nation proud.

You may have lost the game but you have won the respect of at least this ignorant Englishman.

To my English football supporting brothers (and apparently every Australian on earth) please look and learn.

Vive la France, God Save the Queen and long live the game of Rugby.

Ian, Chelmsford, UK

Bill G - What you may be missing is a team in the World Cup Final. What you're not missing are the sour grapes.

Just because Australia know only one way of playing the game and have forgotten that rugby is a complex, multi-faceted game.

Michael Chatfield, Chaguanas, Trinidad

A lot of people are now seeing the Aussies for what they are - bad winers, bad losers, and actually, a fairly mediocre Rugby team. After they beat the Lions in 2001, I was shocked at the smugness and lack of grace they had. They're even worse when they lose. I'm glad they're back home in Australia now. Since they've been gone, the whole tournament has had a lift in terms of atmosphere, sportsmanship, humility and inter support friendship.

Is there any chance of having a RWC without them at some point in the future? Maybe England could play them in a special one-off qualifier, after all, when it comes to Enland -v- Australia in the RWC, there's only ever one winner.

r_mcnish, edinburgh, uk

If everybody would be perfectly honest, is the rugby that Eng play a good advertisement for the sport? No. If Wilkinson did not play they would not have a hope. It will be a travesty if Eng win this. Or should I say Wilkinson because they certainly couldn't without him. This current side couldn't hold a candle to the 2003 side that deservedly won it.
As for the silly comment about not many southern hemisphere sides left??? As I write this there are two, and one of them will be in the final.

Chris Butler, Orlando(ex Knysna), United States

Well done England, you did what was necessary.

However, what worries me is, if Wilkinson is injured and out, can England win?

Also, I see some comments from Australia. Where they in the competition?

W Dunseith, Contré, France,

Bill G from Melbourne, patently you're missing quite a lot. For starters you missed a great match of rugby union. If you didn't see that, you should go watch ballet at the Opera House, rugby union's obviously well beyond your understanding. You're also missing the fact that it's four more years for your ballet dancers. That should be enough time to get a pack, and all the lard off Fat Dunning. If they managed that he'd probably be down to 12 stone and might fit nicely into a tutu, which would be the most appropriate strip for the Wobblies to play in, if they want to continue playing what you obviously think is rugby union. Rugby union is a game involving heart, guts, determination, spirit, morale and a never-say-die attitude. This England team has this by the tanker load, which is why they'll be in the world cup final and your lot will be practising their pirouettes back in Aus.

Jim Dandring, Droitwich,

I have to agree with the comment about whinging Aussies. The whole world knows they are bad winners and losers. As a consequence everyone supported England and not Australia in the quarter final. The night before the game I was in a bar in Toulon and all the neutral supporters wanted an England win and that included South Africans, New Zealanders, French, Welsh, Scots and Irish. Doesn't that tell you something Australians?

I hope you have all heard of the new Australian wine called Pom Victoire and made from pure sour grapes.

Paul Davies, Adelaide, South Australia

Why is it that Wallabies and Kiwis are always referring to us as whingeing poms? The only whingeing I can hear comes, as usual, from the Antipodes.

Well done England, one game to go...

Mark, Plymouth, UK

The Aussies can't take it, a pansy front row were complertely taken apart by England, they were wetting themselves at every scrum, on most occasions they were completely rucked off the ball, No good having a set of ballet dancers outside if you can't win the ball. Of courseyou can all play exciting rugby against the Japan ladies 2nd XV, but under the cosh it's different.
Still there wasn't much whingeing, they were too out of breath!
Keep moaning were really savouring it!

Stephen Staples, Plougonver, France

Sorry for the antipodean whingers but they ought to face up to the fact that what they're really complaining about is that modern rugby is too much of a man's game for them. England were tougher mentally AND physically. It's not about kicking it's about being men - the kicking only works if the forwards do their jobs. Football - a perfectly good game - is the proper home of delicate flowers who don't fancy contact and like running with the ball, but Australia (friendlies aside) and NZ aren't any good at that either.

Keep practising the Heimleich manouevre.

