:00:41. > :00:49.Welcome to Wembley on a cold, crisp Saturday lunch time. It's semifinal
:00:50. > :00:53.time, New Zealand versus England, we have been here before. :
:00:54. > :01:15.VOICEOVER History will not repeat itself.
:01:16. > :01:42.Today, history will not repeat itself. We hope Sam Burgess is
:01:43. > :01:48.right. Well most of us hope Sam Burgess is right. Former England
:01:49. > :01:52.captain Jamie Peacock, former New Zealand international and O'Brien
:01:53. > :01:58.Noble. Let's start with you, England have won four of the last five
:01:59. > :02:02.against the Kiwis, but the one they didn't win was the thumping
:02:03. > :02:05.semifinal defeat in the year 2000 which you played in. Who do you
:02:06. > :02:07.think will come in with more confidence? I don't think anyone
:02:08. > :02:10.will come in with more confidence. It's a semifinal. Whoever wins this
:02:11. > :02:13.game to go through to the final. It's as easy as that. Both teams
:02:14. > :02:16.have been getting better throughout the tournament but both teams have
:02:17. > :02:25.yet to perform at 100%. So, I think today is the day. YAMy, semifinals
:02:26. > :02:29.are notorious -- Jamie, semifinals are more nerve-racking than finals.
:02:30. > :02:34.When you captained England in 2008, as you led the team out did you feel
:02:35. > :02:37.nerves? A little bit, I'm pretty focused and determined when I come
:02:38. > :02:40.out of the tunnel there, just prepared to do whatever for England
:02:41. > :02:44.to win but unfortunately we came up short in 2008. I expect England to
:02:45. > :02:48.do one better today and get to the final. I can't wait for the game.
:02:49. > :02:54.Neither can I, you got the try but by that stage you were 16-0 down, so
:02:55. > :03:01.a good start is vital? That's key for England. In a kicking game get
:03:02. > :03:06.themselves in the contest. O'Brien Noble, England's build up to this
:03:07. > :03:10.game dominated by team selection again, no Rangi Chase, are you
:03:11. > :03:14.surprised by that? On a couple of fronts but not on others. His last
:03:15. > :03:20.game was not the best. Steve said he was dropped for form reasons. Chase
:03:21. > :03:25.case will have to live with that. A change of direction is probably my
:03:26. > :03:29.worry. He's stuck with Rangi Chase for a couple of years, and so for
:03:30. > :03:32.this change of direction. I feel like Jamie. I feel the team is still
:03:33. > :03:36.strong, solid. These things happen in a World Cup. It might be through
:03:37. > :03:39.injury you lose the key player and having the right 24 is the key to
:03:40. > :03:44.the balance. I think they have. Have they lost a bit of an X-Factor with
:03:45. > :03:48.no Rangi Chase in the side. Would he have tried things against the Kiwis
:03:49. > :03:53.that he tried against Ireland and Fiji? More than a likely to. That
:03:54. > :03:57.kind of impulsive X-Factor player. It's some of the more fundamental
:03:58. > :04:00.things in the game that will get them over the line, how well they
:04:01. > :04:05.kick the ball, how well they start, how well they chase the ball. I
:04:06. > :04:08.think if they want a big player they still have enough players to find
:04:09. > :04:11.that big play. Do you think he might have been left out for that very
:04:12. > :04:16.reason. That he might have tried something today that could have cost
:04:17. > :04:20.England, without being, you know, disrespectful to Gareth Widdop, is
:04:21. > :04:24.he a safer option? I wouldn't say he's safer. The one thing that Steve
:04:25. > :04:29.McNamara does by bringing Gareth in the frame is that New Zealand
:04:30. > :04:33.haven't seen -- haven't had as much exposure to him at international
:04:34. > :04:39.level. There could be an X-Factor for England. Let's hear from the
:04:40. > :04:42.England coach. Steve we're all looking forward to a
:04:43. > :04:48.terrific game this afternoon. How big a decision to leave out Rangi
:04:49. > :04:52.Chase? Any decision, when you're selecting a team is important and
:04:53. > :04:55.throughout this tournament we've had some selection problems. For this
:04:56. > :05:01.week, for this game, I thought Gareth Widdop was right to start
:05:02. > :05:05.this match. That's who we have gone with. Has this changed the way
:05:06. > :05:09.you'll play? We have to focus on how we'll play. Gareth suits that, he's
:05:10. > :05:13.been waiting for his chances but gets his start and we look forward
:05:14. > :05:16.to seeing him play. Everyone has been so impressed with New Zealand?
:05:17. > :05:19.It's a great game. We'll be challenged today. They'll be
:05:20. > :05:26.challenged A brilliant arena, big crowd. What is it going to need, an
:05:27. > :05:31.80-minute performance? Of course it is. Both teams will play well today.
:05:32. > :05:34.No two ways about that, we're going to play well, they'll play well.
:05:35. > :05:37.There will be fine margins and we have to make sure we're on the right
:05:38. > :05:41.side of those fine margins. Thank you. Steve McNamara talk to Damien
:05:42. > :05:46.Johnson. Here is the England starting 13 and the four on the
:05:47. > :05:50.interchange bench as well. Jamie, when you look at that, is that the
:05:51. > :05:56.strongest 13 available to Steve McNamara? Yes, I like the look of
:05:57. > :06:00.the line-up, Grahams and Burgess in the middle and Burrow off the bench.
:06:01. > :06:05.He and Widdop have real pace off the mark and can take advantage of the
:06:06. > :06:09.big size of the New Zealand guy Z. Let's take a look at Sean O?Loughlin
:06:10. > :06:13.and talk to us how influential he could be? A real key. A real
:06:14. > :06:16.players' player, the man most important to Wigan. Sam Tomkins is
:06:17. > :06:20.important but Sean O?Loughlin is equally important, more so, I think.
:06:21. > :06:24.A true world-class player. We'll see some of his highlights. He brings
:06:25. > :06:30.intensity every week in everything he does. He leads the linout here,
:06:31. > :06:34.look at the end of that. That's what he brings as well. We'll see quite a
:06:35. > :06:39.bit of that this game. Part of the game is for JAM Robinson to get out
:06:40. > :06:44.there. The next man is Sean O?Loughlin. This leads to a try for
:06:45. > :06:49.England. Now something that's key, if England have to stop Issac Luke,
:06:50. > :06:53.they need to do this, not get beaten on the floor. Here we're going to
:06:54. > :06:58.see his defensive work again, they're the finer points, this is
:06:59. > :07:01.technique work from Wigan. He works hard back here again. But he's not
:07:02. > :07:06.prepared to quit. Some players would quit here. He comes into the space
:07:07. > :07:12.where there could be a break. We see him walk forward here. Stops a break
:07:13. > :07:16.and again gets up and works hard at marking. An exceptional player. Now
:07:17. > :07:19.the finer points of his play; someone has made a break, he's about
:07:20. > :07:26.to set everybody up. It's like a halfback player, a one hundred kilo
:07:27. > :07:29.halfback, takes the ball to the line, attracts three French players
:07:30. > :07:34.and allows England to score again. His skill and skill set will be
:07:35. > :07:41.crucial to England today, defensively and offensively. 'S
:07:42. > :07:46.combination of creativity. He's a world-class player. Interestingly
:07:47. > :07:50.enough, he's always been missing for big games for England over the years
:07:51. > :07:53.when they've wanted him, through injuries. He's available today. I
:07:54. > :07:59.agree with Jamie, he's huge for this team, not only the 100 kilos but his
:08:00. > :08:08.presence alone. Billy Slater, the Australian fullback will join us at
:08:09. > :08:15.half time to give us his thoughts. John Pil KICHLT in is -- Pilkin is
:08:16. > :08:25.our pitch side man. What will Gareth Widdop bring today? He'll be
:08:26. > :08:30.coveted. He's a great running ball. There's an assumption that with
:08:31. > :08:34.Rangi Chase not playing England have a lack of running threat, Gareth
:08:35. > :08:40.Widdop is a really running threat. He compliments the kicking game, the
:08:41. > :08:43.long-distance kicks turned New Zealand around will be crucial for
:08:44. > :08:49.England today. Do you have any concerns, John, that that will be
:08:50. > :08:52.the first time Gareth Widdop and Kevin Sinfield have started as a
:08:53. > :08:56.combination? They trained together a lot, spent great time in South
:08:57. > :09:00.Africa. That time together means that they are well used to each
:09:01. > :09:03.other. Communicating well and I think the halfbacks need to have a
:09:04. > :09:07.big game today but more importantly for me are the forwards, the England
:09:08. > :09:12.pack have a real defensive job to do. Controlling the speed at which
:09:13. > :09:16.New Zealand want to play, and really nullifying the threat of Issac Luke
:09:17. > :09:20.who's been one of the standout players in the competition. These
:09:21. > :09:23.England forwards have to be really disciplined and have intensity that
:09:24. > :09:27.they haven't shown in this tournament so far. That's one of the
:09:28. > :09:31.words that I think Steve McNamara will have focused on throughout his
:09:32. > :09:37.speech to the forwards before this game, intensity and having played in
:09:38. > :09:41.Test matches, I played in a World Cup semifinal alongside Jamie
:09:42. > :09:45.Peacock, let me tell you, there's one thing required to win a Test
:09:46. > :09:48.Match and it's intensity. It's intensity for 80 minutes. These
:09:49. > :09:53.England forwards have to show an abundance of that. Off the back of
:09:54. > :09:57.that the little plays from Sinfield and Gareth Widdop will allow England
:09:58. > :10:01.to get back on the front foot. Kick the ball long, chase well and build
:10:02. > :10:07.pressure. The key word is intensity for England today. Good stuff, John.
:10:08. > :10:11.Thank you very much. Obviously if you were watching us last week,
:10:12. > :10:16.you'll know why John was still keeping his distance from James
:10:17. > :10:19.Graham. Let's concentrate on New Zealand, because the holders have
:10:20. > :10:43.had a very impressive tournament so far.
:10:44. > :10:59.COMMENTATOR: Johnson scores, have a look at Isaac, Johnson gets another.
:11:00. > :11:04.Williams has a go. Sonny Bill has done it again. Johnson, the speed of
:11:05. > :11:05.their work is just too good. Sonny Bill Williams Sonny Bill Williams
:11:06. > :11:39.has scored again. So far so good for the Kiwis in this
:11:40. > :11:43.tournament. Their coach Stephen Kearney is with Damien. Stephen,
:11:44. > :11:48.games, I suppose as a player and a coach you dream of? Certainly. I
:11:49. > :11:53.know it's an opportunity for everybody involved with the group.
:11:54. > :11:57.Today, a big game, semifinal with the opportunity of progressing to
:11:58. > :12:00.the final. Up against a really tough opponent, so I know the lads are
:12:01. > :12:03.looking forward to it. New Zealand haven't been stretched too much in
:12:04. > :12:07.this tournament so far. Is that a concern, perhaps, your boys perhaps
:12:08. > :12:11.a little under cooked? Again, we can only deal with what's been put in
:12:12. > :12:15.front of us. Each week we've been mindful of that. We had areas where
:12:16. > :12:20.we needed to improve and I think we've done that. We understand what
:12:21. > :12:26.we have in front of us today. It's going to be a really tough contest.
:12:27. > :12:28.We've prepared accordingly. There's been disruption in the England camp
:12:29. > :12:32.throughout this tournament. Do you take much notice of that? Not at
:12:33. > :12:35.all. Sometimes things like that. I think from the beginning of the
:12:36. > :12:38.tournamented there were -- tournament, there were a couple of
:12:39. > :12:41.issues at the beginning of the tournament. I have seen them get
:12:42. > :12:45.better and better each week. Sometimes things like that bind a
:12:46. > :12:49.team together even closer. We're under no illusions what we'll be up
:12:50. > :12:53.against today. Thanks. Robbie, you can level the criticism
:12:54. > :12:57.that they haven't been tested in this tournament but Stephen Kearney
:12:58. > :13:00.is right, they can only play and beat what's been put in front of
:13:01. > :13:03.them? That's exactly right. They have been working towards some
:13:04. > :13:09.structure that they can take through into the semifinals and into the
:13:10. > :13:13.final itself. There you see, Waerea-Hargreaves s, one of the big
:13:14. > :13:18.play is that the Kiwi front line have to punch holes in the line.
:13:19. > :13:22.There we have Sonny Bill Williams, Simon Mannering moving at speed.
:13:23. > :13:26.Then the Scottish defence have to deal with them which creates that
:13:27. > :13:30.two-on-four. It's that good the ball doesn't have to go on hand. They can
:13:31. > :13:34.do a bounce past, it's part of the game play P the team is that good.
:13:35. > :13:37.Collectively they can do that as a team but what makes them special is
:13:38. > :13:46.the individuals they have in their teams. Tuivasa-Sheck has been
:13:47. > :13:51.brilliant in this tournament. Keep your eye on Danny Brov thinking,
:13:52. > :13:57.what's gone on there. Back to this man who we call "the man "Sonny Bill
:13:58. > :14:00.Williams as well. He runs like a back but built like a forward
:14:01. > :14:04.setting up the try to Shaun Johnson, talent across the park and that's
:14:05. > :14:07.what New Zealand bring. We'll talk about Sonny Bill and hear from him
:14:08. > :14:13.in a moment. England can't just focus on that one man. As Robbie
:14:14. > :14:19.said, there's talent across the side. They can't. They have nine
:14:20. > :14:22.world-class players and they can burn you individually. That's why it
:14:23. > :14:26.has to be a team effort from England today. What I do understand and know
:14:27. > :14:30.is that there are some pretty good players in the England team as well.
:14:31. > :14:35.OK. We saw earlier Jamie lead England out in the 2008 semifinal.
:14:36. > :14:42.The man doing that job this after-Noone, his Leeds team-mate,
:14:43. > :14:45.Kevin Sinfield. When I'm in the tunnel, I'm a lot
:14:46. > :14:53.more focused when I come out to play, to walk out at Wembley with
:14:54. > :14:57.70,000 England shirts, it will be unbelievable.
:14:58. > :15:02.You're desperate to play well and impress. It's a huge honour to wear
:15:03. > :15:04.the shirt. You want to do it justice.
