10/11/2013 Rugby League World Cup

Hello and welcome to highlights of week three of the Rugby league World

Cup. This weekend sees the final round of group matches and for some

teams it is make or break time. Here is what is coming up. Italy take on

Tonga, knowing a win will take them through to the quarterfinals.

Ireland had a tough task in Limerick as they faced favourites Australia.

Wales were looking to finish their World Cup campaign with a win

against the Cook Islands. We will reflect on England's ultimately

dominant victory against Fiji. And we will pay tribute to Steve

Prescott, who passed away yesterday after a long will this. We are

joined by another top-class trio of rugby league talent tonight but I am

guessing that Bill Crabtree and Robbie Hunter Paul have probably had

a less stressful day that the Scotland coach Steve McCormack and

we will start tonight with the match that would decide Scotland's fate in

the competition. It was the final game in group C, with Italy taking

on Tonga in Halifax. Scotland needed Italy to beat Tonga

if they were to go through. They had suffered a night -- -- narrow defeat

in their opening group match. A win against the Cook Islands gave them a

glimmer of hope before it was snuffed out by Scotland's defeat of

the USA. A win by the narrowest of margins with the Italy go through at

the expense of Scotland. An opening day win over my -- Wales backed up

by an entertaining win against Scotland methods they stood on the

edge of the quarterfinals on their debut in the court -- in the

tournament. COMMENTATOR:

What a great reception the two teams get. What a fabulous venue this is

and what a great day for the club for Halifax to show off their

ground. Let's go in and confirm aside from Tonga.

15 minutes away from the Tonga line and this could be the chance for

points. It is so tight at the moment, no score through 22

minutes. Can they get some sort of results? There is a chance, it comes

loose. A brilliant ball, Italy have it.

Cameron Ciraldo has got it over the top. They will check it with the

video referee. This is incredible. The line markings are not that

distinct here but there is enough seem to prove that it is an inch

from scoring. It has ended up huge tackle to prevent him from scoring.

A big mistake, ten minutes out from their line, straight from the

scrum. A dark moment for the Italian side and the winger.

There are plenty of big boys out there.

A great tackle by the Italians. The clean-up men come across. They had

to bring people with them from the crowd because he is in.

We have a penalty to Tonga. It will be the last play of the half.

James Tedesco may have been held up as well, there is no celebrations

from the Italians. James Tedesco has found that afterburners their, but

may not have grounded the footy. No try is the call. It is so tense.

Still no tries here. He has got it there, or did he lose

it? Here we go again. He is celebrating, he reckons he has got

this down. He has still got a good grip on it there and that is down,

that is a try. Get ready from the cheer from the supporters from

Tonga. I can hear the Scottish players screaming their heads off!

He scatters a few blue jumpers all over the place, here's getting a one

on one opportunity, beats him and gets the ball down.

I can see three of his ribs out on the grass! Someone picked them up.

Cook them and have them with barbecue sauce. What a tackle on

Cameron Ciraldo. Mark Minichiello that time and Tonga

is away. 20 metres away from the Italian

line, dazzling play. What happened there? Just lost it.

19 minutes away from the line, Italy's turn to defend. They trail

by 8-0. They still haven't come -- they

still have a couple of tackles left here.

He is stretched out, they reckon they have a triple movement. He has

given the try. It has gone to Daniel Foster. I have never seen many

Jell-o blow up like that in his long career. That is the passion in the

guy, the emotion. Foster does really well here. Close to the line with 90

seconds to go. The captain of the Roosters has got

him! If it is the strip, it is a try.

