24/11/2013 Rugby League World Cup

Welcome to Wembley Stadium for the rugby league World Cup semifinals.

They billed it as the big hit, as England face New Zealand, and

Australia take on Fiji. In a moment we'll reflect on England

against the holders, New Zealand, but first up it is the

pre-tournament favourites Australia taking on Fiji. It is a very

poignant moment for us here at BBC Sport, as one of the great Ray

French takes his place in the TV commentary box for the final time.

Alongside him are Brian Noble. Paul Gallen, one of the toughest men

with the Sharks. Thurston going through! A superb try.

It finally gets to Thurston, and it is a show and go, a simple dummy to

the left-hand side and he sees gap and he takes them on. Australia

driving it down the middle. Smith looking for support but it wasn't

there. Good tackling from Civoniceva.

Inglis, and he makes a superb try there. A try given (Inaudible) out

of absolutely nothing. At that point he was behind on that

one. I'm happy that that's OK. Go to the ground, Inglis. And we go to

grounding. And that's a try. Try it is. It is for Gary Boyd. He is

trying to offload and gets lucky on the ricochet. Inglis cleans it up.

An easy score for Boyd. Two or three metres from that line.

He is bringing men with him... No, he isn't. Two tackles remaining.

Good defence so far. Knocked down. Australia with the

ball again. Cooper Cronk down the short side. A try for Cooper Cronk.

Koroibete can't clean the ball up. Cronk times his run to perfection.

The only real game Australia have had was with England at the opening

of the Millennium Stadium. You begin to wonder, is it hard enough for

them? There is nothing wrong with the defence. They've not conceded a

point in three or four matches. A good ball. Can he get it down?

Good defence. He's given a try! The referee's got a better view than I

have. Powerful play. With pure power it was over the

line. A good short ball there. Has he got

it down? He sensed there was something on but he held up. How did

he not score it? I don't know. All he had to do was dive at somebody's

toes and he would have been in. Australia still on the drive.

Another try for him. Go as hard as you can on the ball and people fall

off the back of you. When you're that size there's no stopping you.

Fiji trying to make movement down that right-hand side.

That's try number four thrashing in. Hayne again. The second of the

night. He takes the ball into the tackle.

Still three tackles remaining. Inglis, a short pass.

Matthew Scott. Another penalty. On your own line. If I was the coach I

would substitute somebody. I would do the same thing. The they are

struggling to hang on, the Australian as. They are trying to

buy as much time as they can. A good drive and that's a try from James

Tamou. He just has to use his bulk and strength to get over. Cronk

makes the hole for him and ORCEDYELLOW He just has to use his

bulk and strength to get over. Cronk makes the hole for him and Tamou

says, "Thank you very much." You've got to put this into perspective,

they are playing in the world top two teams.

There's that man again, Boyd. Too quick, too powerful on the outside.

A tiring the defence and Mr Silverwood points to yet another

try. Slices down the outside, Brent Tate

releases at the right time and it's a foot race. Too much space to be

stopped. Australia on the attack, driving in.

No mercy to be shown. He wants somebody to come up the

inside and it looks as if Gareth Hayne is in for another. This is

Hall with a double drop-off. He couldn't do anything. Too powerful.

An inside ball from Smith. Smith. Do your best but it's not good enough

against Hayne. Terrific running down the right-hand

side. And he's in at the corner! Greg Morris in for his first try of

the night. Is it a try? I'm happy everything's OK there. That's a try.

Hayne makes the bust out of the sideline and I'm sure he could have

got there himself. But Morris did finish in the corner. Will Australia

finish with a flourish in yet another try? They are doing their

best. They are pushing it down the left-hand side. Brave tackling from

Fiji. They've got just over two minutes to keep them out. The crowd

getting behind them. Australia back inside to Boyd. Good tackling. Three

tackles remaining. He's in surely... Yes he is! He was coming like a run

away truck. You stop him. Him. No chance to stop at that speed,

Fifita. Even the post couldn't tackle him.

