Semi-Final Highlights: England v Tonga Rugby League World Cup

Making World Cup history.

Everybody

is saying go, go and he goes and a

try.

And England settling to the task.

Over the top to McGillvary. Jermaine

McGillvary scores again. What a

pass. A great finish. It's Slam.

Jason Taumalolo. At his best, there

is no one like him.

Hello. The rugby

league World Cup has reached the

semi-final stage and earlier today

England took on Tonga in Auckland.

In the studio with me is St Helens

twist, former Australian under 21

coach Justin Holdbrook and John

Wilkin. Today's winners knew they

would face Australia in next week's

final in Brisbane. That's a World

Cup record. And there are highlights

of that game on the BBC iPlayer.

There was a capacity crowd in

Auckland for Tonga against England

and your commentary team now.

COMMENTATOR: The noise, the flags,

the colour, the spectacle, the

emotion. It's amazing. There is the

king of Tonga, King Tupou VI. The

Prime Minister is here as well

today. Well, they played in some big

game atmospheres,

today. Well, they played in some big

game atmospheres, those England

players. But they have never ever

encountered anything quite like

this.

Well, we have been sending postcards

about the fend at sism of these

Tongan supporters. I don't think

anyone quite believed how ferocious

it was going to be. It really is.

This is their moment here. This is

an astonishing sporting occasion

here, Brian.

Absolutely. A

brilliant, brilliant opening to what

should be a great event.

And we're

off to a fabulous noise. Hand in the

air from Luke Gale to collect. First

possession for England. James Graham

runs it back. England have the ball

and a chance to settle with this

first set of six.

One of their

mantras will be to complete the

first ten sets and take the energy

away from the Tongan team. The 30

meter area at the other end of the

field, they are not as dangerous

there as they are near England's

line.

One of the advantages England

will have is a little bit of wind.

There is a strong breeze and I

imagine they will use that to win

the field position.

There is

Whitehead. Up to the half-way line.

Back to the middle and Gale with a

kick. It is high. Hopoate will be

underneath this and Tonga's first

involvement with ball in hand. At

dummy half. England looking to

stifle the ambitions early on here.

Hurrell who we are led to believe

had an injury scare coming into this

match. OK to go. And taken on again

and the offload. England have to be

there at the offload. Tuimoala

Lolohea takes them 10 inside the

England half. England's defence

being battered here, but one tackle

to go. Left it comes. It maybe

wasn't as deep as he was hoping.

It's a penalty for England. Offside.

A push, the referee says.

A penalty

England in the 20 meter area. So

they will come back for that one.

Wow. Every tackle. Every tackle is

greeted like that. Watkins out of

dummy half. Graham now. Running back

down the channel. Brown on the

inside. Back for Hill. Hill putting

on the footwork. We were talking to

Josh Hodgson about the atmosphere

this week. He said players don't

notice the atmosphere once we get

into the game. I suspect he's

noticing this noise.

He's telling

you fibs!

Here is Burgess. A chance to break.

Looking maybe to keep it alive, but

down he goes. Ryan Hall at dummy

half. Back it Gale again. Up goes

the kick. Not the best from him.

McGillvary. Oh, he has given it

away. Given it away and Tonga have

it back again on the 20.

Here is the

catch from McGillvary and the flick

pass. Whitehead if he gets that,

he's under the sticks.

It is just as

well it didn't go to hand. Will

Hopoate will search on the

right-hand side. A good opportunity

there, but England's defence is

across to close that chance. The

sixth tackle coming up. Where are

they going with it? Slide kick.

Straight into the hands of

McGillvary. He is limited to that,

but he will be happy to have it back

again, England.

I don't know if you

picked up in the offload football

for Tonga could be a problem for

England if they allow them to do

that. Six, seven, eight nine tackles

long in effect.

Tonga are playing to

their strengths in the opening

minutes of this game. Going through

the middle with their big men and

the luxury they have is not just

their size...