Dan , Liverpool,

Fine, we kick victories. But the French didn't score a try and if you can't cope with a tactic that is so well known that you all whinge about it then that says a lot about your quality of rugby, Aussie whingers. You weren't good enough in 2003 and you're not good enough now. Get over it. The more you complain the better we feel and the more pathetic you look.

Mike, Jubail, Saudi Arabia,

Australians need to grow up and learn how to to be gracious in defeat and magnanimous in victory. Yes, they are a GREAT sporting nation and punch well above their weight in many sporting contests but their arrogance and 'hatred' of opponents (to quote the ARU Chief Exec. ) is not welcome in the sporting world.
Anyway, glad to see they're helping to reduce global carbon emissions by dropping the ABs off on their way back down under.

Guillaume, Bordeaux,

Congratulations,England although it was not a great game to watch as a spectacle.We wish you the best for the final as the Webb ellis trophy belongs in this hemisphere.We look forward to beating the World Champions in Twickenham again-as we did 4 years ago!!

Michael, Wexford,

The game is about winning on the day (as opposed to whinging the day after you loose). No one likes to loose. I stood alongside countless other fans watching a gripping game of rugby that went on untill the 80th minute it was fantastic and far more captivating than any football match for me. Well done England all of you! the forwards gain the hard yards for JW to capitalise on, the other Backs atack the ball and distract the defence... its a team game and England were the best team on the night. Sincere comiserations to every other team not in the final... I remember 1991 and it hurts. I hope not to feel the pain this year. It was simply fantastic last night. Every rugby lover will appreciate the game in all its facets... but there is only one thing that counts... the score on the board. well done to all the players who have kept so many people enthralled this year (as in every other RWC) thanks thanks thanks....

Cris, York, UK

Go on you Argies. What a contrast your Rugby team makes to your football team, men and women. Maybe the rest of Argentina will butch up when playing footy after seeing their men Men play Rugby.

Fred, Miami, FL

Hey Bill G,

How are those grapes down there?

Pete Y, Sutton Coldfield, UK

Bill G, Melbourne, "Australia Kick, kick, kick, kick, kick .......... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I'm missing something about this game?"
- Yes Billy boy : you misses the Wallabies, 'cos Australia weren't in it. The post-match commentary on Setanta said it all - sour grapes from a chippy bunch of losers.

Colin Bastable, Andover, USA

Thanks boys, its going to be fun at work tomorrow, Aussies, Kiwi's and French in the office. The cr*p the Aussie press and more importantly the so called TV pundits comes up with amazes me. If you can't even congratulate the winners and say something objective don't bother saying anything at all.

Bring on the last of the Southern Hemispheres challengers, not many of you left.

Swing Low Sweet Chariot....

Mark, Sydney,

Bill, what you missed was the first 2 minutes. The reason we were 5-0 upwhen you started watching was that Lewsey scored a cracking try. And I believe I recall him running his way over the line.

Who found this game boring? There was only one point in it for most of the game and everything at stake. I was riveted.

Neil, London,

Ian your eyed cynical attitude is not in keeping with the spirit of Rugby...get a life..check out the interesting and positive comments from the NZ supporters above...that's what makes rugby so great

Dave, Worcester, Worcs

Well done England!
Rugby is a game of many skills, kicking is just one of them. I assure you that if thats all a team did, it would lose everygame!

If you dont understand the game my dear Australians, and Americans, watch and play netball, lots of passing and running there!
Grapes tasting ok??

Mike, gloucester, uk

It's such a pity that a few of the comments here are so negative, and sound so sour towards England. It has been a great World Cup. There have been sublime performances by almost all teams. From the grit of the Georgians, the pride of the Tongans and the endeavour of the Argentinians, it has been compelling. France have some fanstastic players, as do Oz and NZ, but on the day of reckoning they just could not find the way to win.
I agree that England have not been playing beautiful rugby, but you have to use the resources at hand. We have great defence, some bruisers up-front with amazing commitment (supplemented with the odd line-break from Jason, Josh, Matt or Paul) and Johnny's left peg. That's about all, but we've used it to good effect.
I have total respect for all the teams that have played in the tournament. Their different approaches to the matches have led to some excellent spectacles. Let's accentuate the positive rather than berate teams for winning in their own style.