What's your investigate on this afternoon? Obviously a business

disappointing today, considering we were pretty good. The Aussies were a

bit slick for us and we didn't make it easy for us and the champion team

put the nail in the coffin for us. It would've been bittersweet to

finish the way we did. Would you have preferred a closer work-out

ahead of the final? Surprisingly although the score line doesn't show

it, it was a hard game. Fiji are a strong side. Technically we were too

good for them, but as far as wanting to have a go, they were in their

game, playing it tough and hitting hard, so... What the way you would

have wished to bow out I guess? No doubt. I'm so lucky and fortunate.

I'm blessed to have had the career that I've had. I'm 37. I'm still

playing, so I just look back an so many great memories coming to this

country and playing in front of these tremendous crowds. It's been a

huge honour, so I've got so many great memories to retire with. A

comfortable win for Australia. With me are John will kin and Earl

Crabtree. They didn't have to put on too much of a sweat, Australia? No,

they showed touches of quality. What will be pleasing for Tim Sheens, the

way they defended the, some real stamps of quality. Hayne had an

outstanding game. Both half-backs exceptional. A consistently good

throughout the tournamentment watching them there you can't help

but feel they are the favourites. They've produced exciting rugby

again. Fiji, a game too far for them? A little bit disappointing for

me. I think they'll be disappointed with themselves. You can tell from

their interview, their play was lack luster in the first half. Didn't

offer much, which is a sad sign. It is about the legacy. Fiji is a name

associated with rugby league in a massive way. And they've won hearts

as well as minds, Fiji, in this World Cup? They have. They've

contributed. Their attitude towards the game and life, the way they

incorporate other teams in the post-match celebration, it is an

iconic stand-out moment in the tournament. They've got great

players and the key to it is the legacy in Fiji. How we develop the

infrastructure of that game in that country and make sure that Fiji in

the four nations a success and Fiji going forward produces world class

players. Do you feel we've learnt anything about Australia in that

game? Apart from the obvious, that they are really good. Cameron Smith

really impressed me, along with Cronk as well. They do not make any

errors, that is what is so important. They were just ripping

the Fiji defence to pieces. It is a scary sight when Australia are on

song. Going into the final, you cannot expect anything but a decent

performance. Quite scary that Jarryd Hayne might not even have been

playing, it is a frightening thought. Yes, probably the world's

best centre and he has been playing full-back and on the wing he has

been exceptional. The nucleus of their team is, as he says, do not

make mistake. They take the right options, they kicked the ball well,

all of their passes are on the money. That is why Australia have

been the best international team for a number of years. So, moving on to

England against New Zealand. Steve McNamara sprang a surprise by

dropping Rangi Chase. What we got was the best England display of this

World Cup. Over to your commentary team, Dave Woods, Brian Noble and

Jonathan Davies. There have been a lot of smiles over

the last few weeks, but today, the World Cup gets serious. England

against New Zealand, in the semifinals. They are lining up like

this today. New Zealand missing their giant winger Vatuvei because

of injury. Likewise, Prichard is a late withdrawal from the pack. Alex

Glenn gets a lake hall on the bench. -- a late call. And England, the

brand-new halfback pairing, premiered at Wembley, Gareth Widdop

and Kevin Sinfield, and it is a combination which has to work right

from the off. James Roby back as the starting hooker today. Here comes

Jesse Bromwich. New Zealand are in a very good position here, England

have to defend carefully. Kevin Locke comes in. Kevin Sinfield drags

him down. New Zealand sniffing that line. Back it comes to Johnson, and

here is Sonny Bill Williams. Danger... Is a real step, he always

seems to be the first man. This now is Kieran Foran. And back on the

inside for Waerea-Hargreaves. Great recovery from Tomkins. The referee

is not sure, he wants to have a look at this again. I am sure by the

reaction that he thinks he has scored.

RADIO: Nice and slow, ball is on the ground, ball is up... Oh, no try.

But what about the recovery from Sam Tomkins.

