RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:54 am  

RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report A packed Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland at absolute fever pitch was the venue for the second semi-final as England took on Tonga for the honour of taking on Australia in next weeks final.   Wayne Bennett was able to name an unchanged seventeen after Kevin Brown was declared fit and the Warrington half was teamed up with Luke Gale at scrum half and Gareth Widdop at full back. The much fancied Tonga made just one change from the side who were pushed all the way by Lebanon last week with prop Sio Taukeiaho replacing Ofahengaue.   The hopes of an expectant nation rested on seventeen men in white. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report A packed Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland at absolute fever pitch was the venue for the second semi-final as England took on Tonga for the honour of taking on Australia in next weeks final.   Wayne Bennett was able to name an unchanged seventeen after Kevin Brown was declared fit and the Warrington half was teamed up with Luke Gale at scrum half and Gareth Widdop at full back. The much fancied Tonga made just one change from the side who were pushed all the way by Lebanon last week with prop Sio Taukeiaho replacing Ofahengaue.   The hopes of an expectant nation rested on seventeen men in white. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Sun Nov 26, 2017 7:51 pm  

Totally surprised that nobody on this forum has mentioned this game. One of the most exciting finishes that I've seen in a game of any sport. Tonga, twenty points behind and seven minutes to go coming back to within two points, and then denied, what looked to me like a perfectly good try by Andrew Fifita right on the whistle. Congrats to both teams in a truly wonderful match. The England defence was spot on until the last few minutes. Tonga have been a credit to RL throughout the whole tournament, and I was a little sorry that they lost. And that Tongan crowd? Unbelievable !!!!!! Well done everyone involved in this game.

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:02 pm  

I too thought it was a perfectly good try by Fifita to win it. I can’t stand Wilkin but I thought he was spot on. England certainly dodged a bullet there to reach then final. Better concentration needed to be able to contain the Aussies next week. It’s already a formality for me but I just hope it doesn’t get embarrassing.

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:33 pm  

watched it a few times and had it gone back to the stripped ball on Mcgillvray you will find it was picked up by Fifita in an offside position, it looks like he is on side as Mcgillray moment aids that, could of gone either way
our whinging supporters should take note of how the did support their team even though they was 20 points behind this helped them gain advantage at the end of the game

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Mon Nov 27, 2017 8:34 am  

After having such a good tournament that loose carry by McGillvary could well have cost England a place in the final. Imagine Tom Johnstone getting the ball with that much daylight in front of him? I doubt he would have headed for midfield.

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Mon Nov 27, 2017 10:01 am  

The other Fifita has form in terms of having his hands sewn on back to front - and that's what happened here; he was jarred in the tackle and he dropped the ball well after Whitehead was clear of him. Tonga had a story and plenty of neutral support - hence the desperate spinning of this incident into something it wasn't. No try - clear as day - on to the final.

Bigger picture - quite why they allowed Tonga to run in 3 tries in 5 minutes after having their measure for the entire game is beyond me; shocking example of switching off from pro players and not in any way what one would expect from a Wayne Bennett coached side - a man who allegedly puts completion and safety above all else.

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Mon Nov 27, 2017 6:30 pm  

You must have seen more replays than me, Bren. I thought Whitehead knocked the ball out of Fifita's hand (backwards ) and Fifita simply gathered played on.

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Mon Nov 27, 2017 6:52 pm  

Whitehead got a hand on the ball but it was the subsequent drag onto Fifita's arm that caused Fifita to lose the ball. Knock on, no try, all day long.

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Mon Nov 27, 2017 6:57 pm  

bren2k wrote: The other Fifita has form in terms of having his hands sewn on back to front - and that's what happened here; he was jarred in the tackle and he dropped the ball well after Whitehead was clear of him. Tonga had a story and plenty of neutral support - hence the desperate spinning of this incident into something it wasn't. No try - clear as day - on to the final. Bigger picture - quite why they allowed Tonga to run in 3 tries in 5 minutes after having their measure for the entire game is beyond me; shocking example of switching off from pro players and not in any way what one would expect from a Wayne Bennett coached side - a man who allegedly puts completion and safety above all else. Agree on both points. Ffita lost the ball after Whitehead, which was an excellent tackle as it turned out, hit him around the shoulder and slid onto his bicep and then the ball slightly but Fifita still had it by the time he'd dropped off him and was face down on the floor, then Fifita lost it. As others have said on the subject, if that incident would have been in any other part of the field, nothing would have been made of it, they'd have accepted the refs call and got on with the game. It's all a bit sad really but apparently, 1000's of Tongans have taken to the streets and are demonstrating . Calling the refs bent and how they deserved it more, even after getting outplayed for 70 odd minutes and starting online petitions. Some news about it here. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/99262289/tongan-league-fans-march-in-auckland-angry-over-semifinal-loss-to-england http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/11/that-s-not-on-tongan-leader-on-protests-petitions-after-world-cup-loss.html

bren2k wrote: The other Fifita has form in terms of having his hands sewn on back to front - and that's what happened here; he was jarred in the tackle and he dropped the ball well after Whitehead was clear of him. Tonga had a story and plenty of neutral support - hence the desperate spinning of this incident into something it wasn't. No try - clear as day - on to the final. Bigger picture - quite why they allowed Tonga to run in 3 tries in 5 minutes after having their measure for the entire game is beyond me; shocking example of switching off from pro players and not in any way what one would expect from a Wayne Bennett coached side - a man who allegedly puts completion and safety above all else. Agree on both points. Ffita lost the ball after Whitehead, which was an excellent tackle as it turned out, hit him around the shoulder and slid onto his bicep and then the ball slightly but Fifita still had it by the time he'd dropped off him and was face down on the floor, then Fifita lost it. As others have said on the subject, if that incident would have been in any other part of the field, nothing would have been made of it, they'd have accepted the refs call and got on with the game. It's all a bit sad really but apparently, 1000's of Tongans have taken to the streets and are demonstrating . Calling the refs bent and how they deserved it more, even after getting outplayed for 70 odd minutes and starting online petitions. Some news about it here. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/99262289/tongan-league-fans-march-in-auckland-angry-over-semifinal-loss-to-england http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/11/that-s-not-on-tongan-leader-on-protests-petitions-after-world-cup-loss.html

Re: RLWC2017 - England v. Tonga Report : Mon Nov 27, 2017 6:58 pm  

I too feel we were fortunate, the ex Rhinos forward , Anthony Farrell who Played a bit and who I work with also agreed it was a try, I for one wasn’t going to disagree with him