That's a great ball

from Graham. Gale is up there trying

to get with Widdop. Widdop is

ducking away. He has support from

Burgess, but he is going here,

Widdop and stops 20 meters out. A

great moment for England.

Great from

Gareth Widdop.

Gale is going for the

chip early here as well. Hall is up

there. I think they might have given

a penalty away. It is England's.

We

can see a great inside pass there

from Graham to Widdop and that's an

area they will target. They will try

and get the big men to move

laterally and that's a great line

break and that will do their

confidence the world of good.

It's

Gale. Back to Kevin Brown. They're

trying to craft something here. It

is going to be an opening try for

Jermaine McGillvary. It is now ten

consecutive matches in which he has

scored for England and England's

craft from the moment that Widdop

made the break to the moment that

McGillvary touched down, was

something to behold.

Smart football.

They played from the scrum. And it

is just a catch and pass against

McGillvary.

Gareth Widdop's kick

here is in the same position when

they were down on the side of the

pitch, he was practising his kicking

from exactly that position. So he

knows the range. Has he got it this

time? Oh yes, he has. The ball

bounces in. It was a nerve jangler,

but it still counts and England lead

by 6-0.

A great start. The inside

ball initially. This is a scrum

play. It is on the back of James

Graham. A superb ball to Gareth

Widdop.

Gale. Hill now. He'll take

it in. Hodgson. A final tackle.

Brown with the clip. That's well

flighted. It is taken easily, look

how close he is to his own line.

Close enough to encourage that

England defence to push him back,

but they hang on do Tonga, but they

have got a lot of work to do. Look

at England's response.

They are

vigorous. Their line speed is good.

Look at that line speed from

England.

Tuimoala Lolohea, his

threat defused on that occasion.

Andrew Fifita there goes Watkins all

over him. They're going to have to

kick here soon because they're

running out of tackles, but they can

always make the break, of course,

and Konrad Hurrell will pass on to

David Fusitu'a. It was thrilling

stuff from the Tongans, but the

Australian referee decides the

tackle was completed before the pass

was made. A penalty for England.

First and fore most, breathtaking

from Tonga. He has decided to spread

the ball. In singles. Watch here.

They've broken free the Tongan side.

Ryan Hall and Gareth Widdop have the

devil's own jobs to do. And you

would have thought every day of the

week they would score here.

What a

chase back from the England players.

Very impressive.

The big fellas as

well, wasn't it?

O'Loughlin will take it forward.

Hodgson goes out of dummy half. He

hits the shoulder of Hurrell, but

comes back and makes the break.

Hodgson, super stuff. Look where he

has put England here. He is hurt

though is Hodgson. He has taken a

real bang to the knee.

Hurrell uses

a bit of footwork and gets past Sio

Taukeiaho. I'm not sure what

happened to his knee.

O'Loughlin.

Brown with the pass. Whitehead with

the dummy and he has support from

Widdop. Surges for the line. The

referee is going to ask the question

here.

REFEREE: I have got no confirm.

Confirm double moment.

So the point

of the ball has fallen. There is

nobody holding him. The ball is

still up in the air. It's still up.

And the ball is now grounded on the

line. Therefore, I'm going to the

board.

England have the try. Widdop

has his second. Widdop's kick is

good again. It's two out of two, but

as far as England's stats are

concerned, it is a ten out of ten

performance. So far, they lead by

12-0.

Great ball movement.

O'Loughlin involved. He does well to

push through that hole and realise

there is no defender on him and

continue on.

Graham. Gale. Burgess.

Meat and muscle, meets meat and

muscle! The answer is stop ten

meters out. Walmsley. Here comes the

last. Roby and Gale gets it. Widdop

trying to create a bit of space

here. It is knocked on by Will

Hopoate and this should be England's

here.

He got swamped there, Widdop.

I think haf half has knocked on --

Siliva Havili has knocked on here.

Options right and left. Tom Burgess

keeps the ball safe as he drives it

in on tackle two. They are only five

away. Another try here would help,

but it's Sam this time who can't

keep hold. He's claiming it was

knocked away by a Tongan defender.

