England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson has called for his teammates 'to play with courage' when they renew their fierce World Cup rivalry with Australia.
The Wallabies, still smarting from losing a World Cup final against England in their own back yard four years ago, are hell-bent on exacting revenge.
Wilkinson, whose dramatic late drop-goal swayed a gripping Sydney showdown England's way, will be among a handful of red rose survivors from that unforgettable November night likely to start in Marseille.
World Cup history is littered with titanic struggles between two of the sport's most bitter enemies.
Australia won the 1991 final at Twickenham, then England ended its reign as champions in Cape Town four years later before Wilkinson and company struck gold by breaking Wallaby hearts amid scenes of excruciating mental pain for the 2003 host nation.
Marseille's Stade Velodrome now awaits another gladiatorial fight to the death.
But the very fact that England has extended its hold on the Webb Ellis Trophy into another week is an achievement in itself.
Teetering on the brink of elimination following a World Cup record 0-36 loss to South Africa a fortnight ago, bonus-point victories over Samoa and Tonga have breathed new life into England's campaign.
The Polynesian double-header, labelled cup finals by England head coach Brian Ashton, saw his team score 80 points and eight tries, with Wilkinson booting exactly half of them to move just five behind all-time record World Cup points scorer Gavin Hastings.
Had Tonga triumphed at Parc des Princes last night, England would have made an ignominious exit as the first Rugby World Cup holders not to reach the quarter-finals.
But wing Paul Sackey's second successive try double, plus touchdowns from Mathew Tait and Andy Farrell - his first Test score since switching codes - saw England home 36-20.
"I think a couple of weeks ago it was looking pretty tough for us in the pool phase," Wilkinson admitted.
"We had two games to go and two games to win against guys clearly showing they could play some serious rugby, so to come here and win, we are over the moon with that."
"They (Australia) have the best record in World Cups."
"They show more than anyone that they can do it when it counts, and they have got the players and everything you need for a world-class team."
Meanwhile, Jason Robinson claims he is confident of being fit for the match.
The fullback suffered a hamstring injury in the defeat against South Africa, and it was thought that at the age of 33 he was unlikely to be able to play a significant part in the remainder of the tournament - after which he is to retire.
But after England clinched its place in the last eight with a hard-fought win over Tonga on Friday, he is insisting he will be there to help them go one step further in the defence of their title.
http://www.rugby.com.au/default.aspx?s=news-display&id=2821
The Wallabies, still smarting from losing a World Cup final against England in their own back yard four years ago, are hell-bent on exacting revenge.
Wilkinson, whose dramatic late drop-goal swayed a gripping Sydney showdown England's way, will be among a handful of red rose survivors from that unforgettable November night likely to start in Marseille.
World Cup history is littered with titanic struggles between two of the sport's most bitter enemies.
Australia won the 1991 final at Twickenham, then England ended its reign as champions in Cape Town four years later before Wilkinson and company struck gold by breaking Wallaby hearts amid scenes of excruciating mental pain for the 2003 host nation.
Marseille's Stade Velodrome now awaits another gladiatorial fight to the death.
But the very fact that England has extended its hold on the Webb Ellis Trophy into another week is an achievement in itself.
Teetering on the brink of elimination following a World Cup record 0-36 loss to South Africa a fortnight ago, bonus-point victories over Samoa and Tonga have breathed new life into England's campaign.
The Polynesian double-header, labelled cup finals by England head coach Brian Ashton, saw his team score 80 points and eight tries, with Wilkinson booting exactly half of them to move just five behind all-time record World Cup points scorer Gavin Hastings.
Had Tonga triumphed at Parc des Princes last night, England would have made an ignominious exit as the first Rugby World Cup holders not to reach the quarter-finals.
But wing Paul Sackey's second successive try double, plus touchdowns from Mathew Tait and Andy Farrell - his first Test score since switching codes - saw England home 36-20.
"I think a couple of weeks ago it was looking pretty tough for us in the pool phase," Wilkinson admitted.
"We had two games to go and two games to win against guys clearly showing they could play some serious rugby, so to come here and win, we are over the moon with that."
"They (Australia) have the best record in World Cups."
"They show more than anyone that they can do it when it counts, and they have got the players and everything you need for a world-class team."
Meanwhile, Jason Robinson claims he is confident of being fit for the match.
The fullback suffered a hamstring injury in the defeat against South Africa, and it was thought that at the age of 33 he was unlikely to be able to play a significant part in the remainder of the tournament - after which he is to retire.
But after England clinched its place in the last eight with a hard-fought win over Tonga on Friday, he is insisting he will be there to help them go one step further in the defence of their title.
http://www.rugby.com.au/default.aspx?s=news-display&id=2821
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