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Stephen Crichton has a knack for heroism. The man who delivered Penrith their Premiership last year has repeated the trick at international level, slotting a Golden Point field goal to edge Samoa past England 27-26 at the Emirates Stadium.
He very nearly did it in the same fashion, taking a late interception that looked like it would be enough, only for a late England rally to force extra time. Undaunted, Crichton stepped up again to send his side through.
Jarome Luai was at his impish best, destroying the England right defensive edge to the point where Kallum Watkins was hooked in the second half. Though it’s easy to point to the physical presence in the middle, the five-eighth is undeniably the leader of this side.
It was hard to remember that this side lost 60-6 just a month ago. Samoa were leagues better than in the first meeting, but conversely, England dropped off a cliff.
They underperformed severely, with several crucial errors – none more than those from Jack Welsby late in Golden Point that presented the possession from which the game was won.
The hosts played well within their capabilities and failed to make the same impact in yardage that they have in previous games at this tournament.
Plenty of that was due to Samoa’s defensive efforts – they effectively thwarted Victor Radley’s influence from lock through strong umbrella defence – but also through their own poor execution, with George Williams and Welsby too frequently willing to put boot to ball rather than build pressure.
Samoa got the perfect start. Tim Lafai drew first blood over his clubmate Watkins, cruising around the England centre to open the scoring.
The underdogs didn’t help themselves, however. Junior Paulo earned ten minutes in the bin for a tip tackle on Tom Burgess – only a lack of force saved it from being more harshly punished – and repeated infringements dissipated any pressure they built. They also lost Nu Brown and Oregon Kaufusi to a friendly-fire head clash.
Eventually the pressure told. England might have scored through Watkins, only for a Lafai miracle tackle to dislodge the ball, but after yet more silly penalties, Williams finally made his breakthrough.
The halfback spotted a backpedalling defender, darted at the line and got the arm free to put Elliott Whitehead over.
England, however, allowed Samoa right back in. Ligi Sao was the beneficiary, spotting a defensive lapse on the short side and sliding through to put his side back ahead.
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There was a huge let-off to start the second half, as Samoa squandered a four-on-one overlap, and they paid the cost. England rolled up the field, Lafai spilled a simple kick under pressure from Watkins and John Bateman was on hand to dot down.
Samoa then produced a ridiculous try, with Paulo tackled low by Williams, but able to find a miracle offload that Luai batted on to Crichton. It was barely believable for England.
England took it as a shot in the arm. They forced repeat sets in the Samoa end but repeatedly kicked too early in the tackle count and let opportunities go. Eventually, when they decided to go through hands, they got a reward as Herbie Farnworth battered through a bevy of Samoan tacklers to score.
Paulo then caught Tomkins late on a kick and gifted Tommy Makinson the chance to equalise from a penalty goal, which he duly did with 13 to play.
The time was ripe for disaster to strike. With the wind in their sails, England shifted left through Radley, but his pass found Crichton to romp to the line.
England threw straight back. Williams, again, was the architect, skinning Jaydn Su’A and sending Farnworth in for his second. Makinson, with nerves of steel, levelled with the conversion.
Golden point came, and England again shot themselves in the foot. Welsby spilled the ball and gifted Samoa the chance at the win, but Whitehead flew out to deny Milford’s field goal attempt.
The England five-eighth, again, erred, with a forward pass and this time, he was not reprieved. Crichton took over kicking duties and made history.