Hand on the ball. That is pulled away, stolen. No, it comes clean

away and hits the head accidentally. Hits the head accidentally, that is

play on. Just a grounding, please. That is a try. They are going to say

try here. I can't agree with the decision at all. We could discuss it

over a pint later. They get the try, Tonga. Scotland are into the

quarterfinals. We made it hard for ourselves. That first half

especially I don't think we stuck to what we do best. All credit to the

Tongan team. Every game is worth fighting for in

the World Cup and they have proven that today. Probably the best side

one and the best side is going to the quarterfinals in Scotland. I am

proud of the boys and the way they responded. That is what the Marc

Thomas spirit is all about. The boys did it defensively and I am very

proud. Confirmation that Scotland are top of group C through to the

quarterfinals. Many congratulations, Steve. You watched

that game together. What was the atmosphere like and what was the

atmosphere like when you knew how you had gone through? Exceptional,

the lads have one exception -- works hard. Watching a game where you have

no input, the pressure is off you and when the final try was given by

the video referee, the place erupted, as you can see. And burst

into song, they have good voice. It is, we do the Flower Of Scotland so

that is the first time we have done it one we have won the game. It is a

special occasion to get through to a quarterfinal. They are magnificent

and I am proud of them. It all became -- you presumably became Don

-- Tongans for the day. You owe a debt of gratitude to Suey Fuifui

Moimoi. He was superb. We had a fantastic game against them in

Workington but he is a great player. Look at the size of him, his

carries, he is knocking three, four, five defenders off. You would not

mind running into him, would you? ! He was like the size of a caravan

but now he has got bigger! He is the size of a house! He is huge. He

causes destruction everywhere. I live at the end he gives him a pat

on the back, big hair, coming at him 1 million miles an hour, a lot of

energy from Fuifui Moimoi. I am guessing it poses problems because

quite a few of your guys have jobs. On Friday morning after the USA game

I went into Warrington College and asked my boss, maybe another week

off, we have Josh Barlow who is fitting fireplaces on Monday and

Tuesday before we played the Kiwis. It is a fantastic story. We have

part-time players, Super League players and championship players and

they have all come together and worked exceptionally hard and

performed. We talked about Danny Brough and how key he was due last

week but Matthew Russell at fullback has had a fantastic tournament,

hasn't he? He has come up with some little bits of magic. His positional

play, he's like a pinball machine, you just cannot tackle him. I am

pleased for him. He had a great career at Wigan. He could not get in

the team because of Sam Tomkins. He had a loan spell at Hull, then he

has come back and what a fantastic World Cup he has had. He knows how

to score. Quite a few individual tries. And long-distance tries as

well, 30 metre tries. He has got that ability to bounce off players.

He's tough and quick. He has been a revelation for us in this World Cup.

An easy game, champions New Zealand in the quarterfinals! We will be

back in training tomorrow morning. What a great opportunity. The

players have earned the right to play against the Kiwis. Probably the

biggest challenge in sport, foamy. The board champions, the Kiwis, a

fantastic team, but we will have a good crack at them. In group A,

Australia took on Ireland in Limerick with Pat Bridges playing

his last match before heading home down under. The Australians have

lived up to their billing as tournament favourites, with an

unbeaten 11 match run. Victory here would see Australia topping group A,

and rewarded with a match against the quarterfinals. Two defeats in

the group stages meant it was almost impossible for I went to progress.

They failed to score and then into mass match for the first time

against England and face a tougher test against Australia.

This is the moment, Australia and Ireland. Cameron Smith leading his

team out, in this World Cup. And confirming the Irish side for

tonight. Individually, Ireland have some fine

talents. Some slick work going through the gap, and straightaway,

the kangaroos have the first try. Jarryd Hayne, Australia coming up

with a try inside 90 seconds. I thought they had moved a little bit

too early, but the full-back, Simon Grix was not able to come over and

take him across the sideline. They scored inside 90 seconds. We are now

in the 11th minute and they have not missed a tackle. Australia just five

away, as you can see. And the Australian halfback has scored. A

second try for the Kangaroos and it has gone to Cooper Cronk. Good speed

and only seven metres out, just help over the line. Australia, inside the

eye and 20, still only two tries posted in 28 minutes. Gerry Evans,

there is the third try, what a pass from Gerry Evans. What a ball that

was. Australia finally get it right and spread themselves across to the

right hand side. Taking a little pressure from the Irish defence, and

opening up the hall. -- hole. The feeder with them all, dummying. --

with the ball. And Australia have gone over. Brett

Morris scores a try. It is 20-0, to the Aussies. The ducks out of the

dummy half and gets the ricochet. And Gerry Evans, back-to-back. There

is no brotherly love. Brent says to Josh, I was shown and then I'll go.