:15:05. > :15:12.We prepared really well. We've had some tough games along the road. I
:15:13. > :15:16.think we're in a good place. We feel the expectation, it's no
:15:17. > :15:20.greater than what we have internally. We have our own goals,
:15:21. > :15:25.we have our own views and ideas of where we'd like to be come Saturday
:15:26. > :15:31.evening. And the support we've had has bun believable. Hopefully we can
:15:32. > :15:35.-- unbelievable. Hopefully we can make Wembley a fortress and cause
:15:36. > :15:38.New Zealand problems. They're a great team in fantastic form, you
:15:39. > :15:42.could argue the form team in the competition at the moment. But teams
:15:43. > :15:45.have tried to tested and they have been very good at defending and
:15:46. > :15:48.hitting teams on the break. Hopefully we can ask a few more
:15:49. > :15:53.questions this week. We'll need to and MOEPfully take them to a place
:15:54. > :15:57.-- hopefully take them to a place where they've not been for quite a
:15:58. > :16:02.while. We're prepared for a battle, we're battle hardened and we're
:16:03. > :16:07.ready to give it our all. It's the biggest week of our careers and to
:16:08. > :16:10.play in a World Cup semifinal at Wembley on home soil with the
:16:11. > :16:15.support we've had, it's unbelievable. If you're not ready
:16:16. > :16:22.for Saturday, I don't think you ever will be. I've got butterflies in my
:16:23. > :16:25.stomach after that I'm taking deep breaths and I won't be playing rugby
:16:26. > :16:31.league out there. What kind of captain is he? An exceptional
:16:32. > :16:37.leader, an inspirational player and a great man. He's crucial to the
:16:38. > :16:43.game today. His ability to read the game is unbelievable. He read games
:16:44. > :16:46.set by set, not play by play and has a good understanding of the game.
:16:47. > :16:49.He's there in the England dressingroom, moments away from
:16:50. > :16:53.moving into the tunnel and leading his side out. How important is his
:16:54. > :16:59.kicking game to England today? It's huge. I've been involved in five
:17:00. > :17:02.final wins off the back of his kick kicking games, he can change
:17:03. > :17:06.momentum around. We saw him do it against France, and Ireland today.
:17:07. > :17:09.He tries to get the ball, five from the try line and five from the
:17:10. > :17:13.touchline here. It's the most difficult place for the opposition
:17:14. > :17:16.to bring the ball out from. He landed it perfectly there. A great
:17:17. > :17:19.execution of skill there. After this we'll have a look at the French
:17:20. > :17:22.game. England were under the cosh for a long period of time here, for
:17:23. > :17:26.ten minutes defending their own line. He gets the ball early. The
:17:27. > :17:31.tackle counts and puts in a huge kick. We'll see how far it is now, I
:17:32. > :17:35.think 73 metres on the fly. We can see England chase hard here on the
:17:36. > :17:38.kick chase. They present a wall of white, that's been their team, that
:17:39. > :17:42.wall of white. If England can do this well today, the simple basic
:17:43. > :17:46.things like this they'll give themselves every chance of winning.
:17:47. > :17:51.I hope they can do it. O'Brien, what that does, it takes -- O'Brien, what
:17:52. > :17:55.that does, it takes the pressure off you and puts it on the opposition as
:17:56. > :17:59.well? One thing England must do today is limit their mistakes in
:18:00. > :18:03.their own half. They don't want to put themselves under stress because
:18:04. > :18:06.when you give yourself too much defending your own try line T
:18:07. > :18:09.becomes too hard and stressful. They need to play at the right end of the
:18:10. > :18:12.field. Kevin Sinfield will have to kick that more than once down to
:18:13. > :18:17.that part of the field. Just over ten minutes away from kick-off here
:18:18. > :18:19.at Wembley where we're going to see some rugby league's biggest names
:18:20. > :19:07.tearing into each other. Big stars there, but none bigger
:19:08. > :19:12.than the man in the far corner there wearing the number 12, Sonny Bill
:19:13. > :19:14.Williams, heavyweight boxer, rugby union World Cup winner, rugby league
:19:15. > :19:39.superstar. COMMENTATOR: Beautiful short ball.
:19:40. > :19:43.He's got some freakish talents. The last few years has been an
:19:44. > :19:57.unbelievable journey, very blessed but a lot of hard work as well.
:19:58. > :20:02.That's what people don't understand. The old end goals seem to be a bit
:20:03. > :20:06.shorter than back home. I guess I don't get over the line too much
:20:07. > :20:09.that often, so it's one of those unfortunate situations that you
:20:10. > :20:14.don't probably want to be on camera for, but if I am lucky enough to go
:20:15. > :20:21.over again I'll definitely be trying to, I guess, dive over the line. I
:20:22. > :20:27.think my experiences overseas definitely helped me become who I
:20:28. > :20:32.am. Just gave me that extra boost of confidence to be content, to be
:20:33. > :20:36.happy, that's probably the biggest thing with becoming a Muslim is that
:20:37. > :20:44.within myself I've become such a happy person. World-class players,
:20:45. > :20:49.without a doubt. Definitely players that we're going to have to, I
:20:50. > :20:55.guess, contain if we're going to go all the way in this World Cup.
:20:56. > :21:00.Burgess, taken by Sonny Bill Williams. He definitely held his own
:21:01. > :21:04.in the NRL. He is definitely up there with Adrian Morley as one of
:21:05. > :21:07.the best players to come out of England. I would say by the time
:21:08. > :21:13.he's finished he'll probably be the best player who has come across.
:21:14. > :21:19.COMMENTATOR: Here is Williams, Sonny Bill. Superb play by New Zealand. I
:21:20. > :21:24.played in a few big stadiums, I guess you still get those
:21:25. > :21:28.butterflies, but I guess that's what you play the game for. You can't get
:21:29. > :21:32.too caught up in the hoopla that goes on around those games. You have
:21:33. > :21:39.to tick the boxes and get ready for a tough game.
:21:40. > :21:58.As long as I'm playing well, it's all good. Simplicity is the key... .
:21:59. > :22:01.I just made that up! Brien Noble, Sonny Bill Williams against Sam
:22:02. > :22:07.Burgess in international rugby league is mouth watering, isn't it?
:22:08. > :22:12.Some of us have just shown up to see these two go up today. Look at the
:22:13. > :22:15.metres they made in this tournament. World-class players and it will be a
:22:16. > :22:21.clash of the titans, it's a film called that, it's on show today with
:22:22. > :22:27.this. They had class before with the NRL. Boy do they clash? They're two
:22:28. > :22:35.big beasts, aren't they. Do you know, the back of their mind, they
:22:36. > :22:42.have to come up together today sometime and. Jamie, you were
:22:43. > :22:46.telling us just before of one of your first encounters with Sam
:22:47. > :22:53.Burgess? Yeah, a bit similar to that. We were playing and he kept
:22:54. > :22:57.running at rob Burrows, I said is to be running at the little guile, run
:22:58. > :23:03.at me instead. He did, and the last thing I saw was his size 13 on my
:23:04. > :23:08.head. How do you envisage that clash between the two? I think it will be
:23:09. > :23:13.fantastic. If you've never watched a rugby league game, tune in today and
:23:14. > :23:19.watch out for these two. Superb athletes. What will the final words
:23:20. > :23:23.be in that New Zealand dressingroom. If people are tuning into rugby
:23:24. > :23:26.league for the first time, yes, Australia are the favourites for
:23:27. > :23:31.World Cup, but New Zealand are the holders? That's exactly right.
:23:32. > :23:37.Stephen concerny's final words will be treat like the final. Don't think
:23:38. > :23:42.about Australia next week, but treat this like the final, this is the big
:23:43. > :23:45.one. Also, I'm guessing as well, don't get carried away or don't
:23:46. > :23:49.believe everything that you've read or heard about what's been going on
:23:50. > :23:53.with the England camp over the last three to four weeks? Definitely
:23:54. > :23:56.right. Steve Kearney, like he said, those sort of things can make a team
:23:57. > :24:01.like England stronger. What they need to do is make sure that they
:24:02. > :24:04.really go in there and they perform at 100%. This game could go either
:24:05. > :24:09.way. The best team on the day. For England, one of the big things that
:24:10. > :24:13.England talked about in virtually every post-match injury during this
:24:14. > :24:17.tournament is how they haven't kept up the intensity for longer than
:24:18. > :24:21.short periods. Yeah, I think that's the key for England. Have no
:24:22. > :24:24.regrets, no what ifs, and raise the intensity when we get out there.
:24:25. > :24:29.Talk is done, let's walk the walk today. Let's go out there, be
:24:30. > :24:33.England, in front of this massive crowd and get to the final. Why do
:24:34. > :24:35.you think they have lacked a bit of intense the at times? I think
:24:36. > :24:39.because they've had periods where they've blown a team away, put on 20
:24:40. > :24:43.points in 20 minutes and relaxed a little bit. They can't have that
:24:44. > :24:45.today. I don't think they'll have a period of 20 minutes where they'll
:24:46. > :24:49.score 20 points. New Zealand are that step up in class. All right,
:24:50. > :24:53.aside from the Australia game, England have suffered at times from
:24:54. > :24:56.the opposition not keeping up the intensity. That's definitely right.
:24:57. > :25:02.They've not needed to and that's the reality. They're going into this
:25:03. > :25:06.match, apart from New Zealand and England have been culpable for that.
:25:07. > :25:10.They know they'll have to perform for the full 80 minutes, next week
:25:11. > :25:16.it will be even tougher. As you can see, the StGeorge's flag was being
:25:17. > :25:19.unFURLed. There is a Kiwi contingent. The cheer leaders are
:25:20. > :25:25.ready on the big screen at the moment. You can seat the World Cup
:25:26. > :25:29.trophy being shown to all the fans. You're the one person who can put
:25:30. > :25:32.yourself in Kevin Sinfield's Schuster at the moment, Jamie. For
:25:33. > :25:36.me it's about being focused and being prepared to do whatever it
:25:37. > :25:41.takes and whatever it takes to win for England, to your team-mates, for
:25:42. > :25:46.your country. That's all you're thinking about, going out and
:25:47. > :25:51.playing as well as you can. Let's raise the intensity, let's get out
:25:52. > :25:56.there, England and win. There is quite determination on those England
:25:57. > :26:00.faces. Look at them all, staring straight ahead. Not one has turned
:26:01. > :26:08.to their right to look at their New Zealand counterparts. We're waiting
:26:09. > :26:17.for the referee to bring them out here at Wembley for the Rugby League
:26:18. > :26:37.World Cup 2013, semifinal. We still have the haka to come as
:26:38. > :26:42.well before kick-off in just under five minutes' time. But first of
:26:43. > :26:44.all, ahead of the semifinal, we have the anthems this afternoon they are
:26:45. > :27:08.going to be song by Daniel Cook. Would you please stand for the
:27:09. > :27:15.national anthems of New Zealand and England performed by the games
:27:16. > :27:27.makers choir and led by West End star, Daniel Cook.
:27:28. > :29:05.(NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL ANTHEM). CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.
:29:06. > :30:09.(ENGLAND NATIONAL ANTHEM). . CHEERING AND APPLAUSE.
:30:10. > :30:17.PLENTY OF GOOSE BUMPS HERE AT WEMBLEY, THE ANTHEMS HAVE BEEN SUNG
:30:18. > :30:27.AND THE PITCH IS NOW BEING CLEARED. ENGLAND AND NEW ZEALAND ARE 80
:30:28. > :30:32.MINUTES AWAY FROM A WORLD CUP FINAL. AS THE CHOIR LEAVES THE PITCH
:30:33. > :31:18.ENGLAND GET READY TO RECEIVE THE NEW ZEALAND HAKA.
:31:19. > :32:56.Goodness me! They mean business, we mean business, it's semifinal time!
:32:57. > :33:03.Your commentators for New Zealand against England Brien Noble and
:33:04. > :33:07.Jonathan Davis. First of all, Dave Woods.
:33:08. > :33:11.We've had a whole heap of fun in the last few weeks, a tournament full of
:33:12. > :33:18.smiles. But today the World Cup gets serious. England against New Zealand
:33:19. > :33:23.in a semifinal. Lining up like this today, New Zealand missing Manu
:33:24. > :33:27.Vatuvei because of injury. Jason Nightingale comes in. Likewise Frank
:33:28. > :33:34.Pritchard a late withdrawal from the pack. Phil Taylor comes back as a
:33:35. > :33:37.forward and Alex Glenn gets a late call on the bench. One or two late
:33:38. > :33:44.changes, hence the slight variation in numbering for New Zealand today.
:33:45. > :33:50.England, the brand new halfback pairing premiered at Wembley, Gareth
:33:51. > :33:55.Widdop and Kevin Sinfield. It's a combination that has to work right
:33:56. > :34:04.from the off, James Roby back as the starting hooker today. He's ready.
:34:05. > :34:13.So is he, our referee today is Ben Cummings from Australia. Two video
:34:14. > :34:19.referees. Graham Atkins and James are the men who run the lines this
:34:20. > :34:26.afternoon. So many matchups to make the mouth water; who's the best of
:34:27. > :34:36.the beat, Sonny Bill Williams or Sam Burgess. Tomkins against Locke, Roby
:34:37. > :34:43.against Hook. England against New Zealand. It's under way and should
:34:44. > :34:48.be special. Let's get it on! England mean business as well. There will be
:34:49. > :34:53.plenty of big hits, plent where I more from where they come from as
:34:54. > :34:57.Issac Luke tries to make inches down field. The one thing they have to
:34:58. > :35:02.could D do is keep discipline. It has to be aggressive, tough, but you
:35:03. > :35:05.don't want to see this New Zealand feeling. Four of them ganging up on
:35:06. > :35:13.Sonny Bill Williams. That's worth the entrance fee alone, those two!
:35:14. > :35:19.Here comes Jesse Bromwich, steadying drive by him to within five yards of
:35:20. > :35:23.the halfway line. They're going to have to Marshall Issac Luke very
:35:24. > :35:27.well today? With the aggressive defence, they still made good
:35:28. > :35:35.yardage across into the England half. A bit of a tester in the early
:35:36. > :35:47.stages. He comes through with flying colours. Good take from the wingers.
:35:48. > :35:51.That's that hit on Sonny Bill. Sam Burgess is struggling a little bit.
:35:52. > :35:55.Keep an eye on him. England beginning to move it left. Cudjoe
:35:56. > :35:59.taking on the man opposite. I think they have to pick their game up as
:36:00. > :36:06.well. The English backs. They have to match their opposite numbers.
:36:07. > :36:10.Graham with a clambering drive forward towards the 40 metre line.
