England reached their second consecutive World Cup final after Jonny Wilkinson kicked them to a pulsating 14-9 victory over hosts France in Paris.

With England trailing 9-8 in the 74th minute, Wilkinson first kicked a penalty to give them the lead before landing a superb drop goal which left France needing to score a try to win.

The French launched attack after attack in the closing stages but England's defence held firm to secure a place in next weekend's final, against all the odds.

Wing Josh Lewsey gave England the perfect start with a try in the second minute but France fly-half Lionel Beauxis pegged them back with two first-half penalties before slotting another soon after the break to extend their lead.

Ironically, Wilkinson had not been enjoying his finest kicking game and had missed a penalty, conversion and drop goal earlier in the match.

But when it mattered most, England's talisman showed again that he is most reliable player in rugby history; first kicking a simple penalty from just left of the posts, and then a wonderfully struck drop goal from 40m.

England's victory was all the more remarkable in light of the fact they had been written off after a poor build-up and unimpressive start to the tournament, which included a big loss to South Africa.

But Brian Ashton's team have clearly turned things round to become only the second side, after Australia, to reach consecutive World Cup finals.

Australia failed to win two in a row when Wilkinson nailed an extra-time drop goal in 2003, and England will now face either South Africa or Argentina in next Saturday's final with the chance to become the first nation to successfully defend the Webb Ellis trophy.

Wilkinson's radar may have been off for most of the evening by his high standards, but he was at his usual thundering best in the tackle and led a superb England defensive effort.

France were knocked back time and again when they did try to run the ball, but mostly they relied on the siege gun boots of Beauxis and full-back Damien Traille to try and pin England back in their own half.

Traille was at fault for Lewsey's try when he failed to gather Andy Gomarsall's pinpoint box kick, allowing the England winger to win the ball and barge his way over in the corner.

Beauxis also had a nervous start to the game, but France refused to panic and stuck to a game-plan clearly centred on gaining territorial advantage.

When Beauxis was charged down, for the second time, in the seventh minute the ball bounced kindly to Serge Betsen and England were penalised for going over the top, allowing Beauxis to make it 5-3.

France then stretched England's defence with a series of attacks, but the visitors had laid down a marker in the early scrums and were comfortable retreating into their set piece when the pressure was on.

In the 17th minute, Nick Easter made some good yards from another solid England scrum, but his pass to Martin Corry was knocked on. England went over the top of a ruck and Beauxis was on target again to give France a 6-3 lead.

France lost Fabien Pelous to injury just before the half-hour mark and were forced to bring on the Sebastien Chabal, thus upsetting coach Bernard Laporte's plans to use the rampaging forward as an impact replacement later in the game.

Just before the break England also lost their try-scorer Lewsey to what looked like a hamstring injury and he was replaced by the impressive Dan Hipkiss, who came on at centre with Matthew Tait moving to the wing.

England enjoyed a promising start to the second half with the superb Lewis Moody and Simon Shaw prominent again.

But when Easter was caught coming in from the side four minutes after the re-start Beauxis kicked France into a 9-5 lead.

Soon after Wilkinson slotted a long-range penalty from the touchline, England having played their way into France's 22m area with some outstanding work from Moody and Hipkiss.

It was the cue for Laporte to bring on his impact players - Dimitri Szarzewski replacing skipper Rafael Ibanez at hooker and Frederic Michalak coming on for Beauxis.

The changes had an immediate impact as France upped the tempo. But England's replacements were also up for the battle, with Matt Stevens again impressing in defence and with the ball in hand.

But it was Joe Worsley in the 68th minute that produced one of the moments of the match.

Michalak kicked across field for Julien Bonnaire, the number eight did well to keep the ball in play and when it bounced kindly to Vincent Clerc down the right touchline France looked certain to extend their lead.

Somehow Worsley managed to tap the ankle of Clerc, preventing a certain try and allowing time for the England defence to scramble back and haul down Chabal metres from their line.

With six minutes left on the clock, Jason Robinson, again solid at the back and dangerous in attack, launched another mazy run only to be high-tackled by Szarzewski.

Wilkinson made no mistakes with the penalty to edge England into an 11-9 lead.

Two minutes later England were awarded a penalty for the use of an elbow after Sackey and Toby Flood - on for Mike Catt - had bundled Chabal into touch.

England kicked for touch, their forwards made a few crucial yards and Wilkinson hit the perfect drop goal to make it 14-9.

In an excruciating last few minutes, France threw everything at England. But the defending champions refused give up their crown and tackled themselves to a standstill for another famous victory.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport