The Australians have always been cocky and arrogant in sport - especially their two biggest sports of rugby and cricket (in which they are the World Champions). So there's nothing better than beating the Aussies in a major tournament and knocking them out of it.
In the Rugby World Cup, World Champions England - Australia's biggest rivals - did just that yesterday. Despite winning the World Cup in 2003 (beating Australia in the Final) England have not played good rugby recently......until they met their deadliest enemies in the Rugby World Cup yesterday, defeated them in a game in which England were the underdogs, and march into the World Cup Semi-Final where they will play France, who also pulled off a shock victory by beating World Cup favourites New Zealand yesterday. England beat France in the 2003 Semi-Final and went on to win the World Cup.
Earlier this week, the arrogant Australians said that "everyone hates the English" and they will beat England by at least 30 points.
But England rammed those words down their throats yesterday - leaving the English with the lovely sight of seeing the Aussies weeping at the end. England have now knocked Australian out of the World Cup three times in the last four tournaments - in the Quarter Final in 1995, the Final in 2003 and the Quarter Final yesterday.
The Aussies should remember that the English, in areas such as sport and war, often triumph in the face of adversity.
England smash Australia into submission to reach World Cup semi-finals
Rugby World Cup, Quarter Final
England 12 Australia 10
(England to play France in the Semi-Final)
6th October 2007
Daily Mail
World champions England extended their title defence into another week by recording a stunning victory over Australia in the Stade Velodrome sunshine.
Australia had been red-hot favourites to avenge defeat on home soil in the 2003 World Cup final, but England's rampant forwards had other ideas.
England's Andrew Sheridan is blocked by Australia's Daniel Vickerman
They smashed the Wallabies into submission, dominating every collision area and then relying on Jonny Wilkinson's boot - as in Sydney four years ago - to strike gold.
Wilkinson kicked four penalties, his second two kicks wiping out a 10-6 interval advantage, to become the all-time World Cup record points scorer.
Australia claimed the quarter-final's solitary try - a 33rd minute LoteTuqiri touchdown - but they have now exited three of the last four World Cups at England's expense.
It was a remarkably courageous display, and England now move on to Paris, where host nation France await them next Saturday.
Jonny Wilkinson kicked four penalties
The win, coming just three weeks after South Africa smashed them 36-0, will rank among the greatest in England's 136-year Test history.
It was their 599th Test match, yet rarely can an England side have triumphed in the face of such adversity, dumping out a strongly-fancied Wallabies side.
True grit: Andy Gomarsall and England set for the semi-final
Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock had a chance to win it right at the death, but his 50-metre penalty sailed wide and England could begin prolonged celebrations.
England had heroes everywhere they looked - lock Simon Shaw and prop Andrew Sheridan proving perhaps the pick - and Australia ultimately had no answer in what was one of the great critic-defying displays.
England's opening quarter was perhaps their best 20 minutes of the competition, even though they ended it trailing Australia 3-0.
Referee Alain Rolland awarded the first four penalties to Australia, but Mortlock missed two of three shots at goal as England sought scrummaging dominance.
Both front-rows offered plenty of advice in Rolland's direction, which came as no surprise given how the scrum had attracted considerable pre-match banter following England's destruction of the Australian front-row at Twickenham two years ago.
England's Josh Lewsey is tackled by Australia's Stirling Mortlock
England's attacking game proved far more menacing than at any other time in the competition, with Wilkinson and Mike Catt carving open Australia's midfield defence.
And with a threatening territorial position established, Wilkinson rifled over two penalties in three minutes to overtake Scotland's Gavin Hastings' World Cup mark of 227.
The much-vaunted Wallabies back division did not leave first gear until 10 minutes before half-time, but it finally fired in spectacular fashion as full-back Chris Latham's incisive running sparked a spell of prolonged pressure.
Australia, with veteran George Gregan calling the shots, patiently moved through phase play, and although England defended valiantly, they could not prevent Tuqiri - the Wallabies' 2003 World Cup final try scorer - squeezing over wide out.
Mortlock's conversion knocked some stuffing out of England at 10-6 adrift, underlined when Wilkinson missed - for him - two relatively routine penalty opportunities. But England were still in contention, starting the second period just four points adrift, and Wilkinson reduced the gap by completing his penalty hat-trick, despite taking a knock just seconds beforehand.
England kept plugging away, and a fourth Wilkinson penalty on 60 minutes put them 12-10 ahead, renewing hope among their sizeable army of supporters they could complete a stunning victory.
Catt, Phil Vickery and Lewis Moody all left the field during the final quarter - they were replaced by Matt Stevens, Toby Flood and Joe Worsley, respectively - and England knew it was a case of closing the game out.
They managed it amid remarkable scenes, and next up it is the All Blacks or France. Truly astonishing.