:36:11. > :36:16.These are not minutes for the faint hearted in the early stages. Kevin
:36:17. > :36:20.Sinfield with a decent touch; not quite a touch finder but it made
:36:21. > :36:25.Kevin Locke do a bit of work. What about that, too. Kevin Locke and Sam
:36:26. > :36:35.Tomkins not exactly face to face but they're playing for one position at
:36:36. > :36:38.the New Zealand Warriors next year. Match the players up, world-class
:36:39. > :36:42.matchups everywhere. Jason Nightingale playing today because
:36:43. > :36:48.Manu Vatuvei is injured. ? England's game plan has to be simple. Don't
:36:49. > :36:53.spill the ball in your own half. Oh, Jesse Bromwich spilled it but it is
:36:54. > :36:58.a ball steal according to the Australian referee today. Westwood
:36:59. > :37:04.said it was one on one there, so let me have a look at this. I don't
:37:05. > :37:07.think it was a one on one. I don't think he had hands on him James
:37:08. > :37:13.Graham. I think that's a mistake. It should have been an England ball.
:37:14. > :37:17.It's a mistake they'll have to defend. Not being in this part of
:37:18. > :37:22.the field early in the game. This is what you don't want to do, give them
:37:23. > :37:27.free position. It will be taken in by Simon Mannering. He was very much
:37:28. > :37:32.a part of that 2008 World Cup win for New Zealand. Played in the
:37:33. > :37:36.centres on that occasion. Another drive forward by Jesse Bromwich and
:37:37. > :37:45.two tackles got New Zealand in a very good position.
:37:46. > :37:51.Kevin Sinfield dragging him down. New Zealand sniffing that line. Back
:37:52. > :38:06.it comes to Johnson. GLAEB's defence recovers its poise
:38:07. > :38:25.but he's a danger. Great recovery from Tomkins. The
:38:26. > :38:32.referee is not sure, he wants to have a look at this again. He can't
:38:33. > :38:37.be looking for the try, is SNE He thinks he's scored. We're going to
:38:38. > :39:15.here from Ashley Klein. He thinks he's scored.
:39:16. > :39:31.At the moment dropout. OK, we're going to go for a goal line dropout.
:39:32. > :39:34.It will be no try. No try, but what about the vision
:39:35. > :39:39.from Issac Luke to try to play and what about the recovery from Sam
:39:40. > :39:42.Tomkins to deny that play. Sliding tackle, goal line dropout on the
:39:43. > :39:48.fly. Issac Luke every day of the week thought he got the ball DOUB.
:39:49. > :39:53.Well played Sam Tomkins. -- down. How close was that. They have to
:39:54. > :39:58.keep an eye on Isaac, he'll do that all the time. Fantastic positioning
:39:59. > :40:05.play by this man, Sam Tomkins. I saw on the previous play, Brien, they
:40:06. > :40:08.will target, Sinfield, there are question-marks over his pace at
:40:09. > :40:14.international level. That's what they will try to attack. Here comes
:40:15. > :40:21.Waerea-Hargreaves s. If you think he's a big lad. He has 18 kilograms.
:40:22. > :40:31.This year his dietician told him to put on 18 till grammes. We all want
:40:32. > :40:40.a dietician like that. I need to 18 kilograms off! F you think he's a
:40:41. > :40:52.big They have a man over here in Jason
:40:53. > :40:58.Nightingale but out of play before he got there. Well handled England,
:40:59. > :41:01.well handled. Sonny Bill Williams, we have just what he offers this
:41:02. > :41:05.game. He carried the ball off-loaded and was the first receiver on the
:41:06. > :41:11.very next play. That's why he's world class. Great defence England,
:41:12. > :41:23.though. This is an onslaught. Crisp passing, great tackle. Kallum
:41:24. > :41:27.Watkins. Brien Noble once referred to Jason Nightingale as the
:41:28. > :41:35.Nightingale train because of his pace. You got a glimmer there. Great
:41:36. > :41:43.defence but the crisp and execution of the passing, high quality. They
:41:44. > :41:49.just have to make sure they keep keep possession. Get good field
:41:50. > :41:55.position. England looking to restore a little poise. These opening six
:41:56. > :42:06.minutes or so have been mostly played inside their own half.
:42:07. > :42:14.Oh, taken with real determination from Sam Burgess. He's hurt himself.
:42:15. > :42:19.I thought he hurt himself previously and certainly smashed again there.
:42:20. > :42:25.He's going "there's nothing wrong with me" just a little breather
:42:26. > :42:33.here. Sonny Bill with those piercing brown eyes and that damaging left
:42:34. > :42:45.shoulder. Oh... Well over the top. Just watch. That's bad enough. This
:42:46. > :42:54.is illegal this one. The crowd can see on the big screen they can see
:42:55. > :43:03.the misdemeanor. Made himself popular, hasn't he! An apology to
:43:04. > :43:20.his team-mates because he knows he's put them in a bit of pressure here.
:43:21. > :43:30.England get a rare glimpse of the New Zealand half here. Roby rolling
:43:31. > :43:37.up, Sinfield switching it quickly. And it goes to Charlie, now with one
:43:38. > :43:42.to beat. He side steps past Locke. But back they come. Foran leading
:43:43. > :43:48.the chase in defence. There's a man offside. Here comes Widdop and
:43:49. > :44:05.suddenly a support. That's a great, great play on with
:44:06. > :44:10.Tomkins. Wrong decision to kick there. They have you had have kept
:44:11. > :44:57.possession. Put the pressure on the Kiwis!
:44:58. > :45:05.Foran back into the line. Sonny Bill looking for Burgess there. He was
:45:06. > :45:12.coming in. That will be interesting all afternoon. Quickly away again.
:45:13. > :45:14.Graham with the ball away. He got clobbered late there.
:45:15. > :45:20.Waerea-Hargreaves is obviously the man given the task of just trying to
:45:21. > :45:26.trouble this England team. He has to do it legal lie or he'll be off. I
:45:27. > :45:28.like that word "trouble "there. Euphemistically put, really. Isn't
:45:29. > :45:47.it. Danger here, forward pass surely.
:45:48. > :45:53.They have the break on. Ryan Hall, where has he come from, the other
:45:54. > :45:58.side of the pitch? That's James Graham. James Graham's defensive
:45:59. > :46:00.work there was magnificent. Shown off him and showed him the outside.
:46:01. > :46:24.England at sixes and sevens. Issac Luke wants to run from dummy
:46:25. > :46:28.half, he always wants to run from dummy half. But again, the England
:46:29. > :46:36.defence is good. It's very early in the tackle count. Johnson across to
:46:37. > :46:40.Foran. Foran gets the kick in, Westwood got the tackle in.
:46:41. > :46:44.Excellent work by England in defence. What about the scramble
:46:45. > :46:48.early on. The whole set was all about survival against the Kiwis.
:46:49. > :46:53.The kick pressure right at the end. This England team are in the mood.
:46:54. > :46:56.Against any other opposition they played in this tournament New
:46:57. > :46:59.Zealand would have expected to be 18-0 up here. This is what we talked
:47:00. > :47:05.about before the game. This is the test they've not had. They've had
:47:06. > :47:23.their moments in other games... Deary me. That is a RIB particular
:47:24. > :47:30.letter, I tell you. Tick LECHLT rr. Tickler. That's brilliant confidence
:47:31. > :47:37.building for England. We're enjoying this. Five tackles gone. Sinfield
:47:38. > :47:44.with the kick. Halaholo creeping up. It's a hand back. New Zealand to
:47:45. > :47:49.safety. Just. Just. I can't keep my eyes on it. That's what they have to
:47:50. > :47:51.do, test them all the time. The ball in the air or the bouncing ball.
:47:52. > :48:06.There's a 50/50 chance. Penalty. Disappointing for England
:48:07. > :48:12.because the penalty gives New Zealand a bit of relief. Watch James
:48:13. > :48:17.Graham's work here. There he is, a prop forward, there you go, get the
:48:18. > :48:21.JOUD side which allows Halaholo to come across. Great play by a prop
:48:22. > :48:29.forward. He was in big trouble there on his own. Fantastic play. Remember
:48:30. > :48:33.that game for St Helens and the team they were playing against and James
:48:34. > :48:41.Graham chased 100 yards back and kicked the corner flag because he
:48:42. > :48:44.didn't score the try! I can't remember. It was a great moment, you
:48:45. > :49:10.had to be there! And the referee will take them back
:49:11. > :49:14.to where that initial ball was played. Here's Foran. A scrambled
:49:15. > :49:21.defence again by England. There is a worry on that left hand side, the
:49:22. > :49:26.right hand side defence for England. They are causing huge, huge
:49:27. > :49:33.questions there. Sixth tackle coming up. Tomkins is offside. Penalty.
:49:34. > :49:37.Instinctively he had to catch that didn't he. Very difficult not to.
:49:38. > :49:42.You don't get a chance for a committee meeting. Sam Tomkins has
:49:43. > :49:44.to catch that ball and Charnley has to clean it up as well.
:49:45. > :50:15.Justifiable penalty. Johnson, a no-look and no-look catch
:50:16. > :50:23.by Sonny Bill. You have to keep your eyes on the ball one of you. Good
:50:24. > :50:27.play by Cudjoe. Watch him. He makes the decision, you can't see from
:50:28. > :50:31.that but Cudjoe shot at the line which stopped the ball behind the
:50:32. > :50:36.player which really, I think, Sonny Bill didn't expect. Johnson was
:50:37. > :50:40.looking behind him. We see that more and more these days, looking one way
:50:41. > :50:46.and pass the other. Not only did he fool the defence but even Sonny Bill
:50:47. > :50:56.was nonplussed. New Zealand dominating. But England have shown
:50:57. > :50:59.some really good touches in defence. Widdop has been solid so far. Cudjoe
:51:00. > :51:30.as well. What's James Graham doing? It would
:51:31. > :51:36.have been six for England. Knock-on, knock-on. I don't think it was. It
:51:37. > :51:40.looked like that, I thought it was play-on but I'm sure New Zealanders
:51:41. > :51:50.have touched it there. He's going back for a knock-on against New
:51:51. > :51:54.Zealand here surely! Not disastrous from England's point of view. They
:51:55. > :52:03.should get the ball back. That's not a knock-on. That's Roby's foot.
:52:04. > :52:09.Watch it again. They go down, just watch. Ball goes back, watch Roby 's
:52:10. > :52:17.foot. He kicks that. It's not the best angle. He definitely kicks it.
:52:18. > :52:21.That's play-on. I think I think the two New Zealand players thought they
:52:22. > :52:24.were offside. The ball comes back, they think they're offside. Foot
:52:25. > :52:31.comes in. Play on.
:52:32. > :52:35.So, John on the sidelines. What have you made of this start? It's an
:52:36. > :52:40.intense start to the game. I think the game will be defined by moments
:52:41. > :52:43.of extra effort we've seen. Fantastic pieces of defensive game A
:52:44. > :52:48.part of the game that doesn't get celebrated. That chase back from
:52:49. > :52:54.James Graham was something special. Charnley steps back. Looks for
:52:55. > :53:01.support, has -- Kevin Sinfield does well to look -- hold on to the ball.
:53:02. > :53:16.Defensively it has been awesome so far. Spun back to O?Loughlin.
:53:17. > :53:27.Burgess; what an off-load and score! The pin-up boys of the front row,
:53:28. > :53:31.Graham and Burgess all day the winners, making that for O?Loughlin.
:53:32. > :53:35.And England get the first try! That's where their strength is.
:53:36. > :53:41.Players like Burgess doing something special. A little pass, they run in
:53:42. > :53:47.pairs, and the off-load. Great support. Just watch James Graham
:53:48. > :53:51.great ball, support, three forwards, great try, England. It's a nice
:53:52. > :53:58.threesome to cover the line. James Graham with his skill to unleash Sam
:53:59. > :54:01.Burgess, Sam Burgess with the prowess to off-load the tackle and
:54:02. > :54:06.Sean O?Loughlin to finish the play. You wouldn't want three better
:54:07. > :54:11.players on that play, honestly. We love the 90 yarders, we love it when
:54:12. > :54:16.there are eight, nine, ten passes in a move, but I tell you what, we love
:54:17. > :54:22.them as well, don't we? That was a great try! You've just been out
:54:23. > :54:29.SBWed there by Sam Burgess. That's what you're thinking! This is a good
:54:30. > :54:33.game. Scramble defence, desperation, this is a good game! We talked
:54:34. > :54:37.about, since Wembley stadium re-opened, have we seen a really
:54:38. > :54:42.good Challenge Cup-tie here, maybe not. But the stadium is getting
:54:43. > :54:46.christened today in rugby league terms, not great for England
:54:47. > :54:50.football in the last week or so, but England rugby league, so far so
:54:51. > :54:57.good. These are important as well, the two pointers are crucial.
:54:58. > :55:05.Sinfield with the kick and he rarely lets you down.
:55:06. > :55:11.6-0, England lead. They have weathered a hell of a storm. A hell
:55:12. > :55:15.of a storm or two at the other end. They created their own on the New
:55:16. > :55:22.Zealand line. A big man and a small man. That's the crucial one there.
:55:23. > :55:25.They ran right at Shaun Johnson, Burgess at Shaun Johnson, he gets
:55:26. > :55:28.the off-load and great support from this man, Sean O?Loughlin. Look at
:55:29. > :55:34.the skill of James Graham to start it off. You have a bloke there that
:55:35. > :55:38.has done an 80 metre cover tackle and has the dexterity at the line to
:55:39. > :55:43.place that. I think the interchange will be vital. The pace of this game
:55:44. > :55:52.is incredible. The interchanges will be very, very important. Matulino is
:55:53. > :55:59.on the pitch for New Zealand, one of those interchanges. England having
:56:00. > :56:02.to start from deep again. A good set, solid kick, good kick to start
:56:03. > :56:47.again. A little too far that kick. New
:56:48. > :56:52.Zealand looking to work their way out of trouble. In the meantime
:56:53. > :56:56.Damien Johnson, news from the touchline. I have Liam Farrell with
:56:57. > :57:00.me. More like it for England? Yeah, a physical start to the game and
:57:01. > :57:05.looking to build pressure. Defence brilliant from England? It has, it's
:57:06. > :57:08.been outstanding. A couple of the big boys, Sam Burgess, putting
:57:09. > :57:15.themselves in there. The Kiwis are giving it back as well. Thanks.
