England into rugby World Cup final after late Tonga drama
England have reached the final in 22 years
WELLINGTON: England set up a World Cup showdown with Australia after scraping home 20-18 against a late-charging Tonga, who were denied a last-gasp try in Auckland yesterday. It is the first time England have reached the final in 22 years, their last appearance ending in a 16-8 defeat by Australia at Wembley in 1995.
In a nail-biting finish to the semi-final, Tonga were down 20-0 with eight minutes remaining but the Pacific islanders ran in three quick tries to close within two points. Then on the stroke of full-time, Tonga claimed Andrew Fifita was illegally stripped of the ball as he drove towards what would have been a sensational matchwinning try.
But referee Matt Cecchin ruled Fifita lost the ball and refused Tongan pleas for a video review as England hung on to snap an agonising semi-final jinx. Before a packed 30,000 Auckland crowd-including a large contingent of Tonga supporters fired up by the appearance of the Tongan King Tupou VI wearing a team jersey-it was England who impressed from the outset.
They scored two tries in the first half and another in the second with Garth Widdop landing four out of four shots at goal and adding a try himself as England inflicted a first defeat on Tonga in the tournament. Australia, who beat England in pool play, thrashed Fiji 54-6 in the first semifinal in Brisbane on Friday.
England face the Kangaroos in the final, also in Brisbane, next weekend. Since losing the 1995 final, every tournament since has ended in a semi-final defeat for England. But Wayne Bennett’s men were determined to break the hoodoo as they stamped their authority early on against a fragile Tongan defence.
Jermaine McGillvary opened the scoring from a simple catch and pass move to continue his record of at least one try in his past 10 Test matches. When Tonga were denied a try for Sika Manu with Michael Jennings judged to have passed off the ground, England swept back downfield with Widdop scoring their second try. England extended the score to 14-0 from a Widdop penalty goal and with 15 minutes remaining a John Bateman try stretched the lead to 20-0. But as Tonga cut out the handling errors that had plagued their game, they hit a tiring England with tries from Tevita Pangai Junior, Siliva Havili and Tui Lolohea with Sio Siua Taukeiaho landing all three goals.
The Tongans had come back from 16-2 down to beat New Zealand in the group stage. But their hopes of a stunning comeback against England were dashed after a lastditch tackle from Elliot Whitehead forced the ball to pop out Fifita’s grasp.
Winners face the Kangaroos in the final