PERTH, Oct 18: England survived an immense physical onslaught from South Africa to emerge 25-6 winners of a World Cup pool C match that lived up to its billing as a monumental forward battle on Saturday.

England won it with a try from Will Greenwood and another flawless kicking display from flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, who scored 20 points.

But if Springbok flyhalf Louis Koen had not missed four penalties during a first half when England struggled for any sort of cohesion, it could have all been very different.

South Africa delivered on their promise to hit England hard at every opportunity and the assault, legal and laudable this time, knocked England out of their normally assured stride.

But Koen’s failures and one or two missed Springbok try opportunities meant that the teams were still level 6-6 at the break and England, though still scratchy at times, were able to take command.

They can now look forward to a quarterfinal against Wales or Italy, with France then likely to oppose them in the semis.

But there will need to be a considerable improvement on Saturday’s error-strewn display if they are to go all the way and win the trophy for the first time.

South Africa, for whom this was only a second defeat in three World Cups, must now pick themselves up for a probable quarterfinal against New Zealand, with defending champions Australia likely to be awaiting the winners in the semis.

There was no hint of the struggle to come when England started with a fourth-minute Wilkinson penalty and some sharp breaks from winger Jason Robinson and centre Mike Tindall.

But after Koen levelled things with an 18th-minute penalty South Africa were on top.

England struggled to gel, with scrumhalf Kyran Bracken looking sluggish early on before picking up his game and most of his fellow backs giving away possession with ill-chosen kicking options.

Up front too the Springboks were turning over the ball regularly, though the battle for the ball was desperate at times.

Wilkinson landed a second penalty after a rare England foray but as the half dragged on South Africa continued to look the more dangerous.

Unfortunately for the Springboks Koen’s radar was off. During one seven-minute period he missed three kicks at goal before finally finding the target to make it 6-6.

After no doubt listening to a halftime rocket from coach Clive Woodward, England came out firing and edged ahead immediately with a Wilkinson penalty.

It was still hard going for England but another kicking error by Koen let them off the hook in the 63rd minute. The unfortunate flyhalf attempted clearance was charged down by flanker Lewis Moody to present Greenwood with a straightforward run in try.

It was their fifth successive victory over South Africa — their previous one, by 53-3 at Twickenham last year, ended in bitter recriminations over the Springboks’ brutal approach — and though it was not the most impressive, it was by far the most important.

Results:

POOL A