The referee wants none of that. But

hang on, the touch judge does. The

touch judge on the far side has

intervened. Sam Burgess was adamant

that a Tongan player knocked out it.

It is Mr Butler who is in agreement

and England will get the head and

feed.

Gale goes into the teeth.

Yes,

just a finger touch there, wasn't

it?

Yes.

Here is Brown. Bateman.

Almost cutting through. Roby stands

at dummy half. England standing on

the brink of another try here.

Back-to-back sets effectively for

the Tongans to defend, more or less

on their own line. Roby, Brown, back

to Gale. In comes Widdop. But

Tuimoala Lolohea hangs on. Sam

Burgess down the blindside. No

weakness found. Widdop at dummy

half. Gale. Oh, it is a testing

pass. Well, James Roby has done no

favours with that pass. The defence

rushing up right in his face and he

can't keep a hold.

He did well to

get anywhere near it. The width of

the pass gave the Tongans the

opportunity to get forward and rush

the England catches.

They are

milking the blindside. Terrific

hands from Jennings. Pulled down.

Jennings is there in support. Look

how many England players are there.

Just about every one of the 13 was

almost back there. Now Tonga go

right. Puts the kick on. It's

collected by Widdop and that's OK,

but England in survival mode there

were terrific again in defence.

Wow,

brilliant both sides of the fence.

Well done, Tonga. The pass down the

sidelines from Jennings to Tupou was

sublime. How many white shirts

scambled and defended the next play

as well.

Here is Bateman. He's

rugged and determined. First 20

seconds of the first-half. England

will want to see this out safely.

Roby.

He'll go down. The hooter will sound

and that has been a terrific

first-half.

The crowd, 30,003.

There is a few

who sneaked in. All over for Tonga.

A chance now to lift again as

Murdoch-Masila takes it.

How many is there at dummy half

again? He'll try and go himself.

England's defence is too good for

that. And it is Manu who waits. And

Manu is trying to go as well. That's

dumb play because England's wall was

waiting. They are trying to create

numbers here. Over the top he goes.

Absolutely blown away that chance.

Tupou couldn't keep hands on ball

and England survive a real scare.

Well, he was in. He was in. The ball

as well. He found the right pass.

Running out of tackles here, Tonga.

Still inside their own half. Carried

in by Pangai Junior. It is deep, but

Widdop was almost in the area when

he caught that. He wasn't quite so

he has to run it clear.

There is an

arm wrestle going on in relation to

who can kick better than who. This

will help England if they can stay

in this game and do this because...

McGillvary is a good player.

Oh, he

has been outstanding.

Roby does

really well to get over the top of

the defender. Offload to Widdop who

has a bit of width provided by

Whitehead who runs a channel that is

concerning from Tonga, but they make

the tackle stick, but here comes

Gale and this is better gus and just

enough of a challenge from Hurrell

to put him down. And the ball has

been stolen after the referee

shouted. I think they're going to

kick for goal here, aren't he they?

Well, I would. I think this arm

wrestle, we saw the benefits of

England, dummy half. Tongans tiring

in and around the middle. Stick with

it. Get the penalty. It takes you

three scores in front.

Widdop looks

like he's going to go for the two

points.

Widdop's penalty. Has he struck

gold? Yes, he has. England have a

three score lead. Psychologically,

if nothing else, that's a huge blow

from England's point of view. Tonga

know that the comeback has just been

made a little bigger here. They're

12 away and getting closer.

This is a moment that England need

to stand strong.

Here is Jason Taumalolo, but England

defenders swarm around and down he

goes. Katoa left again.

We know what he's like, we have seen

him in a final and scores from a

similar range. That's five attempts

gone. They only have one left.

England defending well. He has got a

challenge up there. Well, that's one

of the ways they scored against New

Zealand in the group games with a

leap of David Fusitu'a.

I tell you

what, look at the number of white

shirts. Gale is there. Bateman is

there. Ryan Hall is doing his best.

