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Last Updated: Wednesday, 17 October 2007, 18:47 GMT 19:47 UK

From heroes to zeroes
Jonny Wilkinson (left) and Martin Johnson
To see why England's progress to the final has taken many by surprise, we need to go back four years to when they stood on top of the world.

Then, Jonny Wilkinson's drop-goal clinched the final 20-17 in a thrilling extra-time period against Australia in Sydney.

Afterwards, talismanic skipper Martin Johnson retired, along with veteran prop Jason Leonard and flanker Neil Back.

It was the first sign that the world champions were breaking up, and a host of other stalwarts followed.



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