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PARIS - England coach Brian Ashton said the specific demands of the World Cup had helped transform his side from no-hopers to title contenders after the reigning champions advanced into the final with a 14-9 win over hosts France.
Ashton, at 61 no callow youth himself, added experience had been the key to the team's revival nearly a month after their last visit to the Stade de France saw them lose 36-0 to South Africa - England's record World Cup defeat.
"It's been a rollercoaster ride. We've had a million and one different teams for a whole variety of reasons," said Ashton, who for the first time as England coach stuck with the same 22 for the second match in a row, after the team's 12-10 quarter-final win over Australia, following Saturday's success.
"But this is the first time we've had a group of players together for a significant period of time and, whilst it took a while for us to get ourselves sorted out, as you witnessed at the start of this tournament, effectively over the last four weeks we have done."
Indeed so 'sorted out' are England right now after this semi-final victory they are just 80 minutes away from becoming the first side to win back-to-back World Cups in the six-edition history of the event.
They came to this World Cup with a squad showing an even older average age than the team that triumphed in Australia in 2003, the jibes of four years ago about 'Dad's Army' being replaced by references to 'Grandads' Army'.
Under former coach Andy Robinson, forced out in November, England lost 13 out of 22 Tests with defeats at Twickenham against Argentina and South Africa, one of whom will provide the opposition when they return to the Stade de France next weekend, coming during his final weeks in charge.
There was little initial improvement under Ashton and, until England's win over the Wallabies, few would have given much for their chances of retaining the World Cup.
England started their 90th Test against France with six survivors from the 1st XV that beat 'Les Bleus' 24-7 in the 2003 semi-final: Josh Lewsey, Jason Robinson, Mike Catt, Jonny Wilkinson, Ben Kay and current captain Phil Vickery.
Lewsey, 31 later this month, put England ahead on Saturday with a try after a mere 78 seconds with the remainder coming from the boot of 28-year-old Wilkinson - who scored all 24 against France four years ago in Sydney.
"I stressed right from the start the squad was chosen deliberately because of the challenges we had to face," Ashton explained. "You don't bring a whole group of young players to a World Cup tournament and defend a world title.
"You bring players who've been there before and who you know have got a massive amount of mental strength, who are in form as well, and they've grown together over the weeks.
"Anyone will tell you who has coached or managed a team that you can't put a switch on and off to say 'right, this team doesn't know one another but tomorrow it will play exceptionally well'."
Wilkinson, whose drop-goal secured England's 20-17 extra-time win in the 2003 final against the Wallabies, missed his first two goalkicks on Saturday.
But when England most needed him to put points on the board, the fly-half obliged with a penalty and a drop-goal inside the final five minutes.
"It's been a funny story. Some (kicks) have gone over, some have not," Wilkinson said. "It got better and they went over in the end."
The Newcastle No 10 said his team-mates' character had been decisive.
"From the first few weeks the guys have dug deep, looked into themselves and asked big questions. The guys have learnt about each other and got along together very quickly under huge pressure. Raw guts and determination have saved us."
- AFP