Roby is in at dummy half. Gale with

a probing kick towards the corner.

That's a good kick. That's a

terrific kick. It will take a very

good player for Tonga to get out of

here. They tried it, but they

couldn't pull it off. England's

chased superb.

That's the first

class kick you want. That's Gale

being smart and kicking the goal.

And the tiring red jumpers coming in

and around the middle. The big

blokes are doing their job and

taking the juice and Luke Gale

couldn't quite come up with the

tackle, Luke Gale.

Hill with the return on the charge.

England setting up camp inside the

Tongan half here. Burgess. Tom

Burgess, that's a good carry. That's

a terrific carry from Thomas Burgess

who has put England right back where

they want to be, 15 yards away. Roby

comes out. Gale slips it away.

Bateman back on the inside. England

have their third try and they have

one foot in Brisbane already if this

is given. I think what we missed

there was him saying he thought it

was a try. They are looking for

obstruction. Here is Ben Taylor.

A

pass. OK. That's good. It's fine.

The ball is gone. My opinion, he is

not obstructed. We can play this on.

Keep going to the grounding. I'm

happy to play on from this. Tight on

the growning. Happy there is no

obstruction. OK, I have my decision.

I'm going to the board.

England's

try. John Bateman's score. It's a

long way back from Tonga. England

are getting closer to Brisbane.

So here is Widdop's conversion

attempt and he has nailed that. He

hasn't done a lot wrong tonight,

Gareth Widdop. At 20-0, England know

it is very nearly job done. Tonga

have to score four times to get this

semi-final back on again.

Seven-and-a-half minutes to go.

They are trying to make something

happen. I think he might have got to

the line there. I think he might

have given Tongan fans something to

cheer. He thinks so too. He wants to

make absolutely sure.

Still on the

ball. Can we have another angle on

this, please? The ball does look

like it ends up on the line. Pushes

over. At full speed. Right, I'm

happy. I'm going to the board.

Well,

it is a late consolation, but they

are going to get a try and the

stadium has just erupted. It is as

if that was the World Cup final. If

you're just switching on and you are

an England fan and see this and

think, "We're in trouble here." Look

at their reaction! He kicked the

goal by the way 20-6 is the

scoreline as you can see.

Sio Taukeiaho taking it in.

Tonga

are des praet for another. England

not really in danger in terms of the

result of this gamement but they

would not want to concede twice.

Looks who is there, James Graham. A

step back on the inside from

Tuimoala Lolohea. That looked

forward. Carries it now with real

intent here. He has shrugged away

one and down he goes.

Well, when he scored that try, it

was like 10,000 jet planes all

landing at the same time!

Is there something incredible that

could possibly unfold here?

Surely not with three minutes to go.

A missed tackle from Hill. Very hard

thereafter the speed of that ruck.

Interesting last three minutes.

Well, there is a bit of desperation.

Tonga at the death have got this

crowd bouncing even more.

They would

still have to score twice more here,

Tonga. There is a big set coming up

now. We saw that incredible

fightback against New Zealand.

This would be beyond spectacular.

Here comes Jason Taumalolo looking

for support. There is Tuimoala

Lolohea. Something incredible is on

here now.

It could not be any louder. Three

tries in the space of five minutes,

and there is still time for Tonga.

Taukeiaho puts it over. 20-18.

And

Taumalolo shrugs off one, shrugs off

two, barnstorming run from the back

rower, picks up to Lola here on the

inside, and this crowd has come

alive. Two minutes on the clock.

It's just incredible. Look at that

sea of red.

One minute and 50

seconds left to play, one try WinZip

from here now. England were home and

hosed, already on the play to

Brisbane, and suddenly they have a

fight on their hands again. Here is

Taumalolo, with all his might. Wave

of emotion crashing down from the

stands, fuelling this incredible

fightback from Tonga. Fifita held up

on the halfway line. Runs wide, does

Pangai Junior. Here comes the last

play.

This is it.

