England is taking the Rugby World Cup and running with it.

Coach Clive Woodward has become so disenchanted with the Australian media he can't wait to get out of the country with the Webb Ellis Cup in tow.

The longest serving coach in world rugby achieved his life-defining goal when England beat Australia 20-17, thanks to a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in extra time, but it was hard to tell from Woodward's post-match comments.

England has suffered more than any other team at the hands of the Australian media during the seven weeks of the World Cup and it's taken its toll on Woodward despite his comments that criticism is "light-hearted banter" and "positive feedback".

"I'm looking forward to getting on the plane on Monday and going home," Woodward said.

"I've enjoyed Australia and enjoyed the World Cup but England's a fantastic country and I can't wait to get home."

He said a "campaign" by the media this week to make out his team was boring, that it played 10 man rugby and that the "Dad's Army" forward pack was too old to triumph had been proved false.

"With all the nonsense going on all week (Jonny Wilkinson) was fantastic ... the whole team was fantastic, Dad's Army kept going in extra time which was good.

"So all the comments coming from the opposition camp have come back to haunt them."

Asked if beating Australia as much as winning the World Cup had been his goal, Woodward said" "Yes!"

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