We will get better, pledges Woodward

It was a case of mission accomplished at Subiaco Oval after Jonny Wilkinson and Will Greenwood combined to thwart a mighty South African effort and set up a 25-6 win.

The prize would appear to be a clear run towards next month's World Cup final in Sydney.

Defeat against the Springboks would have left England contemplating a probable quarter-final against New Zealand, followed by a semi-final with Australia.

But South Africa have now been sent down that daunting route, and England, provided there are no inexplicable slip-ups against remaining Pool C opponents Samoa or Uruguay, will relish the prospect of meeting Wales, then France.

Fly-half Wilkinson's 20-point haul - four penalties, two drop-goals and a conversion of Greenwood's breakaway 63rd-minute try - put England in charge of their group following a stamina-sapping forward battle.

They prevailed, despite the absence of injured Lions Matt Dawson and Richard Hill, to record a fifth successive victory over South Africa, despite never hitting top gear.

''It was a tremendous victory,'' said Woodward. ''The sheer physicality, the sheer guts, the sheer determination of the team was just fantastic.

''Every time the Springboks got the ball, they were just belted. That is just character, and that is what won the game.

''All World Cup games are pressure games, but this one seemed to have been looming since the game between England and South Africa at Twickenham last November. It was probably going to be the biggest pressure game out of everything we were going to play in this World Cup.

''We won the game without playing that well. It was a massive game, and I think now there will be huge momentum.

''I have got no doubt that this team can play well under pressure - we are at our best in those type of games. We took our points, and South Africa didn't.

''It was a huge game for us, and we will try and step up a gear for the Samoa game. We will be picking a very strong side against Samoa - we've got momentum going.

''It's a strange business. If we had lost on Saturday night, then the ceiling would have come down - that's the business you are in, and it is a very strange way of living your life.

''You are 80 minutes away from everything changing, and rightly so, because that's what professional sport is all about,'' he added.

''Dawson and Hill will be available for selection against Samoa next week, and I think we are going to get better and better. Now we have got this game out of the way, we will step up another level.''

In contrast to Wilkinson's deadly accuracy, his opposite number Louis Koen cost the Springboks dear.

Koen missed four penalties, and had an attempted clearance kick charged down by England flanker Lewis Moody. which led directly to Greenwood's clincher.

The fly-half's failings spectacularly let down the work of an unrelenting Springboks pack, who matched England's work-rate.

''It might not have been the prettiest game at times, and we were fortunate they missed some kicks in the first-half when we could have gone behind, but it's about winning and keeping going,'' said England skipper Martin Johnson.

''We were a little bit fortunate in the first-half, and we recognise that.

"But we turned most of our territory into points in the second-half, which was the key thing.''

There was no repeat of last November's violence-scarred encounter, although a late skirmish involving England number eight Lawrence Dallaglio might yet attract the attention of World Cup disciplinary chiefs.

Dallaglio appeared to take a swipe at Springboks wing Thinus Delport when both players were on the floor, although Woodward doesn't anticipate the matter going further.

Tournament rules dictate that the citing commissioner must make a complaint within 24 hours of a match finishing.

Woodward paid tribute to South Africa, who gave England a ferocious contest and perhaps created more in terms of clear-cut scoring opportunities.

''They were excellent,'' he said. ''The South Africans are a world-class rugby nation, with outstanding players, and I think they did themselves credit.

''The South Africans can have a really good go at the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.

''They will be down today, but no more than that. I don't think that the All Blacks are setting this tournament alight."

England avenged their 1999 World Cup quarter-final defeat against South Africa, and Wilkinson's two second-half drop-goals were like daggers through the Springboks' heart.

It was four years ago that Jannie De Beer teased and tormented England at Stade de France by kicking a world record five drop-goals.

But they need no longer be haunted by those painful memories.

England also cleared a major World Cup hurdle, and while there are still potential obstacles along the way, the ultimate reward is clearly in sight