Last play, they

are going to love it. Konrad Hurrell

gets a pass towards Fusitu'a, inside

for Lolohea. It is McGillvary,

Jermaine McGillvary, he has the

ball, and another six tackles. 45

seconds to go. Here they come.

Listen to this noise. Taumalolo with

the tackle, taking on superhuman

powers, gets it to ten metres out,

30 to go, England on the line.

Havili. Crashing forward. If they

score there is no way back for

England. No time. English hearts are

beating now. English minds focused

on keeping out this red run. Fifita

has lost it! And England have won

it. In that moment. The referee has

a decision to make here. He has lost

it, he's not going to be moved.

Full-time.

And that is full-time.

What a finish! What an occasion,

what a World Cup semifinal. Well,

England almost threw it away. Tonga

almost found a way to win from the

impossible, but England have held on

and are going to Brisbane next week

for the World Cup final.

I've played in some massive games

and hostile atmospheres and great

crowds, first game back at the new

Wembley and all that, but... Never

anything like this before, you know?

With seven minutes to go it was

wrapped up, all in the bag, and they

are a great side and showed great

character to come back strong.

What

about that finish, where was your

heart?

In my socks, I think! It was

finished, wasn't it? We had a couple

of times where we got a bit too far

ahead stop blue we played for 80

minutes and never gave up.

All

Tongan people are proud of us.

Has

satisfying was that might feel?

Yes,

it was... It was good.

Very good.

What about the occasion as a whole?

A great day here. The fans were

outstanding, rugby league was the

winner here today, really proud to

be a part of it, just a pity that...

There is no pity, it was a great

game.

The last minute we were

throwing the ball everywhere. It is

never nice, they are close ones, but

we came out and we are in the World

Cup final.

We felt exhausted at the

end of that, what a game of rugby

league.

Absolutely brilliant. What a

great game we have in rugby league.

You think one side is home and hosed

and we knew Tonga had it in them, we

didn't know what stage it would

come, then it came right at the

death!

Delivered in every sense,

didn't it? It had everything is a

World Cup semifinal, the culture and

heritage Tonga have brought to the

tournament but then the execution

and clinical nature of England, but

the flourish from Tonga at the end

got us out of our chairs, and an

amazing finish to an incredible

semifinal.

And you thought this

could have been a try at the end.

Look, I just think... There is a

responsibility from the

ball-carrier. These are the closing

seconds and Tonga are looking to

create something. Fifita bumps one I

can't Elliott Wyatt gets his ball --

Elliott Whitehead gets his hands on

the ball. Crucially, didn't go to

the video referee, which... He ruled

it was Fifita's responsibility to

hold the ball, but what an amazing

finish, I believe that would have

been a try in Super League.

Had gone

upstairs it would have been a

nervous video referee and it would

have gone to the on field decision.

For me it was no try, I understand

why John says try but for me I think

Lewis Carrey, Whitehead put his arm

out to tackle him. But had gone

upstairs in the 80th minute... Oh,

my God!

We would have been looking

at several angles over and over! Get

a Mac this wouldn't be the

highlights, this would be live on

air. England have been so good

defensively and so strong and yet in

seven or eight minutes everything

came crashing down.

That car quicker

game can change, can't it? Tonga

sensed the momentum and seized it,

took advantage. James Graham was

talking before the game how you can

lose momentum and England almost did

that. Tonga got excited and this

next try for me to provide it.

At

this point you were saying there

isn't enough time for them to come

back.

When Taumalolo gets the ball

and sends all or team off and

creates this try you start thinking

they have a chance.

Absolutely. To

be fair not many teams can do this.

I speak about Tonga as power

athletes and give them the

opportunity undertaken. England were

not poor or out of condition, it was

just going to happen, I thought it

would at some stage.

They had

opportunities.

They had, and to

England's credit, the coverage of

the full match, England's defence

saved them because Tonga had chances

and missed opportunities but England

deserve credit because they kept

turning up whereas against anyone

else that would be a trifle Tonga.

