David Leggat: England plan to rain on parade

SYDNEY - It was a remark that almost slipped by in the euphoria of the moment, but it was a telling point.

As England soaked up the emotion of their 24-7 win over France their coach, Clive Woodward, was asked what he made of the fact that Australia did a victory lap after beating the All Blacks at Telstra Stadium 24 hours earlier, whereas England headed for the dressing room.

He thought for a moment and after offering a flippant "maybe we were a bit more tired" and "maybe the Australian team just wanted to say hi to their fans," he said: "The job is far from done."

There might have been an implication that the Wallabies felt they had cleared a bigger hurdle than England in their respective marches to this Saturday's final at Telstra Stadium. But Woodward's remark certainly drummed home the mantra England have been chanting since this tournament began, and that is why they will be desperately hard to topple, even by a resurgent Australian team.

As soon as the rain came it was clear the French were up against it. England like that sort of weather. It played into their hands, tactically speaking. It allowed them to play the game up front, grind away in the manner they do best and shut down France's best attacking option, their backs and a fast, wide-ranging game.

As France's discipline crumbled for the first time in the cup - two yellow cards and a rash of penalties as they sought to find answers to England's muscular control of possession - England rode home on the back of Jonny Wilkinson's peerless all-round kicking game.

It could have been an even bigger margin. Wilkinson, who kicked all England's points, missed three penalty attempts, but the game was up for France by halftime, when they trailed 12-7, despite having the rain and wind at their backs.

After their win Woodward and his captain, Martin Johnson, although happy to express their delight at a job well done, were almost overflowing in their praise of the Wallabies' win over the All Blacks.

While sincere up to a point, there was just a hint that this week's mind games had already begun.

"I've been a bit surprised at the amount of stick George Gregan and Eddie Jones have been getting from all the experts. I said two years ago Australia were the team to beat. That hasn't changed," Woodward said.

"Their first half against the All Blacks was absolutely outstanding, the best 40 minutes of the tournament, and if someone said six weeks ago what is your dream final, for me it's England against Australia."

Cue the massive Johnson.

"Australia played a fantastic game. They got ahead, kept ahead and we have to keep our feet on the floor and prepare for a team who have played the game of the tournament to beat New Zealand."

And that was just the tip. But they weren't fooling anyone.

The conditions helped on Sunday night, but England's mastery up front in slippery, demanding conditions had to be admired. If the rain returns this weekend, Australia have a mighty task if they are to lift the Webb Ellis Cup a third time.

Did Australia exhaust their reserves of passion against the All Blacks? They say not, but then they would.

The loss of tighthead prop Ben Darwin with a serious neck injury won't help, and the Wallabies will need to be every bit as tight in their defensive work as they were on Saturday night, admittedly against a team who lacked inspiration and an air of desperation.

As for France, they were left to lick their wounds and prepare for a game on Thursday night that neither team wants to play.

They didn't go looking for excuses for their worst performance of the tournament.

"It wasn't the English who knocked-on several times and it wasn't the English who lost their own lineout several times. It was us who missed the kicks," said their coach, Bernard Laporte.

"The blame lies at the French door."

And what of the much-vaunted first five-eighth Frederic Michalak, whose game fell apart after promising so much? He missed four penalty shots and showed the tactical nous of a sparrow.

"I don't know," said retiring French captain Fabien Galthie, with a shrug. "He's not a machine."

Which is what England were, and throwing a last-minute spanner in their works will be a desperately hard task on Saturday.