Final beckons as England survive South Sea storm

SOMEHOW, England are in the World Cup final. With seven minutes to play, Wayne Bennett’s men led 20-0 — after tries from Jermaine McGillvary, Gareth Widdop, John Bateman — and were in control. And then something incredible came from nowhere.

A Tongan whirlwind saw the South Sea Islanders almost complete one of the greatest comebacks in the sport’s history, scoring three converted tries in just five incredible minutes to set up the finale to end all finales.

As time expired Andrew Fifita had the line, and beliefdefying victory in sight, but the ball came from his grasp and with it so did Tonga’s World Cup.

On replays, it looked as though England’s Elliott Whitehead had stolen it before Fifita (above) regathered to score. It looked as though the miracle had come off. But referee Matt Cecchin 18 20 ignored pleas to go upstairs to the video referee, gave a gameending knock-on and England progressed to the big show for the first time since 1995. Defeat would have been harsh on an England team which, until the surreal ending, put in their best display of the competition. ‘It’s in my socks, I think,’ said forward Chris Hill when asked about the welfare of his heart. ‘It was some finish, wasn’t it?’ Favourites Australia await on Saturday. Will England pull off their own mission impossible? ‘Probably not,’ said a typically deadpan Bennett. ‘But we’ll still go to the game.’ Final, Australia v England, Saturday 8.30am on BBC2, kick-off at 9am