Andy Gomarsall credited "sheer grit and bloody-mindedness". "It wasn't pretty, a bit like my face, and I can't believe it to be honest. Things we planned to do didn't come off so we haven't shown anything again but the determination was phenomenal."

Asked if Brian Ashton's side had proved a lot of critics wrong, Gomarsall added: "I guess so, but not in our group.

We believed we could do it, plenty believed we couldn't but the fans were unbelievable, every time we got a turnover they inspired us."

Jason Robinson, playing his last tournament, added: "I think every man and his dog had written us off but I said there was a good performance in there and today we showed that. We have world-class players and we can rise to the occasion. We just dug deep and believed in ourselves.

Maybe only 30 people in the world believed we would do it but we stuck together and came out with a great win."

Of course, like four years ago, England were thankful for Wilkinson, who kicked four penalties . . . his second two 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 Lote Tuqiri 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 or favourites New Zealand await.

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. Stirling Mortlock had a chance to win it at the death, but his 50metre penalty sailed wide and England could begin prolonged celebrations.

England had heroes everywhere . . . 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, 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 attacking game proved far more menacing than at any other time in the competition, with Wilkinson and Mike Catt carving open Australia's midfield. 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 patiently moved through phase play, and although England defended valiantly, they could not prevent Tuqiri squeezing over.

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. 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. By then it was a case of closing the game out.

They managed it amid remarkable scenes.