:57:16. > :57:16.A wall of white has been England's tournament testimony. And it has
:57:17. > :57:35.been a wall of white so far. I tell you England will be happy
:57:36. > :57:39.about, defence has been solid and scrambled exceptionally well. Oh,
:57:40. > :57:43.Cudjoe lost it. Big mistake. Offensively they've only had a
:57:44. > :57:50.couple of opportunities and they've cut the Kiwi defence open. They'll
:57:51. > :57:57.be very happy with that. These are mistakes they can't afford. This
:57:58. > :58:01.physical stuff today won't go away. The Kiwi defence has had to be
:58:02. > :58:04.exceptional. It took an exceptional play to break them down. What will
:58:05. > :58:07.happen is that they'll continue their physical presence, will New
:58:08. > :58:12.Zealand, England have to stay with them. But I think they're looking
:58:13. > :58:15.good, they look solid, fit. They could do without doing this and
:58:16. > :58:21.putting themselves under a stressful situation. Yeah, this is with a we
:58:22. > :58:38.can't afford to do, give New Zealand easy ball in the danger zone. It's
:58:39. > :58:49.interesting line-up there. Simon Mannering is in the centre. Just for
:58:50. > :58:57.that... It's not unusually for him to be in that position.
:58:58. > :59:11.Ferres not quite connecting but England keep the ball. It's strange,
:59:12. > :59:17.England have to look up and think, if Sam Moa is in the scrum, they
:59:18. > :59:21.have to have a go at him. Sinfield, suggesting a long, raking pass to
:59:22. > :59:25.the right and then he tried to outwit the New Zealand defence with
:59:26. > :59:31.a step. They played the ball, not the cleanest but picked up by Roby.
:59:32. > :59:44.Tomkins laid leather on this. And he kicks it high in the air. And James
:59:45. > :59:49.Graham went for a drop goal! That's a great effort. Not ten metres,
:59:50. > :59:56.that's why the penalty has been given to New Zealand. Sehaving a go
:59:57. > :00:01.at drop goal! He is, it's extraordinary, extraordinary! It
:00:02. > :00:06.could have been a difference, that one pointer! The position he plays
:00:07. > :00:10.demands an element of recklessness. I don't mean he's an absolutely
:00:11. > :00:16.reckless person but that's a tough place to play. He's showing all the
:00:17. > :00:18.skills and attributes of a halfback sometimes. Sonny Bill Williams leads
:00:19. > :00:34.the New Zealand charge again. That's a lazy pass.
:00:35. > :00:36.Kasiano on the pitch and here he is again.
:00:37. > :00:42.Well read Gareth Widdop. Very, very lazy play by Kasiano. The first pass
:00:43. > :00:53.was poor and then there was an interception. Here comes Graham
:00:54. > :01:04.again. Sinfield's inside pass and Tomkins
:01:05. > :01:06.runs into his own man. Westwood made the telling challenge
:01:07. > :01:31.on that occasion. That's a terrific kick from Roby.
:01:32. > :01:36.It's forced New Zealand to drop out under their own sticks. Well, we
:01:37. > :01:40.said the kicking game was vitally important and James Roby would have
:01:41. > :01:47.to play his part in that. That's a pin-point kick and Kevin Locke has
:01:48. > :02:35.to deal with it. Well done James Roby. Kevin
:02:36. > :02:41.What a step by Burgess, that would have been special, very special.
:02:42. > :02:46.It's a penalty for England though. Holding back in a tackle. I'd like
:02:47. > :02:54.to see this again. Who did they hold back? What about that side step from
:02:55. > :03:00.Sam Burgess. I don't think Foran has a choice there. He has to make that
:03:01. > :03:04.tackle if he catches the ball. Of course he has to make it. What a
:03:05. > :03:07.player this man is Burgess? Are we watching the two best prop forwards
:03:08. > :03:11.in the game in the world at the moment today in Burgess and Graham?
:03:12. > :03:14.I think James Graham is definitely up there. I think there are a few
:03:15. > :03:18.candidates when you look at this World Cup. Sam Burgess plays in the
:03:19. > :03:32.front row, you would have to say yes. John which will kin? Wilkin?
:03:33. > :03:38.Yeah, England when they get the ball show great purpose and they've had a
:03:39. > :03:45.real good method of testing New Zealand's defence. John, you
:03:46. > :03:48.remember that 90 yard chase back by James Graham and kicking the corner
:03:49. > :03:53.flag out when he didn't make the tackle, do you? I do indeed. James
:03:54. > :03:57.Graham is 100% effort everything he does. Even drop goal attempts. He's
:03:58. > :04:01.been fantastic in this opening period, as have all the England
:04:02. > :04:06.forwards. What about the foot work here from Burgess. Just a question
:04:07. > :04:14.for John there, from up here. Why wasn't he in the picture? Burgess
:04:15. > :04:18.scored a try against Australia very similar to that. And the lessons
:04:19. > :04:23.from that particular game was that England made very good start in that
:04:24. > :04:26.game and were looking healthy through the second-half and then the
:04:27. > :04:29.wheels came off. I tell you what they have to do, when Burgess is on
:04:30. > :04:34.the charge you have to be with him. As a fullback or halfback, if
:04:35. > :04:42.Burgess is on the charge, you stick on his coat tails for the off-load.
:04:43. > :04:46.England eight, New Zealand zero. That penalty from Kevin Sinfield.
:04:47. > :04:51.That fella is going to carry on running all the day long. The wheels
:04:52. > :04:55.on this bus ain't going to come off. Penalty England. That's what it does
:04:56. > :05:02.to you, doesn't it. Keep hitting hard like that they want to try to
:05:03. > :05:08.slow it down a little bit. I think George Burgess is coming on as well,
:05:09. > :05:15.hang on! Still George Burgess to come off the bench "If you think I'm
:05:16. > :05:20.a great player, wait until you see our kid? ". He's been the best of
:05:21. > :05:27.the Burgess s in this tournament so far? He's been phenomenal. I watched
:05:28. > :05:31.him in the NFL. He's been. The other kid Tom isn't in the 17 today, and
:05:32. > :05:38.the other fella Luke is in the England squad. Quite a family.
:05:39. > :05:50.Terrific family. Back to Widdop. Westwood.
:05:51. > :06:04.As John Wilkin said, variety has been good. Australia v Fiji are the
:06:05. > :06:11.next semifinal. They'll be watching on. Tight down that side. They won't
:06:12. > :06:15.be able to keep it in play. I reckon England are having a pop at Shaun
:06:16. > :06:18.Johnson. They've had a look at him in the defensive line-up. Sonny Bill
:06:19. > :06:22.is having to work and work to protect him. He'll run out of juice,
:06:23. > :06:28.Sonny Bill. Unbelievable athlete that he is, it will take his
:06:29. > :06:33.offensive prowess out of the game. Definitely targeted. Of the two
:06:34. > :06:38.halves, you're hot going to run at Kieran Foran. He's as tough as old
:06:39. > :06:42.boots. He's as brilliant as patent leather but in defence a tough
:06:43. > :06:46.character. If you look at who Burgess ran at, he ran at Shaun
:06:47. > :06:53.Johnson to get the off-load for the try. It's a no brainer, a big man on
:06:54. > :07:00.a small man. 28 minutes played and England lead 8-0 against New Zealand
:07:01. > :07:05.in this World Cup semifinal at Wembley stadium. It's pretty special
:07:06. > :07:09.at the moment. England's performance is excellent. Against the World Cup
:07:10. > :07:13.holders, I don't think we mentioned that so far today in commentary, New
:07:14. > :07:16.Zealand are the World Cup holders, defending their crown. New Zealand
:07:17. > :07:22.have been outstanding in this tournament. 34 tries in four games.
:07:23. > :07:26.They're averaging 46 points a match. Today, at the moment, they have met
:07:27. > :07:29.their match. The first five minutes it was all New Zealand. There was 20
:07:30. > :07:35.minutes England have been brilliant. Oh, Johnson's kick, hits an England
:07:36. > :07:39.player. How is this ruled? Hitting man or man playing ball. Hitting
:07:40. > :07:48.man. Right decision you would have to say. Yes. It was a poor kick,
:07:49. > :07:51.that is. I'm not saying they're rattled but their kicking game
:07:52. > :07:56.hasn't been put under pressure in this tournament. Kieran Foran's has
:07:57. > :08:00.kicked for free every time he's wanted to, as has Shaun Johnson. Now
:08:01. > :08:06.they're under pressure and the cracks are beginning to show. Foran
:08:07. > :08:18.doesn't kick for Manly, Evans the halfback does a lot of the kicking.
:08:19. > :08:23.Tomkins just took his eye off it and it's picked up by Alex Glenn.
:08:24. > :08:27.There's no need to do that. Relatively fresh pair of legs on the
:08:28. > :08:38.field, Glenn, from the interchange bench. Issac Luke going nowhere.
:08:39. > :08:43.Waste ago lot of energy going nowhere -- wasting a lot of energy
:08:44. > :08:54.going nowhere, which is good for England as well. Kasiano. Nickname
:08:55. > :08:58.Dogzilla. Great skip, Foran, with his step. A couple of England
:08:59. > :09:04.defenders left in his wake. New Zealand sensing an opportunity. Back
:09:05. > :09:07.it comes. Johnson, Sonny Bill, gathering defenders around him. No
:09:08. > :09:15.way of moving forward or off-loading. A good job from England
:09:16. > :09:18.defence. They wrapped him up. Charnley gets up... It's a New
:09:19. > :09:41.Zealand hand that knocks it back. What a ball! What a ball!
:09:42. > :09:45.Tuivasa-Sheck Dean Whare expecting his winger to be on the outside,
:09:46. > :09:49.suddenly realised he wasn't and produced a miracle pass to the
:09:50. > :09:54.winger on the inside who might have scored the try. Let's have a listen
:09:55. > :10:07.to Ashley Klein our video referee. Run it through from the first kick,
:10:08. > :10:13.on side offside. Coming up now... That's fine, that's fine, they're
:10:14. > :10:18.on-side. Running it through to confirm the challenge goes
:10:19. > :10:22.backwards. Challenge is fine. Goes backwards. Still playing on. Just
:10:23. > :10:30.keep running. No hands there, play on. To the New Zealand hand, fine.
:10:31. > :10:55.Pass out, we need something tight on the touchline here. I can't see the
:10:56. > :10:59.feet... He has possession... Now we need to look at the grounding. It's
:11:00. > :11:16.a clean catch. That will be fine from this angle. Well once TUFS TUFS
:11:17. > :11:20.got the ball in his -- Tuivasa-Sheck got the ball in his hands it was
:11:21. > :11:24.likely to be a try. The way he got the ball in his hands was nothing
:11:25. > :11:28.short of a rugby league miracle. You can't defend that. Issac Luke's
:11:29. > :11:34.vision, for one thing he throws to the wingers there. Then the inside
:11:35. > :11:38.BAUM is just a miracle ball. -- ball is just a miracle ball. I'm
:11:39. > :11:42.speechless and I'm paid to say something. That's fantastic A rugby
:11:43. > :11:47.league at its best, a principling, not the score I wanted deep down,
:11:48. > :11:53.but you have to applaud the skill and believed that Ferres believed
:11:54. > :11:58.the ball wasn't going out. Issac Luke's speculative throw over the
:11:59. > :12:02.top. Tubing tubing there. Well played New Zealand, that shows at
:12:03. > :12:24.this level keeping the ball alive and looking for an opportunity, wow.
:12:25. > :12:33.Johnson looking to narrow the gap to two. With the whirring balls of the
:12:34. > :12:42.Wembley crowd in his ears, ignored. Dead centre from Shaun Johnson. This
:12:43. > :12:51.is a great pass first of all. Just watch this; FANTDistic play! What a
:12:52. > :13:16.ball, Dean Whare, look at that, he knew what he had to do. Fantastic.
:13:17. > :13:39.I think he won the contact there, Kasiano. It's Graham that's gone
:13:40. > :13:45.off, isn't it, to get hill hill -- Chris Hill on.
:13:46. > :13:53.Sixth tackle. It's hit the England player again. Still the sixth
:13:54. > :13:59.tackle, surely. Wrapped up and put down, he didn't
:14:00. > :14:07.realise he ran out of tackles. Down on the sidelines. Tommy, a moment of
:14:08. > :14:12.rare genius for that last New Zealand try? It was, amazing skill
:14:13. > :14:18.from Dean Whare. I think we needed it. What have you made of the game
:14:19. > :14:22.so far, furious, fast, bruising? At the moment we need to settle into
:14:23. > :14:26.our game plan a bit better. Giving away too many penalties I think.
:14:27. > :14:37.Fantastic off-load from Burgess in the middle of that tackle and here
:14:38. > :14:39.comes Kallum Watkins. It all started with Sam Burgess again. Penalty
:14:40. > :15:10.England. George Burgess nibbling close to
:15:11. > :15:18.that New Zealand line. Kevin Sinfield with a step... What a
:15:19. > :15:30.tackle! Kevin Locke. O?Loughlin double pump. They're hanging on
:15:31. > :15:35.here, the Kiwis. That's an intelligent kick. It's another
:15:36. > :15:44.dropout underneath the sticks. Really good play from the England
:15:45. > :15:48.half, Gareth Widdop. This has everything, this game. A bit of
:15:49. > :15:58.afters here, a bit of hand in the face.
:15:59. > :16:07.Great defence here again. Just watch. That's the penalty. Do you
:16:08. > :16:15.know what, we have not mentioned him. He's come on to the field Rob
:16:16. > :16:20.Burrow, the way New Zealand - white wall. There's your white wall. JP's
:16:21. > :16:23.white wall. Down there and making the play. Well done, England.
:16:24. > :16:30.Offensively England have been very, very good today. Defensively they
:16:31. > :16:34.have been very good. Yeah. Another of the Burgess clan, George this
:16:35. > :16:39.time. But to win this World Cup, they have to score tries. I think
:16:40. > :17:06.they've been brilliant. Another six tackles for England. New
:17:07. > :17:08.Zealand make the play and England get to camp a bit longer on the New
:17:09. > :17:51.Zealand line. The initial pass was forward. The
:17:52. > :17:58.intensity here. Let's find us some injury news. Damien Johnston. A word
:17:59. > :18:01.about Ben Westwood, disappeared down the tunnel. He needs a stitch by the
:18:02. > :18:05.eye, he also has a badly swollen cheek bone. He's under the doctor.
