England survive dramatic Tonga revival to reach Rugby League World Cup final

With around 10 minutes left of this quite incredible World Cup semi-final, you knew there was something missing. At that stage England were cruising: 20-0 ahead, defensively impregnable and on their way to the World Cup final at a canter.

But this is England’s rugby league side. They do not do things the easy way. In a cacophony of noise in Auckland – which, at first glance, looked and felt every inch like the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa given the sea of red on show – England had ticked every box required of them in the opening hour.

Then John Bateman’s try with 13 minutes remaining had seemingly taken England to somewhere they had not been in more than two decades: a World Cup final. But, just like four years ago in their previous semi-final, on that occasion against New Zealand, the best of the drama was yet to come.

When Tevita Pangai Jnr crossed with seven minutes remaining, it felt like nothing more than sheer consolation – and, in truth, nothing more than Tonga deserved for the way they have applied themselves at this World Cup. Their emergence as a genuine force in world rugby league has been one of the biggest success stories of this tournament, but they were not about to bow out with a whimper.

Two more tries, to Siliva Havili and Tui Lolohea, would follow. Ten minutes earlier, England had been 20 points ahead and in control. Now the gap was only two. This was quintessential England.

But if there is one thing different to this England side under Wayne Bennett than the ones who have come so close to a major final in the past, it is their determination and never-say-die attitude in defence – and how they needed every inch of it here.

With a partisan Tongan crowd roaring them on, the Mate Ma’a came at England one last time, and with one second remaining, Andrew Fifita looked as if he had done what Shaun Johnson had done four years earlier, and snatched England’s place in the final away from them at the death.

Fifita and Tonga argued that Elliott Whitehead’s touch that forced the ball from Fifita’s grasp should have meant play-on, and there was perhaps even a case for checking with the video referee. Who knows what untold drama that would have produced. But mercifully for England, the referee called full-time, ensuring England of their place in next weekend’s final against Australia. “I wasn’t nervous,” Bennett quipped afterwards. He was probably the only one who wasn’t.

They will undoubtedly have to improve to defeat the seemingly-unbeatable Kangaroos. But Bennett is a man of his word, and he promised in the aftermath of their opening-round defeat to Australia that England would improve as the tournament rolled on. This performance – seven minutes of sheer chaos aside – suggests he was right.

England may yet have to do it the tough way though. Josh Hodgson looks increasingly unlikely to feature while, perhaps more worryingly, there is also a fitness doubt over the captain, Sean O’Loughlin. While the Kangaroos have had an extra 24 hours – and an easier semi-final ride against Fiji – to ready themselves for Brisbane, England will certainly not forget the memories, and bruises, this night produced in a hurry.

It would be beyond cruel if O’Loughlin is denied the chance to become the first man to lead England out in a World Cup final since Denis Betts, the current assistant coach, in 1995. The world has changed a lot in 22 years. The last time England appeared in a World Cup final Britpop was in full swing, Coolio was top of the charts with Gangsta’s Paradise and Super League had not yet been born as a concept. The intermitting years have been cruel, frustrating and ultimately heartbreaking – but they are now all truly consigned to the past.

It looked like it would be a much more straightforward night’s work when, -following tries from Jermaine -McGillvary and Gareth Widdop to make it 12-0, the latter added a penalty to make it 14-0 midway through the second half. Tonga had their chances, but a combination of dropped ball and rugged England defence kept them at bay.

Bateman’s try looked as if it was on the icing on the cake. Maybe England switched off after that. But Tonga definitely did not. Three Mate Ma’a tries, deafening noise and the most incredible near-match winning try followed in a breathless final few minutes. Amazingly, this was the first time England and Tonga had faced each other in a competitive Test match. Given what happened here, you would hope it isn’t too long before they meet again.

England: Widdop; McGillvary, Watkins, Bateman, Hall; Brown, Gale; Hill, Hodgson, Graham, S Burgess, Whitehead, O’Loughlin. Interchange: Walmsley, T Burgess, Currie, Roby.

Tries McGillvary, Widdop, Bateman. Goals Widdop 4.

Tonga: Hopoate; Tupou, Jennings, Hurrell, Fusitua; Lolohea, Hingano; Fifita, Havili, Taukeiaho, Ma’u, Manu, Taumololo. Interchange: Katoa, Terepo, Pangai Jnr, Murdoch-Masila.

Tries Pangai Jnr, Havili Lolohea. Goals Taukeiaho 3.

Referee: M Cecchin (Australia).

Attendance: 30,003.