( AFP ) - Jonny Wilkinson and defending champions England again proved Australia's nemesis in a high-pressured 12-10 World Cup quarter-final victory at Stade Velodrome here Saturday.
England, who downed the Wallabies in the 2003 final in extra-time and the 1995 quarter-final both with drop goals, handled the high stakes better and came home from 10-6 down at halftime to advance to next weekend's semi-final against New Zealand or France in Paris.
England, with Wilkinson setting a new World Cup points-scoring career record of 234, had the Australians under relentless pressure with the rattled Wallabies rarely able to gain any momentum.
Wilkinson again kicked England to victory as he did in Sydney four years ago with his extra-time drop goal, this time landing four penalties from seven attempts with the Wallabies coming up with the only try through winger Lote Tuqiri.
"I thought we were the better side, but it wasn't reflected on the scoreboard and it became a bit of a nail-biter in the last 10 minutes. I'm just so pleased for this group of players," England coach Brian Ashton said.
"They've worked so hard since the South African (36-0) loss and for all the work they've put in the rewards justified that today."
Skipper Phil Vickery said self-belief and 'good old-fashioned' guts got England home.
"There were lots of things that went into today's win, but ultimately we showed what England can do and good old-fashioned guts," he said.
"We came out prepared to put ourselves into positions where it was going to hurt and we had to push ourselves to levels which we haven't got to for a sustained period in previous games."
"You write us off at your peril. We had a huge amount of criticism, some of that criticism was justified but a majority of it wasn't."
The dominant English forwards controlled the contest forcing the Australians into errors and wrong option-taking.
Playing behind a dominated pack, scrum-half George Gregan was under pressure and rookie fly-half Berrick Barnes was unable to impose himself in his big test as injured Stephen Larkham's replacement.
The Wallabies could have swung the match in the final minutes but skipper Stirling Mortlock's missed a 47-metre penalty, one of his three failed attempts.
The unexpected loss ended John Connolly's tenure as Wallaby coach and left the Australian dressing room in a sombre mood.
"That was our worst performance at the World Cup," said Connolly.
" England controlled the breakdown very strongly and from that we never got any momentum and our game never got off the ground, we were flustered and made uncharacteristic errors."
Wallabies' skipper Mortlock said England had deserved their win.
"It was a very tight, physical battle. We had no rhythm in our attack and unfortunately I missed a couple of goals, which I wasn't happy about. It was a very stop start affair today," he said.
The warning signs for the Wallabies came early in the opening half when England got their momentum flowing with their forwards driving the ball downfield and then attacking wide out.
Wilkinson broke the World Cup point-scoring record of 227 points by Scotland's Gavin Hastings with his second penalty goal to kick England to a 6-3 lead in the 26th-minute.
The first scrum was set after 11 minutes and broke up with punches flying after three collapses. Irish referee Alain Rolland whistled a penalty to the Australians.
The Wallabies looked rattled with passes from Gregan and Barnes going astray under grinding England pressure.
But the Australians hit back seven minutes before halftime when the ball went out to Matt Giteau and Mortlock, who made an opening for Tuqiri to break his try-scoring drought and score in the right-corner.
It was Tuqiri's first Test try for seven internationals since scoring two against Fiji in Perth on June 9.
Mortlock's conversion gave the Wallabies a 10-6 halftime lead but they showed signs of losing their composure and gave Wilkinson four shots at goal in the opening half, the English fly-half only kicking two of them.
England had the Wallabies immediately under pressure straight after halftime with the Australian scrum under serious examination 10m out from its try-line.
England had nine phases before the Wallabies conceded a penalty for Wilkinson to land his third and put his team within one point after 53 minutes.
A wayward Gregan pass put the Australians again under pressure with England getting a turnover and then an attacking scrum close to the Wallabies' try-line.
Rocky Elsom conceded a maul penalty for Wilkinson to put England in front for the second time 12-10 on the hour, a lead which they did not relinquish.