Tomkins, and on it goes to Charnley! But back they come. There was a man

of side there as well, as England played that ball, but here comes

Widdup. The support is great here at Wembley, as England have some

momentum. The kick to the corner... Wrong decision to kick their

accommodation have put the pressure on the Kiwis. -- wrong decision to

kick there - they should have put the pressure on the Kiwis. There is

danger here. Forward pass, surely. The referee says play on. Suddenly

they have got the break on. Ryan Hall, where has he come from? The

other side of the pitch! That is James Graham. James Graham's

defensive work there was absolutely magnificent. England at sixes and

sevens. Now, it is Tomkins with a very good tackle. Here comes

Johnson. Sam Tomkins drags him down. You are going nowhere, son. Again,

the England defence is good. Johnson across to... What have you made of

this, Jon Wilkin? It has been a really intense start to the game. We

have seen some fantastic pieces of defensive play, part of the game

which does not get celebrated. But that chase back from James Graham

was exquisite. Ad comes to Charnley. Sinfield does well to hold onto the

ball. As Jon Wilkin just said, defensively, it has been awesome so

far. Graham with the short pass, Burgess,

and O'Loughlin scores! The boys from the front row, Graham Burgess! They

made that one for O'Loughlin, and England get their first try.

JONATHAN DAVIES: That is where their strength is, players like Burgess

doing something special. It was the off-load.

James Graham steps on the inside of a swinging hand from Kasiano. What a

step that was from Burgess. Almost connecting with O'Loughlin, that

would have been very special indeed. It is a penalty for England. Holding

back. I would like to see this again.

Foran with the kick. It is kept alive here. The Kiwis might make

something happen. Luke again. He throws it over the top. He has

thrown it out of play, has he? Oh, what a ball. That is one of the

greatest tries. He was expecting his winger to be on the outside, and

suddenly realised he wasn't, and produced the miracle pass on the

inside. Let's have a listen. RADIO: Cannot see the feet, have got

the feet now... He has possession... The right foot is in the air, he

still has possession. He has released the ball. Not at the

grounding now. It is a clean catch. That looks fine on this angle...

Coming out now. As soon as Tuivasa-Sheck got the ball in his

hands, it was always likely to be a try, but the way he got his ball in

his hands was nothing short of a rugby miracle. Wow!

It really is terrific from England today. But New Zealand have got a

counterpunched or two. England have been fantastic, the one thing which

worries me a little bit is the individuality of some of the Kiwi

players. They can just do something magic. They cannot do anything more

magic than what Burgess has done. No.

There is a bit of a gap, he tries the off-load. Great off-load, by the

way. I think it was Chris Hill who had a nibble at him. Johnson looking

to tie the game up. The clock ticks down, so this is potentially the

last real action of this first half. Johnson has put it between the

uprights. A minute and a half remaining. All square.

Here comes Johnson. Isaac Luke picks it up, and here is Johnson again.

That is a good overlap... And over he goes. That is Tuivasa-Sheck with

his second try of the game. Or is it? That is fine.

RADIO: He has caught it on the outside, passes before. I am happy

with that, yes. DAVE WOODS: Tuivasa-Sheck has gone

level with Ryan Hall in terms of tries in this tournament. Forward

comes Jesse Bromwich. Five tackles to have a go, New Zealand. England,

that wall of white needed more than ever just at the moment. And it is

going to be a hat-trick, is it? No, England's defence... How good a

reaction was that from England?! I have no idea where the ball went, to

be honest. That looked a certain try. Courage, heart, call it what

you want. Ben Westwood being back on the field

has helped England, with his physical presence. Issac Luke knew

they were one short, he had a go. Tomkins goes up and collect is. What

has he done? Holding. I am not sure if there was holding here, there was

a definite block, maybe. Let's have a look. He is saying he has impeded

the kick from challenging for the ball, at least. I understand the

decision, sometimes they are given, sometimes they are not. Johnson is

successful, three out of four. Six tackles for England to ask a few

questions of this New Zealand defence. Great run by Tomkins.

Westwood down the blindside. Tomkins has it. Now, it is Sinfield.

Straightened up by Hill. And he is still going, Chris Hill. Strong

effort. Now, Roby. I to his left. It comes to Tomkins, who slips over on

the Wembley turf. A disappointing end to that particular move. They

need a repeat set, that is what they want. It is play on, six more. So,

another set, they do get the repeat set. Here comes Roby. Listen to the

crowd roaring this England side on. Graham, back to Sinfield... Kallum

Watkins! England try! Great ball, Kevin Sinfield, and what an angle

from this young kid Kallum Watkins. Kevin Sinfield has defined the

runner, but it was a great line from Kallum Watkins, otherwise that does

not happen. Well played, England. Sinfield to make it all square, but

he has just put it wide. Graham, they do not know what he is

going to do, that's the thing. O'Loughlin back to Widdup, quick

hands... Here comes Ryan Hall! Ryan Hall for the corner! He has slipped

over! Normally he makes that left-wing his own personal space,

but not this time. Tomkins, maybe it is the other wing. Charnley! What a

tackle. Put down within sight of the line.