Martin, Cambridge, UK

The problem with the Aussies and their choking mentality lies with the weather.

When it rains, the French beat them.

When the sun shines, the English beat them.

When hell freezes over, the Aussies finally win.

For a country that derides another for being wingers, the sheer volume of sour grapes they're spouting is hypocracy in the extreme.

A nation of good sports? Hang your heads in shame. Many people will never see you guys in the same light again.

Nick , Malaga, Spain

To all the barbarian-style rugby romantics - if you think that running rugby should be played at all costs, you are wrong! The defenses are so tight and aggressive nowadays that you have to make choices about when to run and when to get field position. France are pressurised by the romantics into playing in a style that allows aggressive defences to catch them out and get opportunities to score from penalties.

And dear old Bill G: kick, kick, kick, kick, kick - that'll be 15 points, thanks, or should I say more than two tries and the conversions.

Mind you, it would be nice to see Scotland ATTEMPT to run the ball OCCASIONALLY - now that was a let down.

Dodger Munzie, Perth (the original one), Alba

Whats the difference between an Aussie RWC fan and a 747.... the 747 stops whining after its landed.....

What stays in the cup longer... the All Blacks or a Tea Bag... silly question really, it's got to be a Teabag.....

Which team watches the movie "Free Willie" as part of their training... Wales, because it clearly shows how whales can get out of their own pool..

SA / Arg for the final who cares.... bring it on

Andrew Houston, Stroud, England

Lots of comments from Aussies here, hang on I will just check.........yep, you guys were kicked out sometime ago during the quarter finals.

Look forward to caring about your opinion again in around 2011, just one more overblown southern hemisphere powerhouse to suffocate and perhaps we can just enjoy our victories without these fools and their carping.

And if SA do get up against the Argies and beat us again, still looks like a final berth instead of a qf, looks a bit better on the old stats hey?

John, Sydney, Australia

What you're missing Bill is a pack with the strength, technique and balls to take us on in the scrum, same as four years ago when we beat you in the final.
Time for the Aussie to get back to basics and get a pack that's man enough for top flight rugby.

Andrew, Southampton, England

Great game and the Aussies and Kiwi's still wingeing - get real - the best team on the day won.

Col, Shrewsbury, UK

I wonder if England do go on to win the World Cup if we will soon be praising Sir Jonny, Sir Jason, Sir Phil.....? Here's hoping.

Izzie Waterman, London,

Yeah Bill.... the lack of an Aussie team in the RWC!! Lose the bitterness mate and enjoy the game!

Jim, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Seems to me that there is still a lot of SOUR GRAPES from our Aussie friends? Lighten up, you lost, get over it.
It wasn't "one man" out there that beat the Aussies or French.
The Aussies don't lose to often at anything which might account for them being Bad Losers. We still love you butt.

Tony, Perth, W.A.

Bill G - it's actually win win win (oh, sorry that's not in the Australian vocab is it? - rather moan moan moan).

Well done England, it's all about tournament play and they're proving to be masters in this World Cup. France were great too, not a pretty game but thrilling non the less. Roll on tomorrow and next week - what a great World Cup!

JustinH, Las Vegas, USA

we wre watching the game in umeå north sweden,about 20 brits and the atmosphere was fantastic.THE BOYS HAVE DONE ALL OF US X PATS PROUD AGAIN.

Neil Hunt, umeå, Sweden

A remarkable victory and CONGRATULATIONS ENGLAND !! Again, Jonny Wilkinson is always there for the country when "le crunch" time comes. However, every man in the team was incredible and they all played magnificently for England. We now need one more gigantic effort from our guys in the Finals and we now need to keep our feets firmly on the ground, clear heads and strong hearts to win against either the South Africans or Argentinians. For now, we bask in glory and celebrate a great victory against the French !!

