Rugby: Missed player shows worth for England

BLOEMFONTEIN - England manager Clive Woodward yesterday claimed his team would have won both matches in their two-test rugby series against South Africa had first five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson been fit.

England won the second match in the series 27-22 at Bloemfontein, with Wilkinson kicking all of his side's points, including an England record of eight penalties.

"He had a huge game," Woodward said. "We didn't have him for the first match and still should have won it. If he had been in the side we would have won the series 2-0. It shows how much we missed him."

Wilkinson was forced to withdraw 90 minutes before the first test in Pretoria because of a stomach bug. England lost the match 13-18.

He had been weakened by the illness and was confirmed for the second test only two days before the match.

South Africa were repeatedly thwarted by excellent English defence, even though the tourists were twice reduced to 14 men as Jason Leonard and Lawrence Dallaglio were given yellow cards in each half.

Wilkinson landed eight out of nine penalty attempts and dropped a goal to equal the individual test record against South Africa, set by another former England first five-eighths, Rob Andrew, Wilkinson's coach at Newcastle Falcons.

England have won only four tests against the three Southern Hemisphere giants of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia away from home.

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In Canberra, Australia wrapped up their two-test series against Argentina, but not before the under-rated Pumas gave the World Cup champions the fright of their lives.

A lacklustre Wallabies outfit ran in three tries to two to seal a 32-25 win, but the Pumas ensured there were some nervous moments for the Australians before the fulltime siren.

Battling fog and bitterly cold Canberra temperatures, Australia took time to wrestle control of the match from Argentina.

The rejuvenated Pumas placed sustained pressure on the Wallabies up front and defended savagely, salvaging some much-needed pride after their 6-53 first-test trouncing at Ballymore the previous weekend.

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In Nuku'alofa, Aisea Havili and Taunaholo Taufahema scored first-half tries as Tonga ended Samoa's six-game unbeaten streak in the Pacific Rim championship with a 16-13 victory.

Tonga led 16-3 at halftime, but Samoa rallied in the second half with a try by Afato So'oalo and a conversion and penalty by Tanner Vili.

– AGENCIES