Underdogs have their day - Vickery

Captain Phil Vickery hailed the "special day of the underdog" and the boot of Jonny Wilkinson after England reached the World Cup final with a 14-9 victory over France.

England took the lead with a try from Josh Lewsey before France converted huge amounts of pressure into a 9-5 advantage, but England kept their composure and worked possession deep in French territory to give Wilkinson the opportunity to win the game - and he made no mistake as he landed a penalty and a drop-goal in the final six minutes to secure victory.

"This is a fantastic day," said Vickery. "This was one of those very, very special days when the underdog rises up and manages to get through. Jonny is a great rugby player. People just talk about his kicks, but it is his all-round game and the confidence he gives the team."

He added: "It was not a fantastic game of rugby. It was played by two teams desperate to win a game. We managed to keep ourselves together for long enough periods of time squeak it.

"It was a fantastic day for everyone involved with the team. It is difficult to single players out. It is a team performance.

"Everyone worked hard to get into a position to get the drop-goals and the penalties."

Wilkinson missed two difficult shots at goal - the touchline conversion from Lewsey's try and a 52-metre penalty - but his quality shone through in the end.

Vickery continued: "With that final kick, if you had to put your mortgage on it he would be your man. He duly stepped up to dink it over like it was a Sunday afternoon stroll."

France captain Raphael Ibanez acknowledged Wilkinson's prowess and talents.

"The coolness of Wilkinson means that in those moments he is a great player for his team," he admitted.