After years of waiting, Lady Luck has finally given England a most desperate reprieve.
Nobody who witnessed it can ever forget the agonising game the Lady played with England in their semi-final encounter with New Zealand in 2013.
With moments to go, the Lady glanced the other way, sending the Lions out of the World Cup in a Shaun Johnson-inspired dance that left both fans and players staring into the abyss.
So after four years of waiting, thousands of fans – and 17 players – held their collective breaths as Tonga nearly became the Lady’s most recent agent of English agony.
For 72 minutes England were the better side in this semi-final. For 72 minutes the Wayne Bennett-driven masterplan to secure a share of rugby league glory for England was in full effect. For 72 minutes, England displayed their lion’s heart with better discipline, better defence, and a better score line.
And then entered the Lady. Followed by the shock and the horror…
No, no, no, this can’t be happening England fans asked. Not again? Surely not? Good lord it is! Oh god it is. Look! It is happening. Again!
One try, followed by another and then another… and fans of the English game began falling to their knees as they began their cries of anguish at the wanton cruelty of the heavens.
But if the heavens can take away, they can also bestow. For whatever reason, the Lady was in a mood. And her delivery? One Andrew Fifita, rugby league’s 120kg court jester whose deft touch makes fools of those who believe.
This time, the Lady’s agent played loose with the law and sent the fear of eternity into England who then emerged from their wreckage, bewildered and stunned that they were still standing.
Curse the touch of the ethereal if you will. Or plant the knee.
Either way, it makes no difference to the Lady.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I'm sure Bennett will have something to say to the Lady over the next few days. When Taumalolo broke the line for that final try, I swear I thought he was going to keep running right into the Pacific Ocean. One could be forgiven for thinking that the crowd roaring in support was actually the ground reverberating with each thunderous stomp of his as he headed straight for the Pacific. Geez, there are some stories to be told from that match. Rugby league folklore has found some well deserved material.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sleiman, Good to see you make another colorful contribution my friend. I thought Bennett's prep to get his Poms 20 in front with 8 mins to go was one of the great coaches performances I have seen given the awesome attack. He did a few subtle things to ensure he had high completions and was able to build pressure on a team that does not handle it for long periods. He is a living legend, but he was not the only one there. I never thought I would say it but Jason Taumalolo has gone past Sam Burgess and Sonny Bill Williams as the best big go forward (that discounts Cam Smith) I have rated. What a machine!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I couldn't believe what I was seeing in those last few minutes. I can just imagine Sinfield picking up the phone to make an appointment with his counsellor. McGillvary's chuckle at the end of the match at what just had transpired was the perfect way to deal with it all. Like you, I've got similar reservations about Gale. I'd love to see him attack Australia with short kicks close to the line (or anywhere for that matter but I get the aversion to mistakes in one's own half). I'm laying my cards on the table now. England to win. There, I said it.
Kris Swales
Expert
Surely some Wembley 2013 PTSD kicked in for the English with 3 minutes to play. I was at that game four years ago and never thought I’d see a finish to top it, but there you go! Wily old Benny has got the team peaking at the right time, and they’ve at least put in a 72-minute performance in so potentially have a full 80 in them. But I feel like Luke Gale is 0.5 secs off the pace at this level and the Aussie defence will pick off whatever he throws at them unless he finds something extra in interim. Either way, tournament deserves a cracking finale and this is definitely the match-up to provide it. Can’t wait!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
They should start a new ride and call it simply, 'The England.' Crazy stuff.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
People complain about refereeing decisions but they are part and parcel of the folklore of the sport. It was a game most excellent. It must be the Shakespearean cultural background that causes England to be the masters of semi-final theatre. They just keep putting on.... a show!
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Walmsley was beast as they say. Imagine him clashing with Klemmer! If there are any leftover pieces, I'm sure New Zealand wouldn't mind reanimating them.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
The post match cultural exchange was brilliant. The sun was setting, the sky morphing into night with its dusk colours and there you have thousands upon thousands still in the stadium watching Taumalolo leading the sipi tau. Just beautiful stuff.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Bring your first aid kit with you. The Bennett Master Pan rolls on...
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Hard to argue that except to say that Australia has Origin.each and every year. That kind of experience with pressure helps a lot. For England's sake you'd hope they learn from this semi-final.
Fred
Guest
PS what a crowd in Auckland! Apart from the Wellington game, NZ has had great crowds, especially at the Tongan games. The Tongan community is big in NZ, so to see them so passionate about RL is great for the future of the sport in both NZ and Tonga.
Nat
Roar Guru
England certainly need a little more than lady luck if they don't play for 80 next week. In a clunky first game, Aust really only got away in the last 10mins and they have gone up 2 levels. Otherwise Eng put away their pool games quite easily but yesterday would've been a wake up that Bennett won't let them forget. Shout out to Alex Walmsley for Eng. Big effort 129m and 17tackles, with a few crackers on the line, in 39 mins. Mate Ma'a started their revival when he went off.
Renegade
Roar Guru
How good is it Sleiman!! I’m attending my third straight World Cup Final next week, looking forward to a pearler against the old enemy! The two best teams have got there in the end and hopefully produce another epic.
Fred
Guest
Paul I see where you're coming from. But I think Australia has had it too easy this world cup. They haven't had a real test yet, they haven't had to defend like their tournament depended on it. The only tough game they had was their first one - against England, which they were lucky to win. Against PNG but especially Tonga England has had some real tough matches that have put their defence to the test. Even though they'll be sore, as a team I think England will have got a lot more out of a tough win over Tonga than Australia will have got from a cruisy victory over Fiji.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Because Tonga wasn’t a host... fairly obvious isn’t it?
Zac Jones
Roar Rookie
Why havent they played a game in Tonga? I wonder why? All the other proper international sports play in Tonga why not Rugby League?
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It was absolutely nuts. Absolutely anaphylactic inducing nuts! I don't know how England keep doing it. They are the masters of semi-final theatre. I think I spied McGillvary after the match looking shocked and then giving off a wry chuckle. How could you not laugh at the absurdity of it all. I think we all need an Epipen after that one.
paul
Guest
I suspect though, England's used up it's share of luck for this World Cup. If you compare the two semi-finals, Australia didn't need any luck to win. England needed it in large doses. Happy for them they made the final, but they need to find a way to win without relying on luck
Fred
Guest
It was a wild ride, but yes England was finally due some luck. As a Tigers fan so happy we signed Tui Lolohea!
Mike from tari
Guest
Best game of the World Cup so far, big big hits, good ball play & some bad ball play, rapid movement up & down the field, not to mention some controversial decisions & non decisions & now the scene is set for 108 years of rivalry to continue.