-- I will show. Slater, the dummy from Slater, and

off he goes. Billy Slater. Another test drive for Australia. And he has

got plenty, don't worry about that. Cooper Cronk passed the ball. They

get this defence going sideways, and I love the way that Billy Slater

just holds himself up, he knows that the line is coming, just half a

second, and the lying appears right in front of him, and he just gets

down. The kangaroos 22 metres from the line. And a switch of play from

miles to Cooper Cronk. And Cooper Cronk is straight

through. Weaving his way through to score. You have got the decision to

make, Phil Bentham, sending this one upstairs. The decision is going to

come through that it is a try to Australia. Number six of the night,

and Cooper Cronk has a double. He looks up to the right, he is going

to go left. Lays it off to cherry Evans. And that makes three test

tries in three tests. For Cherry Evans.

He was almost away, good tackle. 11 yards from the line. No one more

stop him now. Andrew Fifita has a try for Australia, and he

celebrates. He married the day before the Kangaroos departed. And

here he is scoring at Limerick. He has gone close a couple of times

now. And another try for the Kangaroos. At Thomond Park,

Limerick, Australia 50- nil over Ireland. We have been lucky enough

to win all three all matches, it is a good building platform for the

rest of the tournament so hopefully we can keep on improving. We were

certainly having a big, and that is what we asked them to do, coming to

Limerick, coming to Thomond Park, I think that they can walk off with

their heads held high. What have you made of the USA, have you seen any

of their games? They have been the surprise package. We will have to be

on our game. Anything can happen. Australia finishing top of group A.

You were purring, watching some of those tries.

They make every player really work for everything that they ever do,

defensively. This typifies it. All day long, you have got to deal with

them. Creating space on the outside with Billy Slater coming round on

the edge. Liam Finn checks, Then it is a foot race for Billy Slater to

get to the try line, and Billy Slater is going to get to the try

line every single times. Cherry-Evans has played fabulously.

This is the strength of the Australian team. Not only can they

play well with an obstructive pattern, but they can do it

individually as well, and this just personifies what they have got to

offer. Put your sues -- shoes in their -- put your selves in the

shoes of Terry Matheson. He will be concentrating on his own team. They

have got to the final playing some fantastic rugby. You have got to

look at that play from Billy Slater. They have got some fantastic

individuals. The focus will be on what they can do well and how they

can perform and maximise their potential as a team. They are full

of stars, Australia, but they play so well as a unit, and the forwards

create space. They are so clinical and what they do, and everyone has a

certain role within the team. They create space out wide through the

different players, and if they find themselves in trouble, the likes of

Cherry-Evans just kicks the ball so precisely and solves the problem.

Occasionally, they can make mistakes and that is where you have got to

catch them out. How would you beat them? It is about doing the right

things within your own team. We have shown it with the England team, we

were the stronger team and they started making mistakes. As soon as

you start making mistakes, they get back into the game. Control the

ball, control the game. Three tries for three games for Cherry-Evans,

and they are so strong that he will be sitting on the bench. They have

this conveyor belt of talent coming through. More than any other players

coming through, putting pressure on what you would consider the starting

Australian stars than any younger players have, for a number of years.

I would not be surprised if they rolled the dice and put him in.

There was pride to play for in Neath. Wales took on the cook

islands, with both teams looking for their first victory of the

tournament. Time out on the left side. Joining

the attack from full-back. And getting down that enter quite some

time. And have the Cook Islands got in? Yes, they have. The referee

confirms it. The Cook Islands have had a lot of pressure early on in

this game and they are the first to score.

And Wales get a man over in the corner, Christian Rowett. Still a

couple of tackles remaining. The ball spinning out through Isaac.

Again, Keith Mooney is going to charge down for the corner. The

second try of the game for the Cook Islands. Napper checks his run.

