England's fly-half Jonny Wilkinson takes a penalty kick during the rugby union World Cup 2007 semifinal match against France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris on Saturday. AFP

Wilkinson, who has voiced concerns about the balls in use at this event, was lining up a 47th minute penalty when he asked for the ball to be changed.

The fly-half, who'd missed his first two goalkicks at the Stade de France on Saturday, then landed the difficult touchline effort to make the score 9-8 in France's favor.

Former England outside-half Andrew, now the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby and the man Wilkinson replaced as England's record points scorer, said this was the second time in as many matches that problems over which balls should be used had been an issue.

Wilkinson kicked all of England's points in its 12-10 quarterfinal win against Australia but was off-target on several occasions as well.

"We didn't say it last week but a non-match ball got onto the field in Marseille which Jonny kicked," Andrew explained at England's hotel. "He didn't think about it while he was kicking it."

"The match balls are marked, numbered one to six. Last night they had 'World Cup semifinal England vs France,' written on them," Andrew, who brought Wilkinson into the professional game while in charge of Newcastle, added.

"On match night Jonny was vigilant when kicking for goal that they were actually match balls he was kicking."

Wilkinson, whose extra-time drop-goal in the 2003 final saw England to a dramatic 20-17 win over Australia, has been unusually wayward with his goalkicking this tournament and he came into Saturday's match with a relatively low success rate of 62.5 percent.

Asked how Wilkinson had been so sure he'd been given a non-match ball, Andrew replied: "There were two panels that were on the same side of the ball, which is not the way the match balls are set up.

"The practice balls lose pressure and shape. The whole issue last week, the organisers accepted all six match balls should be used by both sides on the Thursday before game."

But with both teams using additional pratcice balls while warming up Andrew, who rejected suggestions of French foul play, added: "There could well be practice balls knocking round the stadium."

England will face either Argentina or South Africa in Saturday's final at the Stade de France.

England coach Brian Ashton admitted Sunday his side's march to the World Cup final had taken even him by surprise.

The reigning champions are now just 80 minutes away from becoming the first team to mount a successful defense of the Webb Ellis Trophy.

But a month ago its previous visit to the Stade de France saw it thrashed 36-0 by South Africa in a Pool match - England's record World Cup loss - a defeat which led to fresh questions about its ability to reach the knockout phase, let alone get to the final.

"I'd be a liar if I said if you asked me five weeks ago we're going to get to the World Cup final. I would have had to think long and hard about that," said Ashton, who took charge in December when former coach Andy Robinson was forced out after a run of 13 defeats in 22 Tests during his time in charge.

Clive Woodward, England's World Cup-winning supremo four years ago became "Sir Clive" not long afterwards.

Asked about the prospect of becoming "Sir Brian", Ashton replied: "Whatever happens, I can't imagine that."

The 61-year-old former Bath and Ireland coach was effectively hired by Rob Andrew, director of elite rugby at the Rugby Football Union (RFU),, who had glowing things to say about his coach.

"They've worked extremely hard and dealt with as much pressure as any English coaching team has ever been under," Andrew said in praise of Ashton and his backroom staff.

Andrew, who played on the England team that was beaten by Australia in the 1991 World Cup final at Twickenham, said the current side had been under the cosh from early on.

"They've already played four finals effectively. We started the knockout phase in the last 32, not the last 16."

England endured a huge slump in form after winning the World Cup and, heading into this edition, had won just 16 out of 40 Test matches since now-retired captain Martin Johnson lifted the trophy in Sydney.

AFP

(China Daily 10/15/2007 page11)