LOOK BACK IN ANGER
No end to Kiwi pain for skipper O’Loughlin
THE painful memories will never fully go away for the eight survivors of England’s last World Cup semi-final heartache.
England were seconds away from a final against Australia at Old Trafford when New Zealand scrum-half Shaun Johnson stepped through a tired defence at Wembley four years ago.
Current skipper Sean O’Loughlin was one of the fateful eight and while that match has not been mentioned ahead of tomorrow’s showdown with Tonga, he admits it remains relevant.
O’Loughlin said: “You have to look back on those experiences. As much as it was a disappointing one, you have to use them to galvanise you. There are comparisons to be made.
“The team has changed since then – a lot of the boys were not involved – but the lads who were knew how close we were to doing something special and didn’t quite do it.
“It makes you appreciate the opportunity we have now. It was probably one of the most disappointing games I have been involved in.
“We played reasonably well and were in front most of the game, but didn’t quite get it. But you learn lessons from those games.
“There’s definitely still an element of disappointment, but now we have an opportunity to put that right.
“We want to go that next step and make the final and hopefully win. It’s a massive game, but everyone is excited about it.”
Pre-tournament, O’Loughlin’s side were expected to face the Kiwis at this stage again in Auckland tomorrow.
Instead, they play a buoyant Tonga, who recorded an historic win over New Zealand before edging past Lebanon in the quarter-finals. With a team made up entirely of NRL and Super League players – and including two of the world’s best forwards in Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo – O’Loughlin knows they are not to be underestimated. He said: “They are there on merit and playing well. They have got some big athletic lads and have a bit of momentum behind them.”