And the drive-through, and there is Isaac John, with the third try for

the Cook Islands. He made it look ever so easy. Still, tackles

remaining in this set. Spreading the play, through John, and then the

second row, looks like he has got the ball down, it has taken them

five minutes of the second half, and the Cook Islands have got on the

scoreboard again. The Welsh driving towards the line, rolling on with

Ben Flower. Back to Lupton. He cannot quite get there. The Welsh

have woken up. One metre from the line. Driving through, and the gap

has opened up, unconventional, maybe, but they don't care. The

Welsh have got some points in the second half. This is a good set for

the Welsh. Keeping the ball going with Ben Flower. Ever so close.

Lupton, And there it is, Christian Rowett, for the Welsh. There is

support, and it goes over in the corner, Lloyd, his second try of

this Rugby league World Cup, 2013. He sticks it as high as he can. They

have got space as the Cook Islands and are charging through. We will

have a look at this one. That is a challenge, that is OK. It is off the

Welsh hand, this will be a try. We are going to the screen now. The

Cook Islands have nudged themselves six points ahead.

They have got extra runners on the right-hand side. They are away.

A disappointing end to Wales' rugby league campaign. On Saturday the sad

news came through that Steve Prescott had died. He won the league

and cup double with his home-town club St Helens before going on to

play for Hull FC and Wakefield. He represented England and Ireland.

After being diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer in 2006, he

set about raising more than half ?1 million for charities. He was

awarded the MBE for his fundraising and services to rugby league -- he

raised more than ?500,000 for charities. In 2006, I was diagnosed

with a rare form of stomach cancer and given months to live. Five or

six years later, I am running marathons and Jerry -- doing

endurance events. You take each day as it comes and keep going and get

on with life. To do what he has done is beyond belief. It is superhuman.

I can't understand how he managed to do it, but he did. You have cycled

through France and London and rode the Atlantic and won the marathon

and tell us what time you did? I got a new personal best in the London

Marathon, I can't believe it. We have rewritten the running manual,

training preparation for a marathon. We rode the date thiss the day

before we run the London Marathon, we wrote the Atlantic. He is so

inspirational, lesser people would have dealt with it differently but

Steve fought and fought. He is a huge inspiration to everybody and

will be sadly missed. A brilliant rugby league player, we will

remember him for the achievements and the good he has created for

everybody else. COMMENTATOR:

Oh, he has just pushed him to touch, and magnificent run from

Prescott. He has pace oozing out of his boots. Cancer hospitals need

help and support so I chose the Christie Hospital. It needs people

like us to promote it and expand. I had to do something for rugby league

because it has been my life. My dad played rugby as well. I want to help

other people. We can help them and it is all worth it. It was the

measure of the man that the crowd at Holt broke into spontaneous applause

during the minute's silence, a true legend of the game remembered.

APPLAUSE It was incredibly emotional at Hull

and with all the incredible charity work, you could almost forget what a

great player he was. He was a sensational player and quite painful

at times because the footage we saw lifting the Challenge Cup was

against my Bradford team. He was one of the original Super League stars.

When the Super League was invented in 1996, he was at the forefront of

the game. He made a massive splash, an international player as well. He

will be remembered for the hard work you did in and around the sport. He

really is the measuring stick, the benchmark that the modern-day

professional should measure themselves against because it wasn't

just about the sport or himself, he gave back so much as well. He will

be sorely missed and our hearts and minds go out to his friends and

family. The work he had done has been incredible and it really does

leave a legacy, doesn't it? I really hope it does, it is something we

need to think about the future. He was a remarkable person. I'd

presented the shirt before the game and was inspired and people talk

about the man of steel and the Steve Prescott award would be a fitting

tribute. England's last group game was against Fiji at a sold-out KC

Stadium in hole. After losing to Australia England got their World

Cup campaign right back on track with a big win against Ireland last

week, but they knew Fiji would provide a tough and physical tests.

I have been looking forward to this encounter all week. It is a clamp

like Fijian defence that is hanging on at the moment. James Graham,

listed in the air. He is not going to like that, is he? He is not going

to like that. James Graham, good, short backpass and Burgess. I think

he might have fumbled it, he did. He has missed, dropped on and he

will play the try. What a let off for England.

