● England never let the Wallabies work up a real head of steam

Now Japan’s “Brave Blossoms” have bowed their way out of the World Cup, attention turns to the four teams still standing for this weekend’s semi-finals, among whom England have a prop with a bravura style who is blossoming from temper-tantrum material into an unflappable front-row titan.

Kyle Sinckler’s galloping try, taking a perfect short line from Owen Farrell’s miss-pass, was the showreel highlight of Saturday’s 40-16 thrashing of Australia in the quarter-final in Oita which sent England hurtling through to a glamour tie with holders and favourites New Zealand in Yokohama.

The 26-year-old Harlequins tighthead refused to allow the Wallabies to expose his previously problematic temperament – one example was a mocking pat on the head from hooker Tolu Latu when Sinckler conceded an early freekick – and his standout contributions included a crucial rip of the ball in his 22 as Australia strained to stay in the tournament.

Two first-half tries by Jonny May to mark his 50th cap and another score near the end by Anthony Watson put England in the mood to knock over the All Blacks.

And once a beaming Sinckler had dedicated the win afterwards to his mum Donna, who had flown to Japan for this match, he revealed the help he has drawn on from inside and outside the England team, after accepting his much-talked-about loss of control in the defeat by Wales in Cardiff last February meant confronting troubling truths in his personal life.

“The Wales game taught me