James, Bexhill-on-Sea,

Well done England. As an All Black fan I can only hope that we learn to 'win ugly' when required and adapt our tactics as well as France did last weekend and you did in beating France. In the days when we had guys that could drop goals - like Grant Fox and Andrew Mehrtens - we had a kicking game second to none. Now we seem to ignore a key part of the game - England and Wilkinson don't, with the results plain to see.

Despite what you may read in the UK press, there are many, many fans here who think this has been a great World Cup. Excellent games, lots of drama. Of coursed we wanted the AB's to win - but we are still watching and enjoying some compelling matches. Let's hope 2011 is as good...and that the AB's have a drop-kicking number 10.

Richard , Wellington, NZ

France choked on the night. Where were the brilliant backline moves evident last week; the centre running into the back of his opposite number and writhing in agony, his opposite number getting sin binned, the forward pass(Mr. Kaplan wouldn't notice) and there were kickable penalties awarded against them in the second half surely that was not supposed to happen. No doubt the English team will be writing letters of thanks to Mr. Barnes and Mr. Spreadbury for the position they now find themselves.

Ian, London, UK

Bring on the new law changes for rugby. By all accounts the trial games in South Africa have returned it to a running, passing spectacle, rather than a kicking, kicking, kicking.........yawn........kicking........... game. Watch football if you want kicking, or better still, watch league!

Neil Staite, Auckland, New Zealand

Congratulations England on such a great victory.
And it is hard to believe that a person can score kicking from angles I saw yesterday. If only our penalties should have been that quality we would be Worldchampion football at least one time.
And what a difference with soccer! The way players and spectators respect one an other and the referee!
Fifa should change the rules/punishments to rugby way and we all would enjoy more.
It was fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peter Hiel, Stadskanaal, Holland

This tournament has been characterised by teams believing they only have to turn up to win. England have the right approach, showing due respect to each opponent before and after the match, and letting their rugby do the talking. If they can play with a little more discipline and Wilkinson re-discovers his career success rate with the boot they will complete the job next weekend. Provided a referee is selected who allows tradiditional forward skills to be fully exploited that is. I don't know who the referee is but the appearance of a certain Mr Roland would make my blood run cold!

A Patrick, Bath,

Beat the better team, that's what winning cups is all about. COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!

Perce

James P, London,

Absolutely brilliant stuff boys! It was yet another nail-biting finish against a very good team. Come on next weekend - Swing Low.....

Tania, Paris, France

Without Wilkinson this England team is nothing...which was obvious last night with a game where France wanted to play, but England just backed up and hoped for the kicks. Shame on you guys for messing up the game. Hope Argentinia kicks you out of the final, payback.

Chris, The Netherlands,

a don. So the Aussies can't lose, because they lost to England? They also can't lose because they're not in the other semi, but two other Southern Hemisphere sides are? Interesting logic which is made even stranger given that you won't even let the Pumas join you in the tri-nations. I suppose you're all scared of being the first team to come fourth in the tri-nations!

NSC, Radlett, England

No

it was Try Kick Drop

And was that Gregan sitting just in front of the English management?......bet it was only a tad less painful than last week for him

Always thought that the French would croak - will the 'Boks bleat next week?

Unbelievable - well done England

Pete, London, Middx

Well done England ....I should have put money on you...
I've been saying all along ....watch out for England!..
You deserve the cup after being written off by your
own countrymen!

Even if the Boks go through, I think you should just do it!

gutsty wot

Gavin Smitsdorp, Nelspruit , SouthAfrica

Well, Bill, the thing you and all the other Aussies and Kiwis are missing about this game is... another game. Win or lose, England have shown the spirit and bottle that are sadly lacking in other quarters and winning ugly is much, much better than losing pretty.

Rob Harries-Harris, Oxford, England

Kick kick kick?? coming from an australian!! i think there is a little sour grapes in that comment. Well done England!!

Nick, Auckland, New Zealand

There seems to be an awful lot of sour grapes - England won, end of story. Jonny was great and I'm so pleased to see a lovely photo of him today! I was in a train travelling up to the North East from London, surrounded by football fans who'd been to the match at Wembley, and when we got the news of the England win in Paris the whole train erupted in cheers. Great stuff, and we have no reason whatsoever to be embarrassed by our joy!!