:18:06. > :18:10.The first victim of what is a bruising encounter. That's not going
:18:11. > :18:14.to keep him out for long, is it, a stitch at his eye and a badly
:18:15. > :18:17.bruised cheek bone. He'll be back before long. The doctor is under
:18:18. > :18:21.pressure there, get him stitched quick. That's what the bench will be
:18:22. > :18:24.saying. This is a great game. New Zealand, I tell you will something,
:18:25. > :18:28.they've shown some defensive prowess themselves. England are on fire. I
:18:29. > :18:33.think they've played so well. This is the best I've seen them play for
:18:34. > :18:38.a long time. And me. I think we might have to go back to November
:18:39. > :18:42.2006, Brien Noble will remember it well, coach of Great Britain on that
:18:43. > :18:53.occasion when they beat Australia in Sydney. This is terrific. Really is
:18:54. > :18:56.terrific from England today. Collectively England have been
:18:57. > :19:00.fantastic. The one difference, worries me a little bit, is the
:19:01. > :19:05.individuality of the Kiwi, some of the Kiwi players. They can just do
:19:06. > :19:10.something magic. They haven't done anything more magic than what
:19:11. > :19:12.Burgess has thrown up today. No. But when you look at people... Good
:19:13. > :19:19.off-load. There's a bit of a gap. He tries the
:19:20. > :19:30.off-load, Locke. And he was being pulled at, Kevin Locke.
:19:31. > :19:36.This is respect, look, go for goal. Do you think any of the England
:19:37. > :19:38.players saying to Kevin Locke getting the ball, Sam Tomkins has
:19:39. > :19:43.your place next year, something like that. Winding him up. I hope so. You
:19:44. > :19:59.can't beat a bit of sledging. This is respect, isn't it. Great
:20:00. > :20:07.off-load, by the way. Chris Hill, was it... George Burgess. It's hard
:20:08. > :20:17.to hide yourself when you're that big. It was the good looking one,
:20:18. > :20:24.Sir! Rob Burrow has an excuse, he can hide behind something "it wasn't
:20:25. > :20:29.me". John Wilkin, what are you observing from the sidelines? A
:20:30. > :20:32.positive point from England is the combination of Sinfield and Widdop.
:20:33. > :20:40.We questioned whether they would be able to form good combinations in
:20:41. > :20:43.such a short space of time. Gareth Widdop's kicking game has been
:20:44. > :21:01.crucial in building some pressure on the New Zealand line.
:21:02. > :21:20.At least a couple of Kiwis in the crowd are happy about that. Do we
:21:21. > :21:29.get a shower and rubdown at half-time. This is exhilarating. I'm
:21:30. > :21:33.sure it's in your contract! We'll be lucky to get a cup of tea! What a
:21:34. > :21:39.first-half it's been. Absolutely terrific. Gripping rugby league at
:21:40. > :21:44.its very best. It really has. 30 seconds just under left to play, New
:21:45. > :21:50.Zealand will finish the half in all probability with ball in their
:21:51. > :21:55.hands. Jesse Bromwich might run it out, you never know, a bit of a
:21:56. > :22:05.spill or missed concentration and England could get the ball back.
:22:06. > :22:13.That's what they'll be hoping. The hooter sounds. Tackles complete. The
:22:14. > :22:18.whistle blown. What fabulous first 40 minutes. They often say the
:22:19. > :22:22.semifinals are the boring games. Too much tension, too much at stake.
:22:23. > :22:25.Anything but today. Absolutely fantastic first-half of rugby
:22:26. > :22:30.league. Offensively, defensively, the decision making, what a game!
:22:31. > :22:34.It's been an amazing first-half of rugby league. Best rugby league on
:22:35. > :22:38.the planet and I'm going for a liedown, tired out. There's still 40
:22:39. > :22:42.minutes to go, don't lie down for too long! We're going to hear from
:22:43. > :22:49.some of those who took part in that first-half, Sinfield and Johnson.
:22:50. > :22:53.Here's Damien Johnston. Shaun, intense first-half, talk us
:22:54. > :22:58.through how that felt? It felt a bit panic, I think. At first I was just
:22:59. > :23:04.a bit excited. Once I settled down and get in the rhythm. What's the
:23:05. > :23:10.plan for the second-half? We have to complete the set. Make them come out
:23:11. > :23:15.here and do it. Good luck. KEF, really intense start. A great
:23:16. > :23:18.platform to build on? Yeah, first 40, we can take some Hart from that,
:23:19. > :23:22.I think the start of the game particularly, the first 20 were good
:23:23. > :23:27.for us, a couple of errors crept in. We need to nip that in the bud. Your
:23:28. > :23:36.combination with Gareth is working out well? Yeah, he's a great player,
:23:37. > :23:40.great to have him in our side. E. . John Wilkin talk to Kevin Sinfield.
:23:41. > :23:45.When you look at the stats, never mind the score, everything else
:23:46. > :23:49.shows just how close this match has been, a couple of percentage points
:23:50. > :23:53.in the possession. Completely level as far as the territory is
:23:54. > :23:58.concerned, but just reading a load of numbers doesn't really tell you
:23:59. > :24:04.how intense that first 40 minutes of rugby league has been. Joining Jamie
:24:05. > :24:07.and Robbie and myself for our half-time chat we have Billy Slater,
:24:08. > :24:11.Australian fullback. Have you enjoyed that? Sure have, Mark. It's
:24:12. > :24:15.been an intense half of footie. There's been some brilliant play in
:24:16. > :24:19.both attack and defence. When -- listen, you will have played in
:24:20. > :24:22.games like that, but when you're sat here watching, are you taken aback
:24:23. > :24:27.by how intense that has been? Yeah, it's certainly a semifinal for a
:24:28. > :24:31.World Cup. Isn't it. The boys upfront aren't leaving anything out
:24:32. > :24:33.on the field. Both sides are chancing their arm. New Zealand
:24:34. > :24:37.probably more with the off-loads. I think England are throwing the ball
:24:38. > :24:41.out the back and chancing their arm. We saw off that scrum, they dropped
:24:42. > :24:46.that ball. But they have to do that to beat this New Zealand side. SGLOO
:24:47. > :24:50.we'll talk more about you and the Aussies and your -- State of health
:24:51. > :24:54.at half-time. Let's talk about who has been England's many man,
:24:55. > :24:59.probably, in that second-half, Sam Burgess, Jamie? Yes, he's been
:25:00. > :25:03.exceptional in this half. We can see straightaway from kick-off. How
:25:04. > :25:10.quickly he wants get down there and amongst it. His first collision with
:25:11. > :25:13.Sonny Bill. He's been outstanding in that half. He's been the leader in
:25:14. > :25:18.that team and set a lead for the rest of forwards to follow. I
:25:19. > :25:23.haven't seen a game Sam Burgess has played that he hasn't played like
:25:24. > :25:29.that. He loves the confront Taigs, the physicality upfront. --
:25:30. > :25:32.confrontation. Threes quality mixes in there as well. -- threes quality
:25:33. > :25:36.mix indeed there as well. Not just a brute of a man, but athletic and
:25:37. > :25:40.skill. We highlighted that at the start. We didn't highlight it with
:25:41. > :25:45.Sam, but with Sean O?Loughlin, a mix of physicality and creativity, he
:25:46. > :25:52.was the man who got on the end of the move that got plane's try? Yeah
:25:53. > :25:55.-- England's try. Yeah, he realises he wants to put his pet play, with
:25:56. > :26:00.another front row running with him and somebody out the back. This is
:26:01. > :26:04.the stuff which is very good. He hits Sam Burgess here and puts him
:26:05. > :26:08.on the a halfback, a smaller man and O?Loughlin is following through.
:26:09. > :26:14.It's a great pass and a great start for England. It's a traditional play
:26:15. > :26:18.for a half to be taking the path along to the front row. But you have
:26:19. > :26:21.three forwards thereby and when you can have that structure with three
:26:22. > :26:24.forwards in your side and your ability to put on a play like that
:26:25. > :26:28.and score a try, it's a great asset. He's lucky to still have his teeth
:26:29. > :26:34.in, Sean O?Loughlin, the way his head hit the ground. That, Graham,
:26:35. > :26:38.Burgess, O?Loughlin, you don't want those three running at you. What's
:26:39. > :26:42.really important, not only can they roll up their sleeves and do the
:26:43. > :26:46.physical stuff, doing big hits and tracking into the teeth of a
:26:47. > :26:49.defensive team, but also the subtlety, the touch on the pass and
:26:50. > :26:55.players working together as a unit. As a defensive line you're having to
:26:56. > :26:59.deal with the halves and not just what the forwards are doing but the
:27:00. > :27:03.fullbacks. All those different levels lead to this being the
:27:04. > :27:08.high-class game it is. Billy, Robbie is a vital member of our team, he
:27:09. > :27:11.spots things that nobody else sees, before the game he genuinely
:27:12. > :27:16.highlighted the advantage that New Zealand have when using the bump
:27:17. > :27:23.ball. When using the bounce ball. It came true. We're talk about the
:27:24. > :27:28.unstructured play. This typifies what New Zealand can do, space out
:27:29. > :27:32.there. Issac Luke knew no-one was out there knew Dean Whare would
:27:33. > :27:36.chuck out the line and chuck it back. You can see, that's where the
:27:37. > :27:44.space is created because England outside backs had to chase him
:27:45. > :27:50.because of the uncompromised play but Dan Tuohy has -- Tuivasa-Sheck
:27:51. > :27:53.has the ability to get to the line. Remarkable. He has that sense to
:27:54. > :27:57.know I have to get the ball back, there will be some numbers there.
:27:58. > :28:01.How do you defend against it, it's not a structured play but it's New
:28:02. > :28:04.Zealand have up their sleeve. Do you think, when you concede a try like
:28:05. > :28:07.that where in many ways you can't do anything about it, that sheer
:28:08. > :28:14.individual brilliance, sometimes it takes you a while to get back into
:28:15. > :28:20.it? Yeah, you need to move past it quickly, England deserved their 8-0
:28:21. > :28:26.lead at the time Who whoa, whoa. It could have been 12. I think England
:28:27. > :28:29.deserved it and concede a try like that was unlucky at times. They've
:28:30. > :28:32.looked class England, they've delivered everything we wanted so
:28:33. > :28:37.far. Their defence has been fantastic as well. Yeah, they've
:28:38. > :28:41.been good all over the park. Typified by James Graham's effort.
:28:42. > :28:44.We have Sam Tomkins here at the start of the game when New Zealand
:28:45. > :28:50.were pressing on the line. This is what he's going to do when he gets
:28:51. > :28:55.to the NRL, defend like this. He does that all the time. He saved
:28:56. > :28:59.another line when Tuivasa-Sheck got to the line and tackled three or
:29:00. > :29:06.four metres effort. This is what you were talk about. James Graham is
:29:07. > :29:09.phenomenal competitor. He's smart well. England will need this if
:29:10. > :29:16.they're going to beat New Zealand today. That's exceptional play from
:29:17. > :29:20.James Graham. What he does well, people without the experience is go
:29:21. > :29:23.after the guy with the ball. But he knows he's on his own and has to buy
:29:24. > :29:30.time. Rather than trying to go for the ball and then it's open play, he
:29:31. > :29:37.shadows him back and allows Ryan Hall and the rest of the cover to
:29:38. > :29:41.come back. The scrambled defence has been world class, Sam Tomkins, and
:29:42. > :29:43.you expect that in a semifinal for a World Cup. But I think both
:29:44. > :29:47.fullbacks have been great in defence. Both sides have scrambled
:29:48. > :29:50.well. Both sides have had their opportunities to score tries, but
:29:51. > :29:56.the scrambling in the defence is certainly held out. You talk about
:29:57. > :30:00.Tomkins and the scramble defence. We picked a few things of him here with
:30:01. > :30:05.him on attack but you're more concerned about what's happening
:30:06. > :30:09.down the Kiwis' left? This has happened three or four times, they
:30:10. > :30:13.are back to Sam. They have numbers moving in motion and this is
:30:14. > :30:17.creating what is a worry for me on the New Zealand left hand defence,
:30:18. > :30:19.but actually that's a strong attribute for England's attack.
:30:20. > :30:23.They're doing it really well. They've worked on it, they've
:30:24. > :30:27.spotted a weakness in New Zealand's defence and they keep going back to
:30:28. > :30:33.it. They'll probably continue to do it for the final 40. Identify like
:30:34. > :30:40.to see Josh doing a bit better. They need to put them away, do it with
:30:41. > :30:45.that move. The Tomkins /Locke thing is interesting because of the next
:30:46. > :30:50.sea season in the NRL, probably good for us in the media saying they have
:30:51. > :30:54.a prove a point against each other when they are probably just worried
:30:55. > :30:57.about the World Cupment It will be on the back of their mind. The
:30:58. > :31:01.current New Zealand fullback and the guy who will take his position, that
:31:02. > :31:04.will be on the back of their minds. Is he looking animated for you,
:31:05. > :31:08.Stephen Kearney? I think he's laying down the law there. I think he's
:31:09. > :31:11.saying, look, boys, you're in a proper Test Match now and you need
:31:12. > :31:14.to keep that intensity you had in the opening five minutes. We need to
:31:15. > :31:18.see that for the final 40 minutes. I suppose the good thing for you,
:31:19. > :31:21.Billy, from an Australian point of view, the more intense this gets,
:31:22. > :31:24.the bigger hits they are, the better it is from an Australian point of
:31:25. > :31:28.view. The more they can take... I appreciate you have the semifinal to
:31:29. > :31:31.play. But the more they can take it out of each other the better? For
:31:32. > :31:37.sure. Don't worry, there will be some big hits in an hour's time as
:31:38. > :31:42.well, Fiji don't mind a bit of a whack. It's certainly, you want that
:31:43. > :31:47.physicality going into a final. So I'm sure the Australians and the
:31:48. > :31:51.Fiji won't be holding back any either. Talk us through your current
:31:52. > :31:54.state and how your knee is. We'll show people here how you picked up
:31:55. > :31:59.the injury against the USA. You might not want to watch this back
:32:00. > :32:05.but you said to me the pain you felt was ex-crucialating. It was quite
:32:06. > :32:10.tender. I knew straightaway. I did my PCL about 18 months ago. I ended
:32:11. > :32:15.up playing the rest of the game, but this I could barely even put any
:32:16. > :32:20.weight on it. It's feeling quite good now. If we do get through this
:32:21. > :32:24.game this afternoon, I give myself a small chance. I haven't tested it
:32:25. > :32:28.yet, I've done a lot icing and treatment from the physio. The
:32:29. > :32:31.swelling has gone down a lot. Because the ligament was already
:32:32. > :32:35.injured and they didn't repair it, hopefully it will settle down
:32:36. > :32:39.quickly. If we do get through this game today, I do give myself a small
:32:40. > :32:43.chance. Which is remarkable, given the pain you were in and how you
:32:44. > :32:46.couldn't put any weight on it as you left? Yeah, yeah. I thought I was, a
:32:47. > :32:50.couple of days ago I thought I was no chance but... I do give myself a
:32:51. > :32:54.small chance, but I have to put myself through the paces and make
:32:55. > :32:59.sure I'm up to playing in a final. Talk to us about Greg English who
:33:00. > :33:05.will play fullback in your place. He seems like an impossible man to
:33:06. > :33:09.tackle. John Wilkin was saying on our highlights show, if you go low
:33:10. > :33:15.he can push you out of the way and if you go high, he can push you to
:33:16. > :33:19.the side. His reach is immense? He's an amazing athlete. The size and
:33:20. > :33:24.strength of a front rower, the strength of a halfback and pace of
:33:25. > :33:27.outside back. Put those together and you have the ultimate footballer. A
:33:28. > :33:31.great player and we're fortunate to have him in our side. He throws
:33:32. > :33:37.about three off and still gets to the ball over over the line. It's
:33:38. > :33:45.unfair, isn't it. No human should be allowed to do that! How would you
:33:46. > :33:51.tackle him, Jamie? Round the head! Coming up against players like that,
:33:52. > :33:56.I used to use the tactic of trying to be on the opposite side of the
:33:57. > :34:02.field? That STRIBLG speaking isn't tackling him! Let's put you in the
:34:03. > :34:06.direction of our coverage of the World Cup final, next Saturday
:34:07. > :34:18.afternoon build-up begins at one. 45.