And inside ball and try. This game just got a whole lot tougher for

England. Sinfield, wonderful by Kevin

Sinfield. England respond in kind. Straightaway England are up and

running here. Chris Hill with a try forward and they are only ten metres

away. Rob Burrow maintaining his position. Burgess again, Sam

Burgess, unstoppable. The man is a machine, all of them could not keep

him out. There is a machine, all of them could not keep him out. Respond

responding of Rob Burrow, to his left he has got Hill and Rangi

Chase. A lovely delayed pass from Rangi Chase and England are finding

their form. Rangi Chase, it goes to Hall, what about that for Ryan Hall?

It is better than aspirin for curing a coach's headache.

Burrow skips away and was a wonderful England try again. They go

again. It is a trifle Hall. Ryan Hall, a simpler finished than his

first, his try tally in an England shirt is phenomenal. This was

supposed to be a tough day at the office and it was in the first half.

Fiji creating a bit of space here. That is a fabulous finesse --

finish. A great score, and is a great rugby league score. England's

day by a distance. Anybody who thought we would walk all over this

team will need to think again. It was a tough match, we defended. We

didn't play to our standard in the first half, we put our foot down at

the start of the second half and carried on throughout the game. It

was a great team effort and very happy for the team. It is the test

we needed, we have had to work hard in each game and that will bode well

for us in the quarterfinals. England going through as runners-up

to Australia, Sam Burgess epitomised all the physicality of England. Yes,

he was fantastic in this game. One of the standout players, without

doubt. You can see by the statistics, 183 metres which is

ridiculous for any team player, especially a prop. Most props go for

100 metres but with carriers like this he set the benchmark for the

game. We were talking about Fijian

physicality but it was about Sam Burgess ripping into the boys and

making sure that it was them who got on top. It was scrappy in the first

half by England but we did the right things in the first half, the

physicality, that is the way they had to set the standard. Elbowed,

that is what it is all about. What about his try? Brilliant. He

shouldn't deserve to school there. There were five Fijian defenders, he

goes through the middle of them. All scrambling, he jumps up and throws

the ball down hard. He is England's enforcer and the whole world knows

he is coming. That is what makes him dangerous. He has steps the game up

and is England's enforcer. Going into the quarterfinals and semifinal

and potentially the final they will need that type of personnel within

the squad. How important to have a player like that in the team? What

does it do to the rest of the team? He is the talisman. You look at the

space he has created for boroughs and Rangi Chase, you can have a good

side there. Burgess is a massive player for England. The whole pack

set the platform. We started seeing the backs play, Rangi Chase throwing

the ball more than he has been. They have to set the platform. That

gives these opportunities to create space out wide, there are gaps to

pass the ball. Ryan Hall is one of the best finishers in the game.

Through the middle, Burgess, the inside two. What did he bring to the

game? His speed and presence of mind, he is experienced. He gets in

the right position. He pushes in support better than anybody in the

game. He is there in support and puts the ball into the sticks. How

do you think England have progressed so far? Are you seeing them

building? The halfbacks are working well, the

forwards are getting on top. There will be big tests over the next

couple of weeks but Steve McNamara all good pleased with the way he's

side is building. A few selection headaches because nobody has let him

down yet. Nobody has let him down, they are fit squad. You need to have

the strength and depth, so he puts the pressure on the starting 17 and

maybe that is what we will see in going to the next level. Would you

have Rob Burrow win? I would. Definitely. You are sat in a

darkened room but it is up to you in the end. It is great to have so many

world-class players in your side, you have James Roby coming into the

England side. You have three great players, Robbie was on about the

Australian halfbacks but England has good players to put-in there as

well. It is his selection headache, not yours. You have your own

problems! This is how the quarterfinals line-up with one group

match left to play. You have New Zealand against Scotland, Australia

against the USA, the other two still to be decided because we have an

extra highlights programme on Monday evening on BBC Two at 11:20pm to see

who England will take on in that quarterfinal. France against Samoa

in Perpignan on as the final match of the group stages. We will have

live coverage of England's quarterfinal next Saturday. Build-up

starts with a red button special before switching to BBC Two after

7:30pm. Sue Barker presents coverage of this

tennis programme. My thanks to Robbie, Steve and Earle. We are

nearly at the knockout stages of this World Cup. Join us later today

for the final pieces of the jigsaw. Goodbye.