In the first half England were

clinical, took better chances and

replicated some of the things I

think have worked for England

throughout the tournament. It is

this consistent theme of big England

forwards being able to play, create

space, McGilvray taking advantage.

Scrum plays set up by James Graham,

catches Tupou who is an exceptional

winger, out of position, McGilvray

scores. Great start for England.

After that we get a O'Loughlin on

the ball, great line from Whitehead,

Widdop to support, looked like it

was held in a double movement but he

had the strength to score. We focus

on the middle players, O'Loughlin,

the size of the forward, a great

line from Whitehead but when England

get to the right part of the field

were clinical and exceptional and

they need to do more of it.

Definitely. They have to play like

this next week, they cannot try to

play set for set against Australia,

and this is what they are familiar

with. It was great to watch and that

was what put them in what looked

like a commanding win.

Which was

what they needed! Just the right

score, not too many.

They chose to

take the two for the penalty midway

through the second-half.

That

penalty goal was huge and Tupou

dropped a ball stone cold with the

try line beckoning. The game is

hinged on moments, but one of the

standouts, scrambled defence for

England was exceptional and it is

hard to show it because they were so

many examples of it. In the main

England did a great defensive job

for anybody who said over the years

the Rugby League World Cup is just

about England, New Zealand and

Australia, not this tournament.

Tonga very much played their part

which can only be good for

international rugby.

Definitely, we

saw the crowd today, 35,000, 20,000

Tongans, it is huge. Look at Fiji as

well.

Gets.

Their win over New

Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the way

they play, it is great to talk about

so many nations rather than just

three.

The final is Australia

against England in Brisbane next

Saturday morning and we will be on

air on BBC One from 830 AM for all

the coverage. More live sport across

the BBC this afternoon.

Is it easier said than done for

England to keep doing their thing

against Australia in the final?

Identifying so. That is the only way

they can attack the game next week.

-- I don't think so. I am pleased

they are there, I think the best two

teams are in the final. We have

compared England to Australia all

along and it has been unfair but

they are there now and that will

probably relieve the players, that

they have made it. It is 22 years

since they have been there. It will

take pressure off the man freed up

to play more.

The different

challenge in Australia without a

doubt, fantastic players, homes with

11 tries in the last two games,

really big left edge attack. Key

players on the ball who make big

decisions for Australia, great

decisions, defensively you cannot

have the play-off.

How will they

defend against Australia, then?

They

need to be composed and patient, you

cannot give them tries like this

because Fiji handed the ball to

Valentine Holmes who has too much

speed and is an instinctive finish.

We call it being connected,

depending together. If you don't

defend together and you are

disjointed they find space and they

have speed and execution and

decision-making ability to take

advantage of it. Fiji were

completely outclassed in this game.

England in the final of the back of

a much different affair in their

semifinal, and I suppose we will

talk about that in the build-up,

what is the difference? The casual

game against Fiji or the fierce

intense game against Tonga and those

are the different sides.

May be a

generalisation but most Australians

don't appear to be racked by

self-doubt, so is their... LAUGHTER

Will there be anything Australia had

seen from England that will worry

them?

I think so, yes. England

showed them in game one, in the

second half, that they have enough

attack to worry Australia. In saying

that, in every game Australia have

played there have never one to beat

England but England have done that

every game. England have shown they

have earned it by how good a side

they are. They have a lot of trouble

Australia and as John said, I don't

think Fiji unfortunately... They

didn't have the class Australia have

but England do so they won't be a

walk in the park.

Does history

bother players? England haven't been

in a World Cup final since 1995. Is

that merely a media thing?

Behaviours are learnt over time.

Australia are used to these big

games and performing well. England

don't have that to draw upon. They

have to perform. They don't have a

bank of experience, they haven't

been in a World Cup final, they

can't draw on that that they can

draw on confidence from playing

awesome throughout the tournament.

Thank you very much to both of you,

John and Justin, we have waited a

long time, 22 years to say this, but

England are in a Rugby League World

Cup final. See you next Saturday.