:34:19. > :34:23.Thank you very much for coming in. You Australians have been a delight
:34:24. > :34:27.to deal with during this World Cup, which is slightly annoying for us,
:34:28. > :34:30.because that means we like you and we're not used to liking the Aussies
:34:31. > :34:34.and thank you for not mentioning the cricket. Much appreciated. Thank
:34:35. > :34:38.you. We wish you well and hope you get fit for the final. Appreciate
:34:39. > :34:42.it. All the post-match reaction from Jamie and Robbie to come, after the
:34:43. > :34:47.second-half. It is tight, it is tense. Who knows what will happen?
:34:48. > :34:54.Let's hope Brien has had a rubdown, let's join him and Jonathan.
:34:55. > :34:57.We're looking forward to the next 40 minutes with some relish. That was a
:34:58. > :35:01.fantastic performance by England in the first-half but now they have to
:35:02. > :35:06.repeat it, they have to do it again? Yeah, great first-half and more of
:35:07. > :35:11.the same in the second, please, if you're an English fan. New Zealand
:35:12. > :35:16.will be different. They've been put, the hornet's nest has been put now.
:35:17. > :35:20.It's about England maintaining their composure we've seen. Same rules,
:35:21. > :35:26.get out of your own half with minimal errors. Kick the ball well,
:35:27. > :35:30.get the white wall going and show that great shape and structure we've
:35:31. > :35:33.seen from England. Are the Kiwis coming out here or not? England have
:35:34. > :35:38.been out for a couple of minutes. While we wait; here they come,
:35:39. > :35:41.finally. What have you made, Jonathan Davis as a former rugby
:35:42. > :35:45.league stand-off, what have you made of Gareth Widdop in that position? I
:35:46. > :35:50.thought the combination was very, very good, him and Kevin Sinfield.
:35:51. > :35:56.As John Wilkin says, it looks a better balance. Their kicking game
:35:57. > :36:00.is complemented because he takes a bit of pressure off Sinfield. Also,
:36:01. > :36:05.I think he's more direct than Rangi Chase. I think that's been good
:36:06. > :36:09.today because he holds defenders, creates space out wide for Tomkins,
:36:10. > :36:13.which has been very, very good. I think more of the same in the
:36:14. > :36:18.second-half. I think England have to believe they can win this game. That
:36:19. > :36:26.is the main thing, believe, go on, grab the game by the scruff of the
:36:27. > :36:30.neck and go on and play the final. You look around at the England
:36:31. > :36:37.personnel out there and you think, the likes of O?Loughlin and Burrow,
:36:38. > :36:40.Watkins, Charnley, Tomkins, players who in England have achieved big
:36:41. > :36:44.things in the last few years with their clubs, who have won these big
:36:45. > :36:50.games? TLAR lot of big-name players out there. Won trophies, been
:36:51. > :36:55.involved in the natural setup for a long time. They know it's all about
:36:56. > :36:59.this second-half. With it being an 8-8 scoreline, they have to do the
:37:00. > :37:02.same things, play the same way. What we know about the New Zealand team,
:37:03. > :37:06.playing in the competitions they play every week, they'll play for
:37:07. > :37:14.the full 80 minutes. Also, you have some players who play against these
:37:15. > :37:16.boys every week in the FL, they beat these -- NRL. They beat these boys
:37:17. > :37:39.week in and week out. Good quick play of the ball which
:37:40. > :37:44.gives Burrow a bit more time to take his kick. So he'll be a bit
:37:45. > :37:48.disappointed from that. News from Damien Johnson and the dressingroom.
:37:49. > :37:53.The England from Steve McNamara, don't worry about the score board,
:37:54. > :37:57.take, finish the sets off better. From the New Zealand dressingroom,
:37:58. > :38:04.Stephen Kearney says, be patient, stick to the game play, Aberdare.
:38:05. > :38:29.They're not going to go for goal this time, surely, put it in touch.
:38:30. > :38:34.He's not one for taking a backward step, is he? No, he's not. What's
:38:35. > :38:44.his nickname? Frank Paul the wrecking Paul. If you think he's in
:38:45. > :38:48.a bad mood, cranky Frank Pritchard is not playing today. Just as well.
:38:49. > :39:27.He's not made the line-up because of injury.
:39:28. > :39:36.There was a hand from an England player, Ryan Hall picks it up, but
:39:37. > :39:39.it's a knock-on. Another set of six for England to defend. Early
:39:40. > :39:43.pressure for England to deal with. Outnumbered there on the fringe. Was
:39:44. > :39:49.it Cudjoe or Hall who got his hands to it in the end. Here's the Johnson
:39:50. > :39:53.speculator over the top and it's Cudjoe who deflects it off. He has
:39:54. > :39:57.to do that, if they play the blitz defence Cudjoe has to get something
:39:58. > :40:01.on the ball. He can't allow the ball to go beyond him because there was
:40:02. > :40:11.an overlap. That's what he did. He knew that and he had to do it. A
:40:12. > :40:14.question for you, Dave. Frank Paul and Pritchard, are they collectively
:40:15. > :40:40.known as the Crankies! Over he goes! Tuivasa-Sheck with his
:40:41. > :40:47.second try of the game. Or has he? Or has he? They're going to have to
:40:48. > :40:52.have another look at this. Tuivasa-Sheck is celebrating. But a
:40:53. > :41:05.video referee required. Let's hear again from Ashley Klein. Checking
:41:06. > :41:16.for obstruction. That's fine. He's caught on the outside. Passes before
:41:17. > :41:29.I'm happy with that. It will be a try.
:41:30. > :41:34.Nothing wrong with that. They were looking for the possible
:41:35. > :41:39.obstructions from the dummy runners, but no problems seen by Ashley
:41:40. > :41:44.Klein. It is a second for the day for Tuivasa-Sheck and eight now he
:41:45. > :41:47.levels with Ryan Hall in terms of tournament tries. New Zealand lead
:41:48. > :41:51.for the first time. We just mentioned that, Brien, about the
:41:52. > :41:57.blitz defence. If you come in, you have to block, just watch. They come
:41:58. > :42:01.in. They have to kill the ball. If they play that game defensive game,
:42:02. > :42:07.you have to stop the ball going out. He just got a hand to it earlier on,
:42:08. > :42:14.just watch... . Ryan Hall comes shooting in really, had to stay out
:42:15. > :42:20.a little bit. High risk, isn't it? It is high risk and if you get it
:42:21. > :42:23.wrong you look badly exposed there as Ryan Hall did. You have to work
:42:24. > :42:26.in conjunction with Cudjoe and stop the play the minute the ball is in
:42:27. > :42:30.hand. I think they had the numbers there to solve that another way
:42:31. > :42:46.there. I think they could have gone up and held.
:42:47. > :42:53.The king is a decent one but he's put it just wide. It has gone just
:42:54. > :42:56.wide. The first miss of the day. So there is some consolation in the
:42:57. > :43:01.moment for Steve McNamara and his England side. It is only 8-12 that
:43:02. > :43:08.they trail at the moment. The ball goes wide. A great finish though.
:43:09. > :43:14.He's some star, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, from the Sydney Roosters, winger of
:43:15. > :43:21.the year in the NRL last year and every likelihood he'll be at full
:43:22. > :43:30.fullback soon. How many fullbacks do they have playing in the NRL! One in
:43:31. > :43:38.every team! Well done, well done. I could see that coming from a mile.
:43:39. > :43:47.Anyway, New Zealand in possession. It needs a response from England and
:43:48. > :43:54.this is the first time they're going to have to respond from behind in
:43:55. > :43:59.this game. They're chancing their arm with off-loads, the Kiwis, the
:44:00. > :44:04.particular feature of the style of play they have. With the big blokes
:44:05. > :44:14.going forward. England have to get back in the game here.
:44:15. > :44:19.Look at Kieran Foran getting in there with a very good tackle. He
:44:20. > :44:25.really is a good player, Kieran Foran. England have to go through
:44:26. > :44:29.the same process they did at the start of the first-half. They have
:44:30. > :44:33.to get into these big New Zealand forwards and take some juice out of
:44:34. > :44:37.them. Kick the ball wide and get them on the roundabout. Turn it
:44:38. > :44:41.around all the time, retrieving ball. Use their own physical prowess
:44:42. > :44:43.and crack a few dents in the New Zealand time and they've kicked the
:44:44. > :44:58.ball. Very good defence. They drifted
:44:59. > :45:02.wide. That's the only thing, they had plenty of numbers there. They
:45:03. > :45:10.had the running side shoulder to hold the defensive line.
:45:11. > :45:15.Good chase by England. The one dingtive touch for me is the pace
:45:16. > :45:18.they play the ball. New Zealand, I feel seconds quicker which gives
:45:19. > :45:25.them that little advantage on the attack. Oh, no. Penalty penalty New
:45:26. > :45:30.Zealand. John Wilkin, what news on the touchline? Just on that point
:45:31. > :45:35.about the play the ball speed. We have two guys going to come on, with
:45:36. > :45:40.James Graham and James Roby. Who really concentrating on winning that
:45:41. > :45:43.battle. Really important players for the England team, in the next ten
:45:44. > :45:46.minutes, just to grab control of the game again. They've let it slip and
:45:47. > :46:03.an interesting moment in the game right now.
:46:04. > :46:16.A skipping run and on to Issac Luke and Sonny Bill Williams.
:46:17. > :46:41.On it goes from F-P Nuuausala F-P Nuuausala very, very quick.
:46:42. > :46:49.There's a hint of a knock-on, England complain - hang on too long,
:46:50. > :46:53.penalty New Zealand and another chance for them to hammer this
:46:54. > :46:58.England line now. They did well to hold him.ic he dropped the ball
:46:59. > :47:03.there. -- I think he dropped the ball there. That's what Burgess is
:47:04. > :47:16.calling. He said it's a steal. Hang on, hang on. He might have his mind
:47:17. > :47:24.changed, might he? No, he won't. Forward comes Jesse Bromwich. That
:47:25. > :47:27.wall of white needed more than ever at the moment. Johnson, look how
:47:28. > :47:33.many here and it's going to be a hat-trick? No, England defence...
:47:34. > :47:38.Ce... How good a reaction was that from England the ball has come back
:47:39. > :47:43.and they got it as well. I've no idea where the ball was. That looked
:47:44. > :47:48.a certain try! Great defence from England.
:47:49. > :47:56.Desperation stuff; heart, ticker, courage, call it whatever you want!
:47:57. > :47:59.Sinfield, they might have felt a little aggrieved, England there,
:48:00. > :48:04.having that penalty awarded against them in the first place, but no
:48:05. > :48:10.sense of any kind of self-pity. They got on with it. Changes made as
:48:11. > :48:13.well. Graham and Roby are on, that will give them go forward quickly,
:48:14. > :48:47.as Jon said. Look at that defence! There the
:48:48. > :48:50.reaction. Good run,good angle. Westwood back on the field has
:48:51. > :49:01.helped give England a physical presence.
:49:02. > :49:11.Tomkins goes up, collects. Oh, what's he done? That's Widdop.
:49:12. > :49:16.Holding. I'm not sure there was holding here, a definite block
:49:17. > :49:22.maybe. Gareth Widdop faulted his line and knocked him off the ball.
:49:23. > :49:36.Keep an eye. There's which hadded coming out. He's allowed to go to
:49:37. > :49:49.the ball, obstruction. -- Widdop coming out. He's allowed to go for
:49:50. > :49:54.the ball. They have decided to go for goal. They didn't go for goal on
:49:55. > :49:58.the previous steal on Sonny Bill and now they've changed their mind.
:49:59. > :50:05.There's a compliment to the English defence. 50/50 them, sometimes
:50:06. > :50:13.they're given and sometimes they're not. Just watch here. What he's
:50:14. > :50:18.saying, he's impeded the kicker from challenging for the ball at least. I
:50:19. > :50:21.understand the decision. Sometimes they're given, sometimes they're
:50:22. > :50:26.not. It's worth mentioning if he kicks this, the gap is six points
:50:27. > :50:34.and still a long way to go, but it's likelihood of a draw becomes a
:50:35. > :50:43.little more likely. Golden point extra time if required today.
:50:44. > :50:48.Johnson is successful. Three out of four, eight for England, 14 New
:50:49. > :50:58.Zealand. A little bit more daylight between the team in black and the
:50:59. > :51:03.team in white. From an England point of view they
:51:04. > :51:08.need to get out of this lull which they've been in since half-time
:51:09. > :51:14.really. Here comes Sinfield with the kick.
:51:15. > :51:21.Even this early in the second-half I think the next goal is important.
:51:22. > :51:25.You don't want a team of this calibre going two scores. England
:51:26. > :51:27.just need to get a level of possession now. They've been starved
:51:28. > :51:31.of possession and field. I think it's come down to a couple of
:51:32. > :51:37.penalties near the halfway line, Dave. They've just conceded
:51:38. > :51:56.penalties and then conceded possession and territory.
