Jonathan Davies: Forwards break France as Laporte refuses to call maintenance men

Rugby World Cup: Woodward's pack return to basics and batter opponents into submission as Tricolore stand-off betrays lack of experience

Do not be fooled by anyone who might tell you that the rain here yesterday won this game for England. On this form they would have triumphed in any conditions. Indeed, if the sun had been blazing, if the ground had been baked and if this semi-final had been played in south-west France I doubt whether the outcome would have been that much different

Quite simply, the England forwards were awesome as they battered their counterparts to submission. The French tried their best mind you, which many considered would be good enough in the run-up to this semi-final, but were strangled by an opposing pack that took their game plan back to basics. They played to the conditions, kept the ball in hand and refused to take a step backwards. And when they did get the field position their tireless efforts deserved that man Jonny Wilkinson was there to turn the possession into points, whether from penalties or drop-goals, from left foot or right foot. That England failed to score a try was about as relevant as the weather, because when you're competing in a World Cup semi-final it is all about winning.

If I have one small criticism - and even this seems churlish - it was that England did not try to spread the ball wide when they had the chance. Instead, they kept it tight when they might have looked outside, although when you are this much in control it's sometime hard to change tack. As the old saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

France, however, should have called in the maintenance men. I feared that young Frédéric Michalak might be exposed and the coach, Bernard Laporte, should have brought Gérald Merceron on before the final quarter. By that stage Michalak was flapping like a door off its hinges. The 21-year-old has played most of what little first-class rugby he has had at scrum-half and unfortunately, in the heat of battle, this greenness showed. Merceron might not have the class of his junior colleague, but does have the benefit of years of experience and would have been a wiser bet to make the most of the scraps the French backs were forced to live off.

Michalak's two early penalty misses, which would have taken France into a commanding 13-3 lead, were obviously crucial although, in fairness, these were tricky goal-kicking conditions. Even Wilkinson skewed a couple and like Michalak - whose wayward attempts were admittedly in front of the posts - this was because the swirling wind made it so difficult to kick from distance. Nevertheless, there were no such excuses for the rest of his performance, especially those wasted up-and-unders that were all up and no under. Michalak has too much talent to stay down for long, although yesterday's horror show is bound to haunt him for a few months yet.

Serge Betsen will also have sleepless nights after his criminally late tackle on Wilkinson that handed England three more points and left his own team short-handed for 10 long minutes. This misdemeanour was born purely of the frustration of being on the back foot that left the blind-side flanker determined to get his hands on someone. And who better than the player doing all the damage?

Betsen might also have chosen Richard Hill, who was immense on his return from injury. He put in a few big hits, made a few big turnovers but more than anything gave the England back row the balance they had been missing. Clive Woodward will be so pleased to have him back. Indeed, the England coach will fancy his side against Australia, despite the Wallabies' superb defeat of the All Blacks in the other semi-final. England will need to play a very similar game plan to yesterday, although they will endeavour to be more expansive (unless the rains stay around). Australia proved on Saturday that they have the big-match players to beat anyone, with their scrum-half George Gregan absolutely magnificent in all his work off the ball and the centre Stirling Mortlock having the game of a lifetime.

New Zealand, for their part, tried too much pretty football and when they got the ball out wide found the huge frames of the ex-league duo, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuquiri, there to block any progress. England must keep the ball, and for that matter themselves, away from that pair, as well Mat Rogers at full-back.

That is one of the reasons why I believe Saturday's final will be a tight affair and after yesterday I make England slight favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. They have a winning habit that should not be underestimated and have proved they can cope with any conditions and any opposition. After a mid-tournament blip, their confidence will now be back up to where it was and they may never get a better chance.

Saying all that, this is Australia playing in Australia and after the baffling pessimism that swept the nation last week, it is nice to see them back to their cocky selves. Indeed, on the rugby pitch and in the bars here, this was a weekend when normal service was resumed.