Wynne Gray: Red rose wilts under pressure

The former Wales captain was ebullient. Mock anticipation filled his conversation.

Wales, he concluded, would push the All Blacks this weekend, but then concede victory for the more appealing quarter-final against England.

It was said in some jest, but it was the tenor of many discussions after England's hard-won 35-22 victory against Samoa, a game which suggested a withering of the red rose before the end of the World Cup.

Many petals fell to the floor of Telstra Dome.

Reputations were dented, and fissures seen against the Springboks became widening cracks against the onslaught of physical force and attitude from the Samoans.

England knew what to expect from Samoa. They would attack with the ball in hand, clatter into tackles and scavenge at the breakdowns.

But for three-quarters of this fascinating clash England were unable to deal with the problems or impose their patterns.

They were shown to be a robotic side who could be flustered, a team who frequently infringed, an £8 million squad of professional rugby flesh who barely dealt with a pickup collection of club players.

"The way to expose them is not to worry about the numbers on your back," said retiring Samoan five-eighth Earl Va'a. "That was our game plan."

England missed an amazing 23 per cent of their tackles, they conceded 15 penalties - all but one for infringements at rucks and mauls - they lost three of their lineout throws and had seven turnovers.

And Jonny Wilkinson missed four kicks at goal.

For all the talk about depth in the England squad, coach Clive Woodward was forced to wheel on three of his senior men soon after halftime to assist the 10 front-liners who started the Melbourne test.

That alone was a statement about the anxiety England felt and the heat the Samoans were able to apply.

England saved the test with two classic late tries as their superior fitness took effect and they got the flow of possession which had been denied them for most of the first half.

To read too much into pool play results is a foolish exercise.

Remember how the All Blacks soared through their section at the last World Cup while France stuttered? And we all know what happened after that.

But in two successive matches, England have shown more fragility than they have for some time.

It was too easy for Woodward and his captain, Martin Johnson, to say Samoa were up with the best England have played in recent memory.

The white shirts lost their way. They were anxious, they did not deal with the Samoan aggression, they did not have the presence to drag Samoa through the setpiece mincer.

England are badly missing hamstrung blindside flanker Richard Hill, who carries Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back.

And Will Greenwood's absence on compassionate leave showed how important he is in midfield.

Samoa picked out England's soft points.

Referee Jonathan Kaplan was of enormous assistance. In the first spell he consistently identified Johnson or Back as culprits at the breakdown, playing the ball on the ground or entering from offside angles.

Kaplan was far stricter than Australian referee Peter Marshall was when England and the Springboks went at it last week.

But the message about England's persistent infringing is becoming louder.

The ageing forwards are cutting corners in this lengthy tournament, and Johnson accepted his side must alter their strategies. That will make them more vulnerable.

Against quick ball, England's defenders struggle to get back to their whiteboard training positions. They can be beaten by the width and choice of attacking passes.

For the second game in a row, Wilkinson was ragged in general play. Even his goalkicking went awol, with one shocking miss from in front.

His crosskick for Iain Balshaw was delightful, and he goaled some other beauties. But in perfect match conditions, Wilkinson wilted. Before one attempt, his foot fidgeted more frantically than Martin Leslie's nervous twitch.

It was that sort of testy night for the rose.