2007 Rugby World Cup: England 14 - 9 France
Saturday, October 13, 2007
| October 13, 2007 21:00 (UTC+2) | |||
England 
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14 - 9 |  France
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Stade de France, Saint-Denis Referee: Jonathan Kaplan 
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| Try: J Lewsey 2' m Pen: J Wilkinson (2/3) 47', 75' Drop: J Wilkinson (1/4) 78' |
Pen: L Beauxis (3/3) 8', 18', 44' |
Defending champions England have defeated hosts France 14 - 9 in the first semi-final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis.
France had been favourites to win the match on home soil, having beaten England comfortably in two World Cup warm-up matches and overcoming favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals. However England, having improved after stumbling early in their campaign to reach the semi-finals after defeating Australia, won a tense match to reach their second consecutive final in a repeat of the 2003 semi-final.
England took an early lead when Josh Lewsey scored a wide try in the second minute, but Jonny Wilkinson missed the conversion. Lionel Beauxis scored two penalties for France to give them a one point lead in the 18th minute. Both Beauxis and Wilkinson missed chances to score with the boot later in the first half, and France went into the interval leading 6 - 5.
Lionel Beauxis extended France's lead with a penalty early in the second half, but Jonny Wilkinson scored soon after to reduce the deficit back to one point. Neither side could make a breakthrough until Jonny Wilkinson kicked a penalty with five minutes remaining to give England a two point lead. Three minutes later Wilkinson secured England's victory after kicking a drop goal.
England will play the winners of tomorrow's second semi-final between South Africa and Argentina in next week's final, while France will play the losers in the third place match.
Related news
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: Argentina 19 - 13 Scotland" — Wikinews, October 7, 2007
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: South Africa 37 - 20 Fiji" — Wikinews, October 7, 2007
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: Australia 10 - 12 England" — Wikinews, October 6, 2007
- "2007 Rugby World Cup: New Zealand 18 - 20 France" — Wikinews, October 6, 2007
Sources
- "England 14-9 France" — BBC Sport, October 13, 2007
- "England beat France to book place in final" — Rugby World Cup, October 13, 2007
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