That'll shut their big mouths: Stirling Mortlock (L) and Daniel Vickerman of Australia show their dejection following their team's defeat
dailymail.co.uk
In the Rugby World Cup, World Champions England - Australia's biggest rivals - did just that yesterday. Despite winning the World Cup in 2003 (beating Australia in the Final) England have not played good rugby recently......until they met their deadliest enemies in the Rugby World Cup yesterday, defeated them in a game in which England were the underdogs, and march into the World Cup Semi-Final where they will play France, who also pulled off a shock victory by beating World Cup favourites New Zealand yesterday. England beat France in the 2003 Semi-Final and went on to win the World Cup.
Earlier this week, the arrogant Australians said that "everyone hates the English" and they will beat England by at least 30 points.
But England rammed those words down their throats yesterday - leaving the English with the lovely sight of seeing the Aussies weeping at the end. England have now knocked Australian out of the World Cup three times in the last four tournaments - in the Quarter Final in 1995, the Final in 2003 and the Quarter Final yesterday.
The Aussies should remember that the English, in areas such as sport and war, often triumph in the face of adversity.
England smash Australia into submission to reach World Cup semi-finals
Rugby World Cup, Quarter Final
England 12 Australia 10
(England to play France in the Semi-Final)
6th October 2007
Daily Mail
World champions England extended their title defence into another week by recording a stunning victory over Australia in the Stade Velodrome sunshine.
Australia had been red-hot favourites to avenge defeat on home soil in the 2003 World Cup final, but England's rampant forwards had other ideas.
England's Andrew Sheridan is blocked by Australia's Daniel Vickerman
They smashed the Wallabies into submission, dominating every collision area and then relying on Jonny Wilkinson's boot - as in Sydney four years ago - to strike gold.
Wilkinson kicked four penalties, his second two kicks wiping out a 10-6 interval advantage, to become the all-time World Cup record points scorer.
Australia claimed the quarter-final's solitary try - a 33rd minute LoteTuqiri touchdown - but they have now exited three of the last four World Cups at England's expense.
It was a remarkably courageous display, and England now move on to Paris, where host nation France await them next Saturday.
Jonny Wilkinson kicked four penalties
The win, coming just three weeks after South Africa smashed them 36-0, will rank among the greatest in England's 136-year Test history.
It was their 599th Test match, yet rarely can an England side have triumphed in the face of such adversity, dumping out a strongly-fancied Wallabies side.
True grit: Andy Gomarsall and England set for the semi-final
Wallabies skipper Stirling Mortlock had a chance to win it right at the death, but his 50-metre penalty sailed wide and England could begin prolonged celebrations.
England had heroes everywhere they looked - lock Simon Shaw and prop Andrew Sheridan proving perhaps the pick - and Australia ultimately had no answer in what was one of the great critic-defying displays.
England's opening quarter was perhaps their best 20 minutes of the competition, even though they ended it trailing Australia 3-0.
Referee Alain Rolland awarded the first four penalties to Australia, but Mortlock missed two of three shots at goal as England sought scrummaging dominance.
Both front-rows offered plenty of advice in Rolland's direction, which came as no surprise given how the scrum had attracted considerable pre-match banter following England's destruction of the Australian front-row at Twickenham two years ago.
England's Josh Lewsey is tackled by Australia's Stirling Mortlock
England's attacking game proved far more menacing than at any other time in the competition, with Wilkinson and Mike Catt carving open Australia's midfield defence.
And with a threatening territorial position established, Wilkinson rifled over two penalties in three minutes to overtake Scotland's Gavin Hastings' World Cup mark of 227.
The much-vaunted Wallabies back division did not leave first gear until 10 minutes before half-time, but it finally fired in spectacular fashion as full-back Chris Latham's incisive running sparked a spell of prolonged pressure.
Australia, with veteran George Gregan calling the shots, patiently moved through phase play, and although England defended valiantly, they could not prevent Tuqiri - the Wallabies' 2003 World Cup final try scorer - squeezing over wide out.
Mortlock's conversion knocked some stuffing out of England at 10-6 adrift, underlined when Wilkinson missed - for him - two relatively routine penalty opportunities. But England were still in contention, starting the second period just four points adrift, and Wilkinson reduced the gap by completing his penalty hat-trick, despite taking a knock just seconds beforehand.
England kept plugging away, and a fourth Wilkinson penalty on 60 minutes put them 12-10 ahead, renewing hope among their sizeable army of supporters they could complete a stunning victory.
Catt, Phil Vickery and Lewis Moody all left the field during the final quarter - they were replaced by Matt Stevens, Toby Flood and Joe Worsley, respectively - and England knew it was a case of closing the game out.
They managed it amid remarkable scenes, and next up it is the All Blacks or France. Truly astonishing.
That'll shut their big mouths: Stirling Mortlock (L) and Daniel Vickerman of Australia show their dejection following their team's defeat
dailymail.co.uk
