By DAVID LEGGAT
ENGLAND 28 WALES 17
BRISBANE - Forty minutes of Welsh fire was nowhere near enough to stop England taking their anticipated place in the semifinals early today.
The first half belonged to the wonderfully spirited Welsh, but England rediscovered their forward dominance after the break.
With Jonny Wilkinson recovering from
an ordinary opening, even a late surge was not enough as England won by 11 points and will meet France in a titanic semifinal in Sydney next weekend.
Wales, who finished with three tries to one, prospered in the first half by pressuring England all over the field.
They led 10-3 at the break.
It was heady, exhilarating football, Wales chancing their arm, England trying to do what has worked for them for so long, but they looked baffled and struggled to find a way through a wholehearted Welsh defensive line.
Wales, who were massacred in the penalty count by Irish referee Alain Rolland throughout, ran like eager colts.
They made the English look sluggish and had created a couple of half-chances and one clear-cut one - when lock Robert Sidoli lost the ball in stretching for the line - before the packed Suncorp Stadium erupted in the 29th minute.
Wilkinson and Stephen Jones had both hit an upright with penalty attempts before Wilkinson gave England the lead with a penalty in the 16th minute.
But a brainless kick to Wales' left wing by second five-eighth Mike Tindall - with only lumbering lock Ben Kay to follow up - opened the door for the Welsh.
Winger Shane Williams made ground, the ball went through several pairs of hands over 70 metres before Jones took an infield pass from Williams to score.
It got even better for Wales when captain Colin Charvis barged across after driving off a maul from a lineout near the English line six minutes before the break.
The impetus changed at the start of the second spell when Jason Robinson scorched brilliantly through the Welsh defence to set up Will Greenwood in the right corner.
Wilkinson's conversion and three quick penalties put England nine points clear by the 57th minute, and with halftime replacement Mike Catt steadying the ship with some strong kicking, the tide turned.
Wales kept pushing the offensive envelope out wide and squandered two clear openings on either flank.
There was a late try to replacement flanker Martyn Williams from a clever cross kick, but Wilkinson had the final say with a dropped goal to finish with 23 points.