:51:57. > :52:21.Tomkins gotted up superbly well to claim that as his own. They didn't
:52:22. > :52:24.want any mistakes there, did they. I do like the way Sam Burgess just
:52:25. > :52:29.changes the pace when he takes the ball. Issac Luke changed the pace of
:52:30. > :52:44.James Graham there! It's a big pack England have on the
:52:45. > :52:54.field at the moment. A bit too far that kick. Well fared by
:52:55. > :52:59.Tuivasa-Sheck, good chase by Widdop. News from the touchline, Frank
:53:00. > :53:02.NEWSREEL: The New Zealand prop, the latest victim of what is an
:53:03. > :53:06.increasing bruising game, being treated for his knee, the doctor
:53:07. > :53:11.working intensively on him. His afternoon may be over. I don't think
:53:12. > :53:15.a decision has gone England's way in this second-half? I'd be interested
:53:16. > :53:20.to do this one -- to see this one, you can't do this against this
:53:21. > :53:26.quality team. This will take its toll on England if you keep giving
:53:27. > :53:31.the free decision. It's adjudicated that the O?Loughlin played the ball
:53:32. > :53:42.on Goodwin. It's hard to argue against those penalty shots.
:53:43. > :53:52.Have a bit of that. ! Reestablishing the authority in the front row. Been
:53:53. > :53:58.off the field for a while, James Graham says, now I'm back! You could
:53:59. > :54:04.Z that clearly. There you have, Tomkins now. Skips away from the
:54:05. > :54:10.first tackle of Alex Glenn. Finds room in the middle. He can destroy
:54:11. > :54:27.with those fancy feet. That should have been a penalty. On
:54:28. > :54:32.comes Sinfield. Oh, no. Penalty England this time. That's it. I
:54:33. > :54:38.thought he'd given a penalty for a knock-on, but there was a late hit.
:54:39. > :54:44.Kasiano came in, I think he had a call from the touch judge. Good to
:54:45. > :54:49.hear a Welshman getting so passionately behind England, by the
:54:50. > :54:54.way? Wales are not in the competition so you have to support
:54:55. > :54:58.England. You have to support England against New Zealand and Australia.
:54:59. > :55:01.Six tackles for England to ask a few questions of this New Zealand
:55:02. > :55:03.defence at the start of the second-half. Westwood puts it back
:55:04. > :55:36.to Tomkins. Great run from Tomkins. Tomkins slips over on the Wembley
:55:37. > :55:42.turf, disappointing end to that particular tackle. Widdop - puts the
:55:43. > :55:49.foot down. They need a repeat set now. .
:55:50. > :55:55.It's another six. That's what we wanted. I thought he said play I
:55:56. > :55:59.don't know. Another set. They get the repeat
:56:00. > :56:10.set. Here comes Roby and listen to the
:56:11. > :56:17.crowd! Roaring this England side on. Sinfield! Watkins, Kallum Watkins!
:56:18. > :56:26.England try. Great goal. Great goal Kevin Sinfield, what an angle from
:56:27. > :56:34.this young kid, Kallum Watkins. The noise at Wembley has just reached
:56:35. > :56:38.roof-lifting proportions. 14-12 with a Kevin Sinfield kick to tie us up
:56:39. > :56:43.again. Another feather in Kevin Sinfield's cap. This is a great
:56:44. > :56:46.ball. This is a half-touch ball to say, James Graham out the back.
:56:47. > :56:49.Kevin Sinfield has to find the runner but it's a great line from
:56:50. > :56:59.Kallum Watkins, otherwise that doesn't happen. Well played England.
:57:00. > :57:05.Goodwin good is -- his eyes are on Ben Westwood. Watch Ben Westwood.
:57:06. > :57:12.Ready to commit the shot. There, held up the centre, what a ball,
:57:13. > :57:19.what an angle; great try, England! This kid reminds me of a young
:57:20. > :57:24.Ellory Handy. There's a compliment. He could be the next superstar in
:57:25. > :57:28.rugby league. He's had a lot of injuries over the years which has
:57:29. > :57:35.hampered his career. He has it all, I'm telling you. We've not seen a
:57:36. > :57:40.lot of him in this World Cup so far. Sinfield to make it all square; oh,
:57:41. > :57:50.he's just put it wide. Just pulled it wide. But it's game-on.
:57:51. > :57:57.Just watch again Unbelievable ball from Kevin Sinfield. Westwood
:57:58. > :58:02.attracts the defender but he's on the fly. He would have been hard to
:58:03. > :58:04.stop anyway. He doesn't do anything Westwood but because he's there he
:58:05. > :58:28.holds up the New Zealand centre. Sam Burgess is just, he's an
:58:29. > :58:32.absolute machine today. He really is. He's an absolute machine week in
:58:33. > :58:38.and week out. That's what they want. Now it's England getting the
:58:39. > :58:47.decisions! Steve McNamara, Paul Deakin looking on. You wouldn't want
:58:48. > :58:53.to get between those two. Dogzilla and Burgess I thought you meant
:58:54. > :58:59.between Steve McNamara and Deakin. And a special guest from Jon Wilkin.
:59:00. > :59:03.What do they have to do? It's a finely balanced game and we have to
:59:04. > :59:08.stick with that. Keep knocking the sets out. I'm sure New Zealand will
:59:09. > :59:12.be doing the same, but I think coming out in this second-half, we
:59:13. > :59:18.conceded a try but the boys got back to the game plan and scored a good
:59:19. > :59:28.try there. We have to stick with that. Thanks.
:59:29. > :59:34.Just under 20 minutes left to play. Westwood to Watkins, who
:59:35. > :59:46.threatened... Just about held on in that New Zealand line.
:59:47. > :59:53.Holding on, holding on, holding on. How long does he get to hold on? The
:59:54. > :59:54.halfback combination, good balance. Sinfield really, really playing
:59:55. > :00:14.well. He's given it away to Sonny Bill and
:00:15. > :00:20.Sonny Bill tried to off-load. Tuivasa-Sheck... He's given it away,
:00:21. > :00:23.England have it back. New Zealand are rattled.
:00:24. > :00:40.Come on, England, shout the crowd. O?Loughlin knocked it on. Chance,
:00:41. > :00:43.chance, chance. Was it a moment, was it the moment. That was the
:00:44. > :00:45.opportunity. He takes it he's in. Does a knock-on, there are numbers
:00:46. > :00:59.on the right hand side. That was a great catch from Hall. He
:01:00. > :01:02.flicks it in, INTV keeps it up. Tuivasa-Sheck clearly hasn't got it,
:01:03. > :01:06.I think he was juggling it and trying to get it to another player.
:01:07. > :01:09.Look where they are. That's the one thing about New Zealand, they'll
:01:10. > :01:14.want to play and they'll try to the off-loads all the time. They can
:01:15. > :01:23.implode sometimes. All Sonny Bill had to do was keep hold of it! You
:01:24. > :01:27.tell him! No, you. Jamie peacock, second-half, just as
:01:28. > :01:31.impressive than the first? Definitely. England's resilience was
:01:32. > :01:36.outstanding. What we'll see in the second-half is how vital discipline
:01:37. > :01:40.is. We saw New Zealand score a try from three or four penalties and
:01:41. > :02:20.then England score a penalty off the -- score a try off the back of a
:02:21. > :02:23.penalty. So come on England. Issac Luke making space for himself.
:02:24. > :02:31.Terrific from Luke, but Tomkins doing just enough. The off-load
:02:32. > :02:37.tried. Where's it going? Knock-on is the first one. It's England's.
:02:38. > :02:50.Questioning there. They're going to need oxygen tents
:02:51. > :02:55.after this game. Them or us! Both, we'll borrow some. They can get the
:02:56. > :02:59.first go, I think they earned it. They can have a go in the ice bath
:03:00. > :03:06.while we have the oxygen tent! Such a quick game. You know, # four
:03:07. > :03:29.minutes gone in this game, second-half has flown.
:03:30. > :03:38.O?Loughlin banging forward again; how good is that man! Graham, they
:03:39. > :03:45.don't know what he's going to do, do they, he might be SUSHLG -- surging
:03:46. > :03:51.at them. Pass at the... Quick hands here. Play on, here comes... Ryan
:03:52. > :03:58.Hall for the corner. He slipped over! Normally he makes that left
:03:59. > :04:05.wing his own personal particularer tape parade, not this time, not this
:04:06. > :04:23.time. Ticker tape. Maybe it's the right wing with Charnley of the
:04:24. > :04:26.Great defence. Ticker tape. Maybe it's the right wing with Charnley of
:04:27. > :04:34.the Great defence. The referee says play on. Now it goes, Burgess...
:04:35. > :04:40.Sam. Sonny Bill on him again, that's a great contest, Burgess/Sonny Bill.
:04:41. > :04:46.They're going to make the tackle. JEE dropped it. That's a very clever
:04:47. > :04:52.kick because it's another set of six. Real good control under
:04:53. > :04:58.pressure. I thought he dropped it. He's checking. Just watch. Great
:04:59. > :05:05.kick. Again, though, I don't know why he kicked so early in the tackle
:05:06. > :05:10.count. Six more plays. He kicks early, because it's a great skill
:05:11. > :05:14.and comes off. It's the bloke next to him complaining -- it's the bloke
:05:15. > :05:20.next to me complaining, not me. I thought it was a great play. Jon
:05:21. > :05:23.Wilkin on the side line? I think we're fantastically lucky to be
:05:24. > :05:26.looking at what I think is the best forward pack in this competition.
:05:27. > :05:29.The England pack is just outstanding. What they can do with
:05:30. > :05:33.the ball and defensively against this New Zealand team today has been
:05:34. > :05:40.nothing short of sensational. With George Burgess on the field now to
:05:41. > :05:43.add to that impact. I think also, complemented by a fantastic halfback
:05:44. > :05:52.partnership today. I think they've been solid and the game management
:05:53. > :05:57.brilliant. Sinfield, Burgess in runs over O?Loughlin and it's slamming
:05:58. > :06:05.Sam. England have a try. England have the lead. And a World Cup final
:06:06. > :06:10.is just moving inches closer to their grasp.
:06:11. > :06:15.How good is this kid? How good is Sam Burgess! I'm telling you. Again,
:06:16. > :06:20.I think it's Kevin Sinfield that creates the opening for him. There
:06:21. > :06:33.he goes. James Roby, Kevin Sinfield takes the line on. Attracts SBW and
:06:34. > :06:38.SB slams the ball down under the ground. What a finish! He was not
:06:39. > :06:42.going to be stopped. I tell you you looked at him 15 yards out from the
:06:43. > :06:47.try line and it's as if he scored already. The confidence in this kid
:06:48. > :06:51.is unbelievable. What's going through the mind of Kevin Locke
:06:52. > :07:05.seeing that monster run down at you. Balance, poise, pace. ; power...
:07:06. > :07:10.Plays front prop. It's just a privilege to be here. It's a great
:07:11. > :07:26.game. Sinfield's kick is a good one. Three out of four. 18 England, 14
:07:27. > :07:32.points New Zealand. Here we see James Graham attract
:07:33. > :07:49.attracting defenders. They both go through the hole and off-load. Let's
:07:50. > :08:31.see how much character this Kiwi side has got. You could write...
:08:32. > :08:44.for goal. Somewhere near 20 metres. England score again. My word. If,
:08:45. > :08:49.if. There's George. There's Roby and what a pass, Sonny
:08:50. > :09:05.Bill steps up to the plate but he's knocked-on.
:09:06. > :09:10.It's a big call this, a big call. That one is not a knock-on. I think
:09:11. > :09:21.it's the previous play. The tackle he made on it. Just watch. That's
:09:22. > :09:26.not a knock-on. I tell you what, that's a big... . He went looking
:09:27. > :09:31.for that, Sonny Bill Williams. He needed a big play and he pulled it
:09:32. > :09:43.off. Owe figured got it wrong. -- officials got it wrong. Graham now
:09:44. > :09:45.who takes it in. These are the characters you want hanging around
:09:46. > :10:20.at moments like this. Westwood! Oh, he's lost it over the
:10:21. > :10:25.line. Did he lose the ball? No advantage, I think, to the New
:10:26. > :10:28.Zealand so they get to head in scrum on the ten metre line. I thought it
:10:29. > :10:42.was over, he thought it was over. Put the ball down Ben, put the ball
:10:43. > :10:48.down Ben. Oh... So close! Westwood has a stitch on his face, a swollen
:10:49. > :10:56.cheek bone. Doesn't care. Enjoying the moment.
:10:57. > :11:29.New Zealand will come back, they will have a chance. That's Manukau,
:11:30. > :11:32.their -- that's Simon Mannering. Their skipper.
:11:33. > :11:36.Making the metres. Not doing too much damage but making the metres up
:11:37. > :11:51.to the halfway line so when the kick comes they'll be in a decent
:11:52. > :11:55.position. Sinfield takes it and England back in possession. So What
:11:56. > :12:01.a mistake by Bu, from a New Zealand perspective, how is this playing out
:12:02. > :12:06.right now? Better if you looked at it before England took the lead from
:12:07. > :12:10.New Zealand's perspective. But the chip kick exEFRMS FIES what New
:12:11. > :12:18.Zealand will do from now on. Eight minutes left. They have to TLOI
:12:19. > :12:28.caution to the wind. -- throw caution to the wind.
:12:29. > :12:37.They're on the sixth tackle. It doesn't come. Bit of a slip by Jason
:12:38. > :12:49.Nightingale. Metal studs on the concrete surface. Tap back on the
:12:50. > :12:55.20. Utterly capital VAGT. England's
:12:56. > :12:58.performance today is -- captivating. England's performance today is
:12:59. > :13:10.terrific. But New Zealand have added to it as well. G. England's
:13:11. > :13:12.performance today is terrific. But New Zealand have added to it as
:13:13. > :13:16.well. Sonny Bill Williams on the rampage. Johnson throws it back in.
:13:17. > :13:22.Here comes the man Tuivasa-Sheck tackled 25 out.
:13:23. > :13:27.Still taxles in the bag. -- tackles in the bag. England's defence, that
:13:28. > :13:35.wall of white. It buckles together again. There's not one Burgess here.
:13:36. > :13:40.Here comes another one. You have to say there, the best players on the
:13:41. > :13:48.planet are out there today. Johnson quick hands. Cudjoe; oh, Ryan Hall
:13:49. > :13:50.knows had he caught that, 80 yards down the field he would have been
:13:51. > :13:54.almost certainly celebrating an England victory. He did well to get
:13:55. > :13:58.there, to be fair. He did well to get there. It was a Keane breaker
:13:59. > :14:06.one way or another. Look at that, the reaction says it all.
:14:07. > :14:14.Six tackles to ask the question of this England defence again; have you
:14:15. > :14:22.got the character to keep this Kiwi threat out? This is a big set of
:14:23. > :14:36.six. The crowd are finding their voice. The mythical 14th man.
