England 14-9 France

Jonny Wilkinson kicked defending champions England into next weekend's World Cup final with a 14-9 win over tournament hosts France in an absorbing semi-final at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Wilkinson, whose drop goal won the 2003 final against Australia in Sydney, struck five minutes from time after France's replacement hooker Dimitri Szarzewski high-tackled Jason Robinson.

He then followed his penalty with a trademark nerveless drop goal - and France were sunk.

The victory continues England's remarkable transformation from a team that looked down and out only four weeks ago.

The mental strength that underpinned victories over Samoa, Tonga and Australia once again surfaced.

Wing Josh Lewsey scored an early try, and Wilkinson kicked a penalty; yet England trailed for much of the game through three penalties from France fly-half Lionel Beauxis.

England nonetheless prevailed and march on to the final in which they will face South Africa or Argentina at Stade de France next Saturday.

England, smashed 36-0 by South Africa at the same ground a month ago, returned to French rugby's 80,000-capacity home quietly confident they could send the host nation packing.

England made a spectacular start, taking the lead after just 80 seconds - courtesy of glaring complacency in defence.

Scrum-half Andy Gomarsall launched a speculative kick into the French 22, but full-back Damien Traille chose to invite a chasing Lewsey instead of clearing possession - and the result was costly.

Lewsey pounced on Traille's indecision, touching down wide out - but Wilkinson missed the touchline conversion, before Beauxis kicked an eighth-minute penalty.

France soon established themselves in the game, monopolising possession as they edged ahead when Beauxis landed a 48-metre penalty - after powerhouse England scrummager Andrew Sheridan was punished for incorrect binding.

England kept themselves in contention despite the French onslaught, and France suffered a 25th-minute injury blow when lock Fabien Pelous hobbled off.

Pelous, who came off second-best in a collision with Wilkinson, was replaced by France's consistently damaging impact substitute Sebastien Chabal.

He was immediately in the wars, taking a heavy blow in a tackle - which illustrated England had no intention of playing second fiddle.

But England suffered an injury blow on the stroke of half-time, losing Lewsey with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss replaced him, meaning a switch to the wing for outside centre Mathew Tait; yet England remained firmly in contention at 6-5 adrift.

The second quarter proved a hugely disappointing affair, after such an intense opening - and with neither side's kicking game operating at maximum efficiency, errors abounded.

France coach Bernard Laporte could have been excused replacing Beauxis at the break - but he decided against it, holding back the irrepressible Frederic Michalak.

Beauxis duly completed his penalty hat-trick on 44 minutes, but it was a harsh decision awarded against England by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan for an illegal ruck entry.

England stormed back up field, and Wilkinson rifled over an angled penalty - narrowing the gap to 9-8 when France failed to clear following a bungled Yannick Jauzion kick.

Laporte could wait no longer, sending Michalak on after 51 minutes - but he also sprung a surprise, replacing captain Raphael Ibanez with Szarzewski.

England almost regained the lead after 59 minutes. But Wilkinson's drop-goal attempt hit the post, before full-back Robinson produced a dazzling run which highlighted an encouraging Red Rose spell of pressure.

France, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession and territory, could not break clear on the scoreboard - which meant England were still in contention.

When substitute flanker Joe Worsley produced a stunning try-saving tackle on Les Bleus wing Vincent Clerc, it underlined England's never-say-die spirit.

Wilkinson then administered the killer blows, destroying France's World Cup dream.

France - 15-Damien Traille, 14-Vincent Clerc, 13-David Marty, 12-Yannick Jauzion, 11- Cedric Heymans (21-Christophe Dominici 61), 10-Lionel Beauxis (20-Frederic Michalak 51), 9-Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 8-Julien Bonnaire, 7-Thierry Dusautoir, 6-Serge Betsen (19-Imanol Harinordoquy 67), 5-Jerome Thion, 4-Fabien Pelous (18-Sebastien Chabal 25), 3-Pieter de Villiers (17-Jean-Baptiste Poux 66), 2-Raphael Ibanez (captain) (16-Dimitri Szarzewski 51), 1-Olivier Milloud

England - 15-Jason Robinson, 14-Paul Sackey, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Mike Catt (21-Toby Flood 69), 11-Josh Lewsey (22-Dan Hipkiss 40), 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Andy Gomarsall (20-Peter Richards 71), 8-Nick Easter (18-Lawrence Dallaglio 69), 7-Lewis Moody (19-Joe Worsley 54), 6-Martin Corry, 5-Ben Kay, 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Phil Vickery (captain) (17-Matt Stevens 56), 2-Mark Regan (16-George Chuter 66), 1-Andrew Sheridan

Referee - Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)