England rugby gods conquer Australia

Rugby may be the game they play in heaven, but it was at Sydney on Saturday that England's rugby gods battled triumphantly for the game's holy grail, the World Cup, sending legions of war-painted fans into party mode.

The result showed that England defeated Australia 20-17, but a mere scoreline does not tell the true story of what happened on a wet night at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.

In a titanic struggle that went into extra time, the outcome was only decided within seconds of the final whistle by the golden boot of England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson.

It was a tale of historic, brutal rivalry, of two countries battling it out on the sports field for national supremacy, with England emerging not only triumphant, but from the sporting dark ages, having not won a World Cup in a major team sport since soccer's showpiece event way back in 1966.

"It's bloody brilliant, we have emerged from the dark ages, it is our time to shine," said jubilant England supporter John Collings as the tunes of British bands The Beatles and Oasis echoed around the stadium.

	An Epic Clash


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So euphoric were the England fans that long after their team had left the field with the William Webb Ellis trophy in hand, hundreds remained in the stands dancing, kissing, and singing along to Queen's unofficial anthem: We are the champions, we are the champions -- of the world.

In bars and streets around Sydney's Circular Quay, where English settlers first arrived in 1788, thousands more partied, some in disbelief that England had actually won the World Cup.

"I am from a generation that has never won anything," said 22 year-old Patrick Fellows, who had followed England on their historic journey around Australia.

The Beatles song, "It's been a hard day's night", filled the air and that was exactly what the England fans planned to do -- party hard into the night. An estimated 30,000 of them are in Sydney.

But while they celebrated, the English acknowledged that one of the greatest games of rugby ever witnessed would not have occurred without the intense rivalry that exists with Australia.

"You can't take anything away from the Aussies, they were there till the end," said Collings from Bristol. "They have beaten us at everything, now we have won."

Australia and England may be two nations that share the same monarch, but their rivalry is legendary.

Australia and England have fought side by side in both World Wars. They are linked in blood, the blood that runs through their veins, and the blood spilt on the battlefield.

But when it comes to sports, these two nations inextricably linked through history and culture, take up opposing sides of the barricades.

It is an intense, personal rivalry built on a parental battle. England, the mother, does not understand her offspring, seeing Australia as brash and arrogant. The child, Australia, is determined to throw off the shackles of authority and stand on its own.

	Buildup to the Final


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"This was not about sport, it was not about rugby, it was about something far greater than that -- it was about nationalism," said Australian Mick Martin, 66, as he hobbled on his crutches.

"There is nothing better than beating the English and nothing worse than being beaten by the English," he said.

For Martin and many Australians in Sydney, it will be an uncomfortable night, with the strains of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' drifting across the city.

Photographs: Getty Images