He isn't allowed to play that. The referee says play on. Sinfield,

Widdop, Burgess... Insi forward. He dropped it. A clever kick though.

Good control under pressure from defence. I'm not sure he dropped it.

They are checking. I don't know why he did that so early in the tackle

count. He kicks early. The bloke next to him is complaining. Not me,

I think he's a great player. I think we are fantastically lucky here to

be looking at the best forward pack in this competition. The England

pack are outstanding. Outstanding. What they have done against the New

Zealand defence today is sensational.

And complemented by a fantastic half back partnership. The game

management is brilliant. Burgess runs over Kevin Locke. England have

a try! England have the lead. A World Cup final is just moving

inches closer to their grasp. How good is this kid? How good is Sam

Burgess? Kevin Sinfield creates the opening for him. He gives it to SB.

He slams ball over the line. Get that into ya!

These are the characters you want hanging around. Sinfield to George

Burgess. Another mighty drive by him. Three tackles gone. Three to

go. Roby. Widdop. New Zealand's defence recovers well. Roby.

Sinfield. Westwood. Westwood pushing the ball. Westwood... He's lost it.

Did he lose the ball? No-advantage I think New Zealand. He thought it was

over. Put the ball down, Ben. Oh, so close. England's defence, that wall

of white, buckles together again. If it is not one Burj pes it's the

other one. The best players on the planet are out there today.

Comfortab comfortable... Oh, Ryan Hall knows. Had he caught that 80

yards down the field he would almost certainly have been celebrating an

England victory. He did well to get, there to be fair. He was the Kane

breaker. This is it, this is the set. England make five more tackles.

They are there. And New Zealand know that. That's tackle two. Four more

to go. Here comes Goodwin. That's the third. Isaac Luke. It's slow.

Taken in by Kasiano. Good tackle by Hall on Ferres.

That's tackle four. Two more tackles to come. Penalty New Zealand. So

they will get another set here. We've got one minute. Quickly taken.

Isaac Luke. 46 seconds to go. This is it. This is it. Four tackles

to go. Isaac Luke. It is a moment for heroes. Johnson. What a try!

Sean Johnson with the try. With literally seconds to play and now he

keeps them in the game. This is the penalty, didn't need to do it and

they rushed out and opened the gate for this player. Sinfield goes

early. Bang! Off the left. What a try. It is that fella who has the

task of kicking this goal. This is not a difficult kick, OK? But in

circumstances like this, it's a little bit tougher.

Tries to clear his mind of the cacophony of sound that swirls

around Wembley. He's nailed it! He has nailed it.

It is New Zealand in the World Cup final. They get to go again to

defend their crown. And England simply can't believe the fate that

has just befallen them. What a performance? What an outstanding

performance by England today. But in the end it was seconds away from

being enough. I'm lost for words. It is just so, so close.

Many commiserations. What is the feeling after that, it is a

heartbreaking way to go out of the World Cup. Definitely. A tough way

to go, but high-level sport can be cruel at times to. A World Cup

semifinal that's how it should be, two teams hammer and tongs, with not

much in it. I'm bitterly disappointed. That was an incredible

game of rugby league wasn't it? It certainly was. It was a real test

match. I thought England had a great game today. The our lads, we kept

fighting and hanging on in there. We came up with an opportunity with a

few minutes to go and we were good enough to take it. But I thought

England had a great game today. It is hard to put into it words. You

put so much effort into it and you end up coming away with nothing.

