2007 Rugby World Cup: England 14 - 9 France
{{date|October 13, 2007}}

{{footballbox|
date=October 13, 2007<br>21:00 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:England national rugby union team|England]] [[Image:Flag of England.svg|20px]] |
score= 14 - 9 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of France.svg|20px]] [[w:France national rugby union team|France]] |
report= |
goals1='''Try:''' [[w:Josh Lewsey|J Lewsey]] 2' m<br />'''Pen:''' [[w:Jonny Wilkinson|J Wilkinson]] (2/3) 47', 75'<br />'''Drop:''' [[w:Jonny Wilkinson|J Wilkinson]] (1/4) 78'|
goals2='''Pen:''' [[w:Lionel Beauxis|L Beauxis]] (3/3) 8', 18', 44'|
stadium=[[w:Stade de France|Stade de France]], [[w:Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]] |
referee=[[w:Jonathan Kaplan (rugby)|Jonathan Kaplan]] [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|20px]]}}
[[Image:RugbyWorldCup2007.png|right|150px]]
Defending champions [[England]] have defeated hosts [[France]] 14 - 9 in the first semi-final of the [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 Rugby World Cup]] at the [[w:Stade de France|Stade de France]], [[w:Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]].

France had been favourites to win the match on home soil, having beaten England comfortably in two World Cup warm-up matches and [[2007 Rugby World Cup: New Zealand 18 - 20 France|overcoming favourites New Zealand]] in the quarter-finals. However England, having improved after stumbling early in their campaign to reach the semi-finals after [[2007 Rugby World Cup: Australia 10 - 12 England|defeating Australia]], won a tense match to reach their second consecutive final in a repeat of the [[w:2003_Rugby_World_Cup|2003 semi-final]].

England took an early lead when [[w:Josh Lewsey|Josh Lewsey]] scored a wide try in the second minute, but [[w:Jonny Wilkinson|Jonny Wilkinson]] missed the conversion. [[w:Lionel Beauxis|Lionel Beauxis]] scored two penalties for France to give them a one point lead in the 18th minute. Both Beauxis and Wilkinson missed chances to score with the boot later in the first half, and France went into the interval leading 6 - 5.

Lionel Beauxis extended France's lead with a penalty early in the second half, but Jonny Wilkinson scored soon after to reduce the deficit back to one point. Neither side could make a breakthrough until Jonny Wilkinson kicked a penalty with five minutes remaining to give England a two point lead. Three minutes later Wilkinson secured England's victory after kicking a drop goal.

England will play the winners of tomorrow's second semi-final between South Africa and Argentina in next week's final, while France will play the losers in the third place match.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
{{wikipedia|2007 Rugby World Cup}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: Argentina 19 - 13 Scotland|date=October 7, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: South Africa 37 - 20 Fiji|date=October 7, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: Australia 10 - 12 England|date=October 6, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: New Zealand 18 - 20 France|date=October 6, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/7041317.stm|title=England 14-9 France|author=|pub=BBC Sport|date=October 13, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=102/match=10117/report.html|title=England beat France to book place in final|author=|pub=Rugby World Cup|date=October 13, 2007}}

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[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Rugby]]
[[Category:Rugby World Cup]]
[[Category:England]]
[[Category:France]]
[[Category:Europe]]

[[es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Inglaterra vence a Francia y se coloca en la final por tercera vez]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : l'Angleterre défendra son trophée en finale]]
[[it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: è l'Inghilterra la prima finalista]]
150px
Defending champions England have defeated hosts France 14 - 9 in the first semi-final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis.

France had been favourites to win the match on home soil, having beaten England comfortably in two World Cup warm-up matches and overcoming favourites New Zealand in the quarter-finals. However England, having improved after stumbling early in their campaign to reach the semi-finals after defeating Australia, won a tense match to reach their second consecutive final in a repeat of the 2003 semi-final.

England took an early lead when Josh Lewsey scored a wide try in the second minute, but Jonny Wilkinson missed the conversion. Lionel Beauxis scored two penalties for France to give them a one point lead in the 18th minute. Both Beauxis and Wilkinson missed chances to score with the boot later in the first half, and France went into the interval leading 6 - 5.

Lionel Beauxis extended France's lead with a penalty early in the second half, but Jonny Wilkinson scored soon after to reduce the deficit back to one point. Neither side could make a breakthrough until Jonny Wilkinson kicked a penalty with five minutes remaining to give England a two point lead. Three minutes later Wilkinson secured England's victory after kicking a drop goal.

England will play the winners of tomorrow's second semi-final between South Africa and Argentina in next week's final, while France will play the losers in the third place match.


es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Inglaterra vence a Francia y se coloca en la final por tercera vez
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : l'Angleterre défendra son trophée en finale
it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: è l'Inghilterra la prima finalista
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