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK

yesterday England was simply better than Les Bleus it was a match between 2 teams very tired but you ve a got a great player with WILkinson who know put the point at th wright time
congralutions and i hope become worl champion
come on England

FRENCHPHIL, Paris, France

Robert from Boston, please, please don't ever watch our game again. Stick to Rounders, sorry "baseball". You clearly have no understanding of what makes the beautiful game beautiful.

Chris, London,

What is it with slating England for 'dull play'? It's the World Cup! You play to win! However that may be! And are you trying to tell me that Australia and France had you crying with excitement every time they touched the ball? Nonsense! It takes two teams to make a game, and in tournaments like this no one wants to make mistakes. That leads to tactical, tight games, from everyone, not just England. England have just been better at it than their opponents. Deal with it. Stop whining. You lot are the only boring thing about this tournament.

James D, Delhi,

I dont understand if and zzzzzzzz sounds like a poor nights sleep caused by insomnia. Last week it was moan the strength factor this week its the kicking factor when the main one is the scoring factor and last night it was 15 to 9 end of.
Stop moaning you southern hemisphere wallies. Last world cup it was the refering factor that nearly won Australia the trophy, did we moan NO.
When the going gets tough...........some people moan.
Adios

Graham Whittingham, Manchester,

Thanks to all those Ozzies who sold their tickets for last nights game, what good sports they are!! Ho! Ho!

Pete Thompson, Birmingham, ENGLAND

Aussie rugby fans just need to swallow their pride and realise that if they want running and passing, they should follow the Kangaroos, not the Wallabies. There are fifteen men on a Union team and only seven of them are backs. Rugby is all about the struggle.

Rich, Sydney, Australia

Let's see. Last weekend I saw an Aussie team with the weakest scrum and coughed the ball up more than any I can remember in 40+ years. I saw Kiwis who were more single-mindedly stupid than I could ever have imagined possible. And I saw the grittiest and most disciplined French side ever. We saw Fiji hold the 'Boks to the last quarter looking dangerous.

We had 3 thrilling quarter finals. And we may have 2 great semis. That's a good tournament.

Yesterday, maybe the French shot their bolt with the effort required to beat NZ, but it was another nailbiter, hardnosed game. What's not to get excited about? And if you're English, with how this team has performed the last 4 years, you have to be thrilled (and surprised) they started to perform to capability at the last possible moment.

They're hard to beat right now.

Giles, Minneapolis, USA

well done England - fantastic effort - you guys are 'incroyable'. Its so sad to hear the bitter views of the Ozzies. I was in Sydney in 2003 and the people of Sydney could only congratulate England on a great final - very gracious hosts. But now this - its pathetic. Its our defence thats winning games - not our kicking. We scored a try and France didnt - so attack France - not us.

David, Dorking, Uk

Robert in Boston, I too live in Boston and I have to say you have absolutely no clue what you are talking about.

American football is a procession of adverts followed by some set piece play all performed by incredibly overpaid athletes wearing pads!

If an NFL season could capture 50% of the drama of this world cup it surely would be the toast of the world, as it is only the US will ever appreciate people like Brady, Moss and Manning.

To say it's a dark sad day for rugby to see a demoralized team overcome Australia and an in-form French team (who knocked off the over-fancied NZ team), is a travesty! Based on the evidence of the games i've watched, England have deserved to win and be in the position that they now find themselves in as defending world champions. Sure they haven't played the most entertaining rugby, but that's like saying that the barbarians should always win. Sometimes you have to grind out results and that is something that this team has done with some style ;)

Darren, Charlestown, MA

Bill G, are you missing something? Yes England are better than Australia and the sun shines out of Brave Jonnys backside. Got the idea? Good.ive with it!

Steve , Moscow,

The one-hit-wonders, France, choke against their arch-nemesis once again. Wow - what a difference a week makes without a couple of major calls going your way.

Grats to England - you're like watching paint-dry but you won. End of story. Grats to South Africa - you've got this World Cup handed to you on a plate. Don't fail us all. Tri-Nations forever!

Slaine, Sunshine Coast, Australia / Q

Dear Bill ( in Melbourne )
You're probably missing Australia .

