Wilkinson kicked a late penalty and drop-goal to seal the win

The fly-half kicked a late penalty and drop-goal to earn England a place in Saturday's final against South Africa.

"Standing over that penalty with five minutes to go was nerve-wracking," the 28-year-old told The Times newspaper.

"You can see your shirt moving with your heartbeat. You might not look nervous but it isn't like that."

Wilkinson, who kicked England to World Cup glory in 2003, once again emerged as England's hero, although his overall success rate of 62.5% was below his usual high standards.

The Newcastle star had already voiced his concerns about the balls being used in France and on Saturday he rejected a ball he was given for a penalty attempt just after half-time.

Wilkinson explained: "It didn't have a number on it so it wasn't one of the match balls and I wanted to kick a match ball.

I don't go for this style of play thing. Whatever they say, I bet they wish they were sat where I am now England coach Brian Ashton

"I hoped not to have to talk about the ball this week but if I have been practising with the match balls and I am kicking a penalty in a World Cup semi-final, it seems sensible that a match ball is the one that I kick."

South Africa, who beat England 36-0 in the group stage, set up a rematch with Brian Ashton's rejuvenated side after a patchy 37-13 win over Argentina.

The Springboks will rely on their jet-heeled winger Bryan Habana for inspiration, while England will hope their pack will again dominate, thereby creating opportunities for the talismanic Wilkinson.

England's style has been the subject of some debate, with former Springbok Joel Stransky suggesting the World Cup is generally "more defensive" because teams fear losing.

"I think teams are trying hard not to lose games instead of going out there and trying to win them," Stransky told BBC 5live.

"I think you can get into that mindset where it can be very uncreative and the result is very much a kicker's game.

"I think we have seen a lot of attempts at drop goals and some really important place kicking so I guess it is a kickers game now."

England coach Ashton is understandably defiant about England's game plan.

"We are just approaching each game to win it," he said.

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"There were times on Saturday when I thought we played too much rugby. I can think of a period of 10 minutes in the second half when we were playing about on our own 10-metre line.

"We were thinking why don't you just kick the thing down the field and see what France are going to do with it?

"Because it was pretty evident they couldn't do a lot with it when we kicked later on in the second half.

"So I don't go for this style of play thing. Whatever they say from 12,000 miles away I bet they wish they were sat where I am now."

Matt Dawson, a World Cup winner in 2003, also shrugged off worries about England's style.

"There were 40,000 people in Paris and millions at home who couldn't give a monkeys how England win," he told BBC 5live.