:14:37. > :14:42.Oh, they've blown it. They've blown it on the very first play. England
:14:43. > :14:55.get the ball back. Dreadful play. That's dreadful play.
:14:56. > :15:02.Kevin Locke just overthrew that. It was a shocking pass. I don't know
:15:03. > :15:06.why they went so wide early. They had two defenders there. You know,
:15:07. > :15:12.England had snuffed it out that attack. They got the defence right.
:15:13. > :15:17.Wembley hasn't resonated to the chants of England, England quite
:15:18. > :15:19.like this in quite a while. It's been a fantastic game. Fantastic
:15:20. > :15:33.game. Here comes Burgess; slamming Sam,
:15:34. > :15:37.who by the way is the man of the match today, Sam Burgess. There were
:15:38. > :15:46.a few contenders for that, Sinfield was one as well. He's the official
:15:47. > :15:49.man of the match, Sam Burgess. You have to say hats off to Kevin
:15:50. > :15:54.Sinfield. He had his detractors leading up to this tournament and up
:15:55. > :15:56.to this game, but oh, boy, has he delivered today. Kevin Sinfield the
:15:57. > :16:33.England skipper. Four and a half minutes to play, how
:16:34. > :16:38.are the nerves? How? I suspect Burgess thought he wasn't square
:16:39. > :16:44.which is why he put him over. Pushed him rather than tackle him. Johnson
:16:45. > :16:54.and if he weres with the ball back inside. He's injured.
:16:55. > :16:58.England won't mind this, they've slowed everything down here, the
:16:59. > :17:02.Kiwis. There will be a bit more pressure on the kicker than he might
:17:03. > :17:05.have had. But he still gets the kick away.
:17:06. > :17:12.Tomkins, Charnley, who's after this, Goodwin got there and got the hand
:17:13. > :17:23.to it. He's given a dropout under the sticks. The New Zealand hand
:17:24. > :17:27.went backwards. Goodwin did well amongst that CLUSer of England
:17:28. > :17:31.defenders. -- cluster of England defenders. Another set of six here
:17:32. > :17:34.for England to defend with three and a half minutes to go. We're loving
:17:35. > :17:38.every second of this but sometimes you just want the hooter to sound
:17:39. > :17:45.because you can't stand the nerves much more than this. They are being
:17:46. > :17:49.stretched to the limit. Kevin Sinfield, as cool as ice with a drop
:17:50. > :17:51.kick from underneath the sticks that takes the ball into the hands,
:17:52. > :18:14.ultimately, of Monika -- Matulino. Issac Luke, England
:18:15. > :18:19.defending and New Zealand rolling on, Sonny Bill Williams wants a
:18:20. > :18:27.piece of the action. He gets a piece of England's defensive might.
:18:28. > :18:35.Four tackles gone, wants the penalty; the referee says get up.
:18:36. > :18:44.This now is Goodwin; Goodwin cuts back in. Good defence. That's five.
:18:45. > :18:50.Kieran Foran kicks it high towards Ryan Hall. It's England's ball! It's
:18:51. > :19:07.England's ball. It's a knock-on New Zealand. The handover. I tell you
:19:08. > :19:12.what, N. . Two and a half minutes to play. New Zealand will get one more
:19:13. > :19:15.go with the ball here if things pan out the way they should. Here they
:19:16. > :19:39.go. It's a smash-a-thon now. World Cup holders on the verge... Of
:19:40. > :19:52.giving their title up. World Cup hosts on the verge of making a
:19:53. > :19:56.final. Sinfield's kicking back down the middle, never mind the
:19:57. > :20:00.touchline. He's going to make New Zealand bring it up straightaway
:20:01. > :20:08.here. England's defence is ready. This is the set. This is the set.
:20:09. > :20:15.England make five more tackles. And New Zealand know that. That's tackle
:20:16. > :20:26.two. Here comes Goodwin. That's the third. Issac Luke and it's slow.
:20:27. > :20:32.Taken in by Kasiano. Here comes Foran. Good tackle by Hall. That's
:20:33. > :20:43.tackle four. Oh, no. Was high. Penalty New
:20:44. > :20:57.Zealand. So they will get another set here. They have one minute.
:20:58. > :21:05.They're throwing everything at England now. This is it. This is it.
:21:06. > :21:18.Four tackles to go. Issac Luke; England respond. Big throw out,
:21:19. > :21:25.Johnson. What a try! What a try! Shaun Johnson with the try. It makes
:21:26. > :21:30.it all level. With literally seconds to play and now he's got to kick to
:21:31. > :21:36.win the game. They shot out of the line. They opened up. You cannot
:21:37. > :21:41.come -- cover a player of this quality, he steps one, steps two.
:21:42. > :21:49.What a brilliant finish SHCHLT England just lost there. England
:21:50. > :21:52.just lost their shape. This is the penalty first of all, didn't need to
:21:53. > :21:57.do it and then they rushed out and opened the gate for this player.
:21:58. > :22:05.There he is, Sinfield goes early. Bang, off the left. What a try! It
:22:06. > :22:14.ain't over yet. He has to kick the goal. It's that fella who has the
:22:15. > :22:26.task of kicking this goal. Wembley is almost silent. Shaun Johnson of
:22:27. > :22:44.the New Zealand Warriors is the man who might just win it for New
:22:45. > :22:48.Zealand. This is not a difficult kick but in circumstances like this
:22:49. > :23:32.it's a little bit tougher. He's nailed it! He has nailed it! It
:23:33. > :23:41.is New Zealand in the World Cup final. They get to go again to
:23:42. > :23:48.defend their crown. England simply can't believe the fate that has just
:23:49. > :23:53.befallen it. What a performance! What an outstanding performance by
:23:54. > :24:00.England today. But in the end it was seconds away from being enough. I'm
:24:01. > :24:06.lost for words. It's just so, so close. It's the discipline, that
:24:07. > :24:15.penalty and then you shoot out of the line against the calibre of
:24:16. > :24:21.players like Kevin Locke and Shaun Johnson. He steps up to the first
:24:22. > :24:28.tackle, second tackle. You have to say that is a brilliant, brilliant
:24:29. > :24:33.match-saving try. Then steps up to take the goal. But what an amazing
:24:34. > :24:43.game of rugby league. Absolutely fantastic. Is there a sicker feeling
:24:44. > :24:50.in the world! So, so close. So close. Absolutely heartbreaking. It
:24:51. > :24:54.really is. Every England rugby league fan, every England sports fan
:24:55. > :25:01.around the country will know that these 17 players today have given
:25:02. > :25:07.their all, have come within a whisker of dethroning the world
:25:08. > :25:13.champions and possibly deserved to dethrone the world champions. But in
:25:14. > :25:20.the end not quite enough. That was the difference between these two
:25:21. > :25:32.sides, wasn't it. It was the last play of the match. So New Zealand
:25:33. > :25:35.are through to the final, whether they play against Australia or Fiji
:25:36. > :25:40.we'll know in a couple of hour's time. But in the meantime let's hear
:25:41. > :25:43.from Sam Burgess with Damien Johnston. Many commiserations,
:25:44. > :25:46.you're man of the match. It was a marvellous performance from England
:25:47. > :25:50.but I guess that's little consolation at this moment. What are
:25:51. > :25:54.your first thoughts? Very disappointed for the team. I thought
:25:55. > :26:00.our effort was there today. We fought through some tough patches as
:26:01. > :26:05.a team. We showed a lot of strength. Thanks for the man of the match but
:26:06. > :26:12.I'd rather have the win! Will you reflect perhaps on some half chances
:26:13. > :26:16.that Ryan Hall and O?Loughlin had? You can't look at that, throughout
:26:17. > :26:21.the game there were 50 other chances we could have taken, the same with
:26:22. > :26:26.the other side. In the last 30 seconds we got pipped. The guys are
:26:27. > :26:30.disappointed. We put a lot of hard work into this tournament. It was a
:26:31. > :26:34.bruising encounter, everyone expected that, what was it to be out
:26:35. > :26:38.there? It was a fantastic game of rugby league to play n a great
:26:39. > :26:42.atmosphere. I must thank the fans for turning out. It was great to
:26:43. > :26:46.play in this stadium, with my English friends, the Kiwis are big
:26:47. > :26:50.and physical and thanks to them as well. It's going to take a lot to
:26:51. > :26:53.get over this A lot of work has gone into this preparation. Thoroughly
:26:54. > :27:07.disappointed at the moment. Thank you.
:27:08. > :27:13.Jamie peacock that felt like the fastest 78 minutes of my life and
:27:14. > :27:18.then the slowest two minutes? Yeah, for an England fan and ex-England
:27:19. > :27:22.captain that last minute and a half was horrific viewing. I felt we
:27:23. > :27:35.deserved and did enough to get into the final. Let's go back down pitch
:27:36. > :27:41.side. That was an incredible game of rugby league? It was. It was a real
:27:42. > :27:47.test match. I thought England had a great game. To our lads, we said
:27:48. > :27:51.keep fighting, hang in there and we can come up with an opportunity and
:27:52. > :27:55.we were good enough to take it. I thought England had a great game
:27:56. > :27:59.today. With the clock ticking even you must have thought that was it,
:28:00. > :28:03.the crown was going to go somewhere else? Again, we always back
:28:04. > :28:07.ourselves if there's enough time on the clock and we had the footie, I
:28:08. > :28:12.was always confident we would give ourselves an opportunity. With two
:28:13. > :28:16.minutes to go we did. We were fortunate today but I thought the
:28:17. > :28:20.fight from the lads, they hung in there and gave themselves their
:28:21. > :28:28.chance. I'm very happy. Thank you. Congratulations. The New Zealand
:28:29. > :28:33.players in their huddle. They have one more game to look forward to.
:28:34. > :28:42.That's the final at Old Trafford next week. George Burgess will be
:28:43. > :28:47.thinking about that high tackle? Yeah, and for a young player it's
:28:48. > :28:52.tough to deal with. I'm sure his professionalism and brothers will
:28:53. > :28:56.get round to him, lift your heads up. Don't worry we'll move forward.
:28:57. > :29:01.There are other elements in the game they could have stretched out the
:29:02. > :29:06.lead. I personally, and I'm a Kiwi, feel sick for the players. As a team
:29:07. > :29:09.they were probably stronger but as Steve Kearney just said, the
:29:10. > :29:13.individual brilliance sticking in the game and that individual BRIMS
:29:14. > :29:18.came out right at the death there -- brilliance. That's something that
:29:19. > :29:22.New Zealand has in their arsenal. They don't want to leave the pitch
:29:23. > :29:29.at the moment, the England players. James Graham, blooded and bruised.
:29:30. > :29:33.The thoughts of the England coach. Many commiserations, what is the
:29:34. > :29:40.feeling after that, it's a heart breaking way to get out of the World
:29:41. > :29:43.Cup? Definitely. It's tough work. High-level sport can be cruel at
:29:44. > :29:48.times. Really, a World Cup semifinal, that's how it should be.
:29:49. > :29:52.Two teams, hammer and tongs, not much in it. We're by the early
:29:53. > :29:56.disappointed. Did you feel with the clock ticking and 30 seconds to go
:29:57. > :30:00.you had it in the bag? In these sorts of games you can't ever think
:30:01. > :30:03.that. But we were getting close and did a lot of things right in this
:30:04. > :30:09.game. We played tremendously well in the game and very cruel way to
:30:10. > :30:13.finish. Little consolation but it was an incredible game to watch? It
:30:14. > :30:16.was. For our sport, rugby league, it's put us on the map. It showed
:30:17. > :30:23.everybody out there what a great sport it is. Tough to talk now, as
:30:24. > :30:26.you can imagine but I think the World Cup has been great for our
:30:27. > :30:29.sport of rugby league and hopefully a lot more people will now become
:30:30. > :30:33.involved in it. It's been a difficult campaign. Where now for
:30:34. > :30:36.England and where now for you? It's not been difficult at all. It's been
:30:37. > :30:42.a great campaign. We've done things the right way. We've, our group has
:30:43. > :30:48.been very, very strong. I think as you can tell by what's gone out
:30:49. > :31:06.there today, we'll see. I appreciate you talk to us Steve, thanks. Jamie,
:31:07. > :31:10.the try? That's a tired tackle. I think Kevin is damned NE does and
:31:11. > :31:14.damned if he GUNT doesn't. They were short of numbers and he had to
:31:15. > :31:19.press. I'm the eternal optimist and want to look at the effort England
:31:20. > :31:21.put in. The best two performances against the best two nations
:31:22. > :31:24.Australia and New Zealand. They probably deserved to come out with
:31:25. > :31:31.something a little more than today. An exceptional kick there. Credit to
:31:32. > :31:35.New Zealand for what they did to hold themment England played well
:31:36. > :31:40.and probably deserved a little more out of it but I'm biased. Well, you
:31:41. > :31:46.and me. We're gutted but credit to New Zealand as well, Rob? Yeah,
:31:47. > :31:53.yeah. I was sure New Zealand would come away from this with a lot to
:31:54. > :31:55.learn. For massive portions of their game England were effectively
:31:56. > :32:00.controlling the game. I think there was a real showcase to them that if
:32:01. > :32:04.you want to compete in the final, we're going to need to get a bit of
:32:05. > :32:09.control of what we're doing, so better discipline. The Wembley crowd
:32:10. > :32:16.are showing their appreciation to the England players as they go on
:32:17. > :32:22.their lap of honour at the moment. That was their best performance of
:32:23. > :32:27.the tournament. Without doubt, we questioned their intensity K they do
:32:28. > :32:31.it for 80 minutes -- can they do it for 80 minutes, they did. I can tell
:32:32. > :32:37.you as a player, this hurt never goes away. Losing a big game at the
:32:38. > :32:42.death you thought you win will stay with you for the rest of your life.
:32:43. > :32:47.They'll think about all the plays, Westwood dropping it as he put his
:32:48. > :32:53.hand on the line? That's it, so many chances, and if we could have taken
:32:54. > :32:56.one. One positive for me was Sam Burgess, I think that's the greatest
:32:57. > :33:02.individual performance I've seen in an England shirt for 20 years. The
:33:03. > :33:06.final is next week. New Zealand will take on the winners of the second
:33:07. > :33:14.semifinal between Australia and Fiji.
:33:15. > :33:20.That's one. 45 on BBC One next Saturday afternoon. Thank you Rob
:33:21. > :33:22.and Jamie. Gut wrenchingly and agonisingly, England won't. Good
:33:23. > :33:29.afternoon.