England are through to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup final against Australia after a tight, controversial finish against Tonga.
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Final score
Tonga 18
England 20
England and Tonga meet in the second of the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup for 2017. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm (AEDT).
With a spot in the final awaiting the victor, nothing will be left on the table, as two proud sides face off to determine which of the two will get a crack at the all-powerful Australians next week.
England go in unchanged despite a few injury scares and Tonga’s settled squad will serve them well, in what could be a ferocious battle up front between the big men.
Matches of this importance are often won through the centre of the park and Tonga will hope that is the case.
The English back line looks more polished and professional and a forward contest might be their best chance.
Coming off a nail-biting win against Lebanon last week in which defeat looked likely late in the game, Tonga will look to rediscover the form of the week prior, when the rolled the Kiwis in the shock of the tournament.
England have looked solid since their loss on the opening day of the competition where the Aussies towelled them up quite easily.
With the Super League talent and experience in their team, they will be tough to topple yet the Tongans will play with a passion that has the potential to elevate them to great heights.
A more traditional final between two old foes looms if England reign today, however, a barnstorming affair is on the cards if Tonga manage to win and the nation that is no longer an emerging power, will be in a lather of excitement over the coming week.
Prediction
One of the tightest games of the competition waits and in an upset, Tonga will sneak past the English on the back of some outstanding forward play.
Tonga 26, England 20
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 4pm (AEDT).
Blagblah
Guest
Clear attempt to strip in the kiwis game not so in thr tonga England game
Terry Tavita
Guest
it's not dangerous ground..he's not a robot..of course he would have personal preference..
bb
Guest
The referee was bad all game and from what I saw prejudiced against Tonga which of course culminated in his final (non) decision Dangerous ground here but I wonder whether his personal preferences may have at least made some contribution towards his decision making . It has to be said
Mike from tari
Guest
When Fifita stripped McGilverey after he intercepted, the ref called a one on one strip. The Tongan player that picked the ball up was in front of Fifita therefore offside, so it should have been an England penalty & game over, even Wayne Bennett saw that.
Matt
Guest
I think a lot of people have some very short memories having difficulty recalling that Lebanon NoTry after the most minimal obstruction ever on the Tongan defender that would have bundled them out. It's Tonga who should not have even been in the semis to start with.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I don't think it was an attempted strip. At least not when watching it at normal speed. Fifita surges through the first tackle by Brown and then, as Whitehead reaches out in an attempt to tackle Fifita, his hand happens to land on the ball. Fifita has loose hands so it is little wonder it came fumbling out. Had he held on to the ball it is quite likely he would have scored without any controversy. Watching the replay during the match, I thought that Tonga had been, well, robbed. But, after looking at it a few times since, I don't think so.
Duncan Smith
Guest
On a scale of 0-100, 99% idiocy for not going to the video ref on that last decision, considering its importance.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Sadly Greg, the way the rules are now, referee errors do affect the game, much more so than in the other codes played here.
Peter Phelps
Guest
I agree however I believe the refs committed the same crime that they did in the Grand Final, they were guilty of not wanting to send the losing team home without a score and therefore contrived to give them points. That resulted in Tonga's first try however they had not bargained for the explosive response that that try then produced. These attempts to give losing fans something is down right wrong and has to stop. Refs have to be fair and impartial no matter what the score is, if there is a blow out then so be it and if some team has to go home scoreless then let that be it. Tonga played extremely well throughout that game and it is a real shame that someone had to lose. They deserve our RESPECT!
Stu
Guest
Should have gone to bunker and try would have been awarded. That being said Tonga knocked it on on 75min before Widdop and should have been a scrum feed to England. Calls went both ways. Lets hope its not remembered for the one decision at the end.
Zozza
Guest
Game goes for 80 mins not 70.
Zozza
Guest
My hand was nowhere near the till, but somehow It ended up in my hand. Try all the way. He played at the ball, not the man - strip, regather, try. That is Tonga's underarm.
Nat
Roar Guru
I reckon he had the whistle heading to his lips as soon as the ball came out and didn't care/look for the end result. It didn't appear the Eng player played at the ball but more the arm. I would've accepted either way. Really, it was a fantastic finish but Eng had it over them for 70mins. TBH Aust v Eng will be a better game. Aust would've put 30+ on Tonga crushing any comeback hopes
Terry Tavita
Guest
that was a strip..his hand raked the ball out.. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/99248000/did-this-controversial-call-deny-tonga-a-remarkable-comeback-win-over-england
Terry Tavita
Guest
what do you mean by "but his hand was nowhere near it when Fifita actually lost control of the ball"..it was a try to tonga.. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/99248000/did-this-controversial-call-deny-tonga-a-remarkable-comeback-win-over-england
Jusy
Guest
When you watch it live normal speed it looks like he has dropped it cold however in slow motion its a clear strip. With the score that close he should have referred it. Unfortunately Tonga played poorly for a large portion of the game with dropped chances near the English try line. The ref didn't help but that butchered try at the start of the 2nd half was a shocker. Based on today Australia will win easily next week.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Rules show that is a loose carry, there’s no way that was an attempted strip... he was trying to make a tackle.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Agree Alex... we’ve both seen that same ruling applied week in, week out in the NRL.
wowbadger
Guest
Watching here in Germany on the English feed, even their commentators said afterwards "In Super League that would be a try every time, should have gone upstairs".
Blagblah
Guest
Tonga were exceptional and deaerved 2 go through