Rogers celebrates Australia's win. (Getty Images)

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Sydney

There were murmurs of derision from reporters this week when England head coach Clive Woodward insisted Australia were the team to beat at this World Cup.

Some thought he was being perverse favouring the out-of-form reigning champions. Others thought he was just plain barmy to back the seemingly tarnished home gold against the All Black tournament favourites.

Well, on the balmiest of Sydney evenings, when 'Waltzing Matilda' blended surreally with 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot,' sung by vast banks of England supporters, Woodward proved not a bad judge after all.

All of England must have been hoping his prediction of an England triumph against France in Sunday's second semi-final would be equally as astute as the crystal ball which, while it didn't foresee the detail of Australia's 22-10 victory, certainly saw the correct outcome.

Quite on what tarot card Woodward had spotted what amounted to the first upset of this most predictable of tournaments was unclear, because Australia had struggled for large parts of the past six weeks.

They had been castigated by their own media and written off by a string of former players, including David Campese and Nick Farr-Jones. No-one gave them a chance.

They had scraped past Ireland in the quarter-final by a single point and their captain George Gregan had been jeered off the field by his own fans.

They weren't World Cup contenders. They were a side in free-fall.

And yet, like Woodward who lived in this land for five years, we should have known. As long as there is breath in their lungs and fire in their hearts no-one should ever rule out an Aussie when he pulls on that gold shirt.

Sport isn't a hobby or a pastime in this nation of huge opportunity - it's a way of life.

From the huge outdoor swimming pools to the copious cricket grounds and countless academies. Tonight in the Telstra Stadium Australia reaped the benefit of treating sport with such respect.

Quite simply, they were magnificent.

They denied New Zealand space, hit them with rib-busting tackles, strangled the so-called All Black flair at birth and then countered with epic intensity.

And no-one epitomised the sheer determination of Australia more than centre Stirling Mortlock. Not just because of his 80-metre try after intercepting Carlos Spencer's long pass after nine minutes, though there is no doubt that gave Australia belief and created doubt in the minds of the All Blacks.

No, it was Mortlock's tenacity, the way he dumped opposing centres Aaron Mauger and Leon MacDonald in the tackle and the manner in which he punched hole after hole in the New Zealand defence with his awkward, high-stepping gait.

But there were heroes in gold all over the pitch. Captain Gregan confounded his critics with his swift delivery, fly-half Stephen Larkham's angled running was superb while Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri provided power and pace out wide, the most lethal of attacking weapons.

Mention too for Elton Flatley's six goals and back-row forwards George Smith and Phil Waugh, whose sharpness and intensity never allowed dangerman Spencer to weave his wizardry.

At the final whistle the men in gold enjoyed a lap of honour to celebrate their back-to-back appearances in the World Cup final, the tannoy belted out 'Down Under' by rock group Men at Work and no-one could deny that Eddie Jones' men had not put in a thoroughly special night's work.

And, amid it all, the words of Woodward came to mind. "Australia are the team to beat, I've not seen anything in this tournament to change my mind."

He could get a job on the end of Blackpool Pier.