Gordon Fulthorpe, Dundas, Canada

If England win the world cup it'll be a dark sad day for rugby. I'll also definetly not watch the game again, rather follow boring American footabll... even that is more entertaining than the type of rugby England play. I believe the majority of rugby fans across the world will agree.

Robert, Boston, USA

Bill G - and anyone complaining about the lack of tries that England (or indeed any other team) might score - maybe you need to re-read the rules: it's perfectly valid to win a game by kicks alone, the winner is the team with the most points - simple as that. Deal with it - if you're not capable, then I'd suggest following a another sport.

Matt S, Amsterdam,

Bill G, all Aussies are missing something, its called 'the semi finals' because you didnt get there. Dont be sore mate, just because after all your nations boasting and knocking of our team our lads showed your team the door. Thats what you get when you start with the mouth, did it this time, did in 2003, hey, please please do it again in 2011, it works for us a treat!
And yes I know how you feel, its easy to fall asleep when your nation isnt involved, but for us, it was another show of guts, spirit and grim determination that overcame adversity and shoved two fingers up to every aussie and every other person who knocked them.

Chris Stanley, Bolton, England

Australia are such sweet loosers...................

David Pearson, Madeira Park, Canada

Hi Bill

How are those grapes tasting?

Phil, Norwich, Norfolk

........and naive New Zealand seem to still think they are the world champs though they have not seen the cup for 20 years....? ......I think 'world chumps' more fitting at this time.
All of the other would be contestants seem to be bouying themselves up on the notion that England have won all their important games 'accidentaly'.... somehow?
Stop your pityless whinging and just acknowledge the facts - England are the defending world champions, and when it has really mattered they have stepped up to the mark and done a champion job in defence of THEIR title.
Can nobody say 'well done England'?
All their wins have been comprehensive and intelligently executed. They certainly never blame anybody or anything else when they lose. Well done England.
Well done England!!!!!

Luke Haddleton, Auckland, New Zealand

Yea Bill, England scored the only try. You are missing the winning. But you know, for you aussies it's the taking part that counts ;)

Robinson, London, UK

Bill,

It's Rugby Football, you are allowed to kick, just as it is a contact sport and you are allowed to tackle, ruck and scrum.

Pity the Aussies forgot the basics of sport and failed to learn the basics of good manners.

Bad losers, good riddance

Michael, Sydney, Australia

Australia can't lose now. Stay with me on this one.
For if England win it means we could have won if that last Mortlock kick hadn't been caught by an evil breeze.
And if Argentina or South Africa win it's a triumph for Southern Hemisphere rugby! Ah time for another beer.

a don, Sydney, Australia

Kick, kick, kick, kick, kick .......... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I'm missing something about this game?

Bill G, Melbourne, Australia

Ummm-where on earth did you get the idea that Argentina are favourites to beat South Africa?

Apart from anything else, England have to beat SA in the final to complete the fairytale world cup (even if they're not playing fairytale rugby)-I'm afraid its in the stars!

Vic, Cambridge,

Beautiful? No. Passionate, heroic, never -say-die and desreved - definitely! Already people are knocking us. Unbelieveable. England were the better team and rightly won. If you can't stomach that - then tough. Come on you Argies! It's not often I say that, but it'll be another one in the eye for all those tri-nation losers. What a great and proud performance. Well done England.

Jim Potter, The Hague, Netherlands

the very best of luck to the English team, i am so proud of the teams dedication towards the result which saw them through, as much as i understand that France was a tough nut to crack but i believe that the team puts up a better performance, we just got a game more to go, a match we got to win, Sir Johnny has always rose to the occasion, it's time now that the other Knights make his work easier, they got to understand his vision, and get his worship closer to the posts, so that he can secure maximum pionts, i am one of those who can sit back and watch TV..but i assure you that i will be singing all along....Swing Low..Sweet Cherioo...Hats off for the Team, management, officials, coaches, supporters, sponsors and everybody else who helped prepare the team, special thanks to this forum!

Go Poms, Go...

Atish Maharaj, Suva, Fiji Islands