In truth it was an unusual game in that England - despite the fact that they were pressing and dictating the game - did not score any points in the second half.

You could have expected any team in their position to have added some points during this period from penalty kicks etc, especially given the skill of Jonny Wilkinson. But you can't score from penalty kicks if none in kickable range are awarded. Credit should go to the Australian team for their play in this period and for their disipline in not having penalties awarded against them within kicking distance of the posts.

However, I think this was only partly true as it is unusual for a referee never to blow-up for any of the indiscretions that must have been commited by the mainly defending Australian team in this 40 minute period. Especially as most of the play was in the Australian half and the England team had most of the ball............?

I used to have to play the game at school under a sadistic (Welsh) sports master. I developed a stategy for survival where I always managed to ensure that wherever the ball was - I was not.