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BORDEAUX - Hungry Australia have got what they wanted - a quarter-final clash with 2003 rugby World Cup champions England.
While the rest of the world were cheering for Tonga to spring a massive upset in Paris today (NZ time), many of the Wallabies were quietly pleased England
prevailed 36-20.
Thirteen members of the 30-man squad remain from the heart-breaking 2003 final defeat in Sydney and payback remains a burning desire.
Veterans like Stephen Larkham, Stirling Mortlock, Phil Waugh and Nathan Sharpe have all expressed the desire to kill off England's spluttering campaign on Saturday in Marseille.
Even World Cup first-timer Rocky Elsom, who watched the extra-time 20-17 final loss from his Sydney home, said Jonny Wilkinson's last-minute drop goal haunted him.
"It still burns a bit of a blaze in some of the blokes," Elsom said.
"It still stings me and I didn't even play!
"We couldn't win enough matches against them to bring it (the Webb Ellis Cup) back, but you can only take what you can get."
Beaten 36-0 by South Africa a fortnight ago, England's title defence was on the ropes after 15 minutes at Parc des Princes when centre Sukanaivalu Hufunga beat four tacklers to set up a 10-3 lead.
But Wilkinson's left boot ground the islanders down as England scored 33 points, including two tries to lightning winger Paul Sackey, over the next hour.
While his charges are licking their chops at the quarter-final prospect, Wallabies coach John Connolly is unsurprised by England's win and remains extremely wary about their power forward game.
"I didn't think it was unexpected," Connolly said. "I think (England's) scrum, the lineout, their kicking game are all going to be a big advantage.
"If they had a 10 and 12 (Wilkinson and Olly Barkley, both injured) they would have gone a lot better against South Africa."
Connolly and Australian forwards coach Michael Foley have coached several members of their rivals at English club Bath, including Barkley who is under pressure from league convert Andy Farrell for his No.12 jersey.
England are the only team to have beaten the Wallabies twice in the 20-year history of the tournament.
They knocked Australia out 25-22 in a thrilling quarter-final in Cape Town in 1995 as well as the final in Sydney four years ago.
Like in 2003, the 1995 match was decided by a late drop goal to current English rugby director Rob Andrew.
Wilkinson's 16-point haul against Tonga has him poised to break the World Cup's point-scoring record in the quarter-final.
The 28-year-old five-eighth has 222 joints, just five shy of former Scottish fullback Gavin Hastings(227).
Wilkinson felt England faced a massive challenge in Marseille.
"(Australia) have the best record in World Cups, they show more than anyone that they can do it when it counts and they have got the players and everything you need for a world-class team," he said.
Despite the loss, Tonga finished the tournament as crowd favourites and showed the world tier-two nations could be as competitive as the heavyweights with more funding and resources.
"The tournament has united our people, we are as one," said skipper Nili Latu. "So many things have been happening back home, we are over the moon.
"There are parades (in Tonga), schools are wearing red and the supporters in New Zealand have gone crazy. All the pain we have gone through in this tournament has brought us together as a nation."
- AAP
