By Liam Allen BBC News Online

Millions of sports fans across the UK - well, mainly England - made for pubs hours before the usual opening time on Saturday to brace themselves for a hard-fought game of rugby between two old rivals.

Millions of drinkers watched England win in the pub

At one cavernous Australian-themed pub in West London it soon became clear drinkers would have to be on top form just to battle through the early scrum at the bar.

Both sets of fans were on song from the outset as a running battle between the sounds of Swing Low Sweet Chariot and Waltzing Matilda began in earnest.

The deafening intermittent shouts of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" from bar staff over the sound system acted as a constant reminder that this was an Australian pub.

But England fans were only slightly outnumbered.

At some crucial stages of this exciting pub spectacle, it was too much for fans of both sides.

Backs turned to the screens, desperate hugs and touching of wood were a common sight.

But after a pulsating game that kept the packed venue on edge throughout, rival fans exchanged handshakes and hugs.

Before the game Brit-based Aussie Mick Gersh calmly told News Online the scoreline would be a comfortable 29-10 to his countrymen.

You can't beat the atmosphere of a big pub for watching sport Mick Gersh

"I work with 30 Englishmen and they're going to be gone for," he said

The 29-year-old chef said he had watched Australia compete in a more serene public house in 1999 when his heroes last took part in - and won - a World Cup Final.

But Mr Gersh, who with the help of an Australian scarf had roped in his Hungarian girlfriend Esther Fujes as an honorary Aussie for the day, rated the full-on atmosphere this time round as far superior, saying "you can't beat it".

Later on, as fans waited anxiously for extra time to begin, he admitted he was feeling "unbelievably tense".

England fan David Cross had also been feeling relaxed at the start of the game.

"I think if we score the first points Australia will grumble but if Australia score the first points it will be quite tense," he added tellingly.

Australia scored the first points.

That was the most nervous I've ever been in my entire life David Cross

As far into the match as half-time, and buoyed by an England lead, the 26-year-old trader said: "England are very, very strong and we should win this match.

"Australia scored a good early try but England put Australia under pressure."

But by the halfway stage of extra time, with England only just ahead, the stress was etched into Mr Cross's face. He did not look a well man.

After blasting the referee he said with a certain lack of confidence: "England will win."

After another couple of monosyllabic comments he warned he would only be prepared to put his thoughts on record after the game if England won through.

As it turned out, he was more than happy to talk glowingly of what was an historic achievement.

"That was the most nervous I've ever been in my entire life," he said.

"It was the best game I've ever seen - it was unbelievable.

"I'm the happiest man alive."

He paid tribute to the "tremendous spirit" of the Australians, both in the game and in the pub.

The tension was hard to bear for both sets of fans

And he even hinted he would not be making life too difficult for his Australian friends and colleagues.

"I will be saying well done - I didn't think they had it in them to make it so difficult for us."

Meanwhile, the conviction to the cause of Mr Cross' Australian counterpart Mr Gersh, who had earlier predicted a convincing win for his home nation, had altered by the referee's final whistle.

"I'm from Melbourne anyway," he said.