Maybe we put a lot of pride into this third and stuff but that means

nothing to us at the minute. The last 20 seconds we got pipped. The

guys are very disappointed. We put a lot of hard work into this

tournament and feel we haven't got what we deserve. Is there more to

come from this New Zealand team? I think so mate. England played really

well I thought and we are going to improve again. There are aspects of

my game that need a lot of work. But for now I'm going to enjoy that

moment. Through to next week. It's been a difficult campaign. Where now

for England and for you? It's not been difficult at all. It's been a

great campaign. Campaign. We've done thing things the right way. Our

group has been very, very strong. I think as you can tell by what's gone

out there today. We'll see. John, heartbreaking to end like that. It

was devastating really. A player who's been involved in the England

set-up for a number of years, to understand the amount of investment

in emotional energy and physical energy in getting England to a World

Cup time. To see those hopes dashed in the last minute was a

excruciating to watch. I really feel for the players. They are obviously

devastated and rightly, so because they produced an may have

performance. A I thought, if I'm honest, that's probably the best

game of international rugby I've seen in a number of years. England

will be pleased with how they played but upset matly hugely disappointed

with the result. They had their chances. They are going to rue

missed chances. Possibly they will think about every mistake and every

part of that game that didn't quite go their way, including decisions by

the the referee or decisions they made. Those boys will be so

disappointed. We've been through thatta structure and been part of

that build-up for the World Cup for the last three years. As a player

outside of that now you can just see how much it would have meant to

them. I was getting cold before the game, thinking about wanting to be

out there. It is the first time I've really missed it. I know how they

are feeling now. I've been in times before and lost them. I know how

good they are going to be. Would point to any particular moment where

they lost it? I think every big game is hinged on a few key moments

hospital. I I thi Ryan Hall did everything right and couldn't gather

it in. The Burgess penalty which led to the tackle at the end. There are

moments in the game where it hangs in the balance. Those moments either

go your way or they don't. They just didn't go England's way. They did so

well to dominate the England team and engineer a position where they

had to hold out for the last 50 seconds. You had a sneaking feeling

this English mentality, we were sensing that New Zealand were going

to score, and they did. What great play from New Zealand though. It is

not all heartache though, the New Zealand boys have done fantastically

well and should be proud of getting through to the World Cup final. If

you had to pick somebody out, Burgess was outstanding. Ridiculous.

It was one of the best performances I've seen by Sam binge and as a

player in general on the field. He was magnificent. But other players,

James Graham, Sean Lock lock and others. And Sean O'Loughlin. Ben

Bestwood, if he could have scored that try, it making have been a

different story. But to put it into perspective, 50 seconds away we

were. We've never been like that years ago. We are going in the right

direction. Widdop was a good addition wasn't he? Fantastic. He

seamlessly slotted in. He will have been aggrieved he didn't play a

bigger part in this World Cup, but these opportunities come and I'm

sure Gareth will be a consistent starting player in the international

team. To produce the performance he did with very little preparation and

very little time with his team-mates was exceptional. Recomplemented the

other players very well. New Zealand have been fantastic throughout this

tournament haven't they? And they were very good, and patient. Yes,

that's an unusual sign in the New Zealand team and I think it is the

best New Zealand team we've seen for a long time. Sunny had a massive

game himself, and mixing him up with Sam Burgess, a great contest. New

Zealand do look like a different sides. They still have mistakes and

they still do have those little errors and lapses in concentration,

but they got away with it today. Today. The they were the best side

on the day. New Zealand and Australia toe to toe, it should be

some final. They were two fantastic teams littered with some of the best

rugby league players in the world. New Zealand in the semifinal today,

they really absorbed a lot of pressure. One thing I was impressed

with was how impressive they were. There was a real desperation. I

think real encouraging display from New Zealand that puts them in a

great confident mood going into the final. The Australia look silky and

Cronk and Thurston, these guys, Greg Inglis, with those players in your

team you are always a fantastic chance of winning and it should be a

great finals. One that we are going to be privileged to be part of. So

it will be Australia against New Zealand in the 2013 World Cup final.

We are live from Old Trafford next Saturday. We good on air on BBC One

and BBC One HD at 1. 45pm. I hope you can join us. It was a classic

between New Zealand and Australia in 2008. Australia will undoubtedly

want revenge. New Zealand are desperate to hold on to their title.

From all of us here at Wembley. Goodbye.

And away we are. He's in at the corner.

One of this great tries. Burgess great tries. Burgess and lefty

-- and Locke. It is a moment for heroes.

To take his side into a World Cup final. He's nailed it.