Post by ۞Quaalude™۞ on Sept 28, 2007 17:30:38 GMT -5
England (19) 36
Tries: Sackey 2, Tait, Farrell
Cons: Wilkinson 2
Pens: Wilkinson 2
Drop-goals: Wilkinson 2
Tonga (10) 20
Tries: Hufanga, Pole
Cons: Hola 2
Pens: Hola 2
Champions England clinched a World Cup quarter-final against Australia with an ultimately convincing win over Tonga.
Tonga opened the scoring through Sukanaivalu Hufanga's sparkling try but two Paul Sackey scores helped England into a 19-10 half-time lead.
Pierre Hola's second penalty saw Tonga reduce the lead to six points.
But Mathew Tait and Andy Farrell went over to secure victory before Hale T Pole's late consolation, while Jonny Wilkinson kicked 16 points in Paris.
The England fly-half now has 222 World Cup points and is just five behind Gavin Hastings, who is the competition's all-time leading scorer with 227.
No champions had ever failed to reach the knock-out stages at the World Cup, but following their dismal start to the tournament there had been real fears England would crash out before the last eight.
They had showed signs of life in the win over Samoa but Tonga had beaten their Pacific Island rivals and then pushed South Africa right to the last whistle.
The pre-match script suggested the Sea Eagles' pace and power was likely to trouble England initially before the defending champions' set-piece ability, superior tactical game and greater fitness began to bear fruit, and so it proved.
Tonga threatened from the first whistle with Epi Taione and Finau Maka blasting into the England midfield and they took the lead after 10 minutes.
There looked to be little danger when Mark Cueto fielded a poor Tonga kick but the Sale winger dithered and Tonga captain Nili Latu wrapped him up.
Cueto held on as the ruck formed and Hola stepped up to drill the penalty between the posts, but England were level within three minutes after Tonga handled in a ruck and Wilkinson opened his account for the night.
Tonga enjoyed the best of the territory in the opening quarter and they went back in front with a fine try after 17 minutes.
Taione handed off former Newcastle team-mate Wilkinson and fed Hufanga, who beat three men before sliding over by the posts despite inside centre Olly Barkley's attempted tackle.
Hola converted but England hit back immediately with a dramatic score.
Tonga infringed as England drove at the heart of their defence from the re-start and it looked as though Wilkinson would take the shot at goal, but instead he kicked to the right wing.
The giant Joseph Vaka had left Sackey unattended and the Wasps flyer just managed to catch the ball and get it down before rolling over the dead ball line.
Wilkinson, who had spoken earlier in the week about his trouble timing his kicks with the official World Cup ball, caught his conversion attempt horribly and missed the posts by miles. As the game moved deeper into the half England's upper hand in the set-piece began to pay dividends and Wilkinson knocked over a trademark drop-goal and a regulation penalty to put the defending champions 14-10 up.
Undaunted, Tonga went back on the attack, with the likes of Taione battering away at England's thin white line, but when Hola threw a poor pass it fell at the feet of Sackey.
He was on England's 22 but the Wasps winger has pace to burn and Hufanga gave up the chase with 30m still to go.
Wilkinson once again missed the conversion attempt to the left of the posts but England were 19-0 up and the quarter-finals were in sight.
The rain which began to hammer down during the half-time interval benefited England, who had a better kicking game and the advantage in the set-piece.
But they missed the chance to extend their lead when Wilkinson missed a kickable penalty - yet again to the left - after the battered and bloodied Lewis Moody fell victim to a high tackle by the otherwise excellent Tonga captain Latu.
The let-off boosted Tonga's morale and, after England brought on former Great Britain rugby league captain Farrell for Barkley with just under half an hour to play, they trimmed the gap with a second Hola penalty.
England looked a little rattled but within three minutes the scoreline had a very different air.
Cueto dummied his way through the Tonga defence and although he failed to find the supporting Farrell, when England switched play to the left Tait sliced over for the try.
While Wilkinson was adding the conversion to make it 26-13 England captain Phil Vickery sauntered on with the air of a gunslinger walking into "his" saloon before embracing Matt Stevens, the man who kept him out of the starting line-up.
Farrell looked fired up from his first touch and after 66 minutes he made the game safe, cutting back against the grain to score his first try for England after dummying a run-around with Wilkinson.
The Newcastle fly-half kicked the conversion and added a late drop-goal and although Pole went over for a last-gasp converted try, the champions ensured their defence of the Webb Ellis trophy will last for another week at least. QC
Rugby World Cup Updates Go Here :
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7017637.stm
Wales (10) 34
Tries: Popham, S Williams, G Thomas, M Jones, M Williams
Cons: Hook, S Jones (2)
Pens: S Jones
Fiji (25) 38
Tries: Qera, Delasau, Leawere, Dewes
Cons: Little (3)
Pens: Little (4)
A late try from Graham Dewes saw Fiji dump Wales out of the World Cup and get a quarter-final against South Africa.
Wales' open style played into Fiji's hands, big hits and strong running leading to tries from Akapusi Qera, Vilimoni Delasau and Kele Leawere.
Alix Popham, Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones brought Wales back, and Martyn Williams' 73rd-minute interception try looked the clincher.
But the islanders rallied, Dewes bullying over from short range.
It was Fiji's first win in nine games against Wales and sees them advance to their first quarter-final since 1987.
With a record of six wins from 20 games in charge of Wales, coach Gareth Jenkins' position will now come under serious question.
His side had aimed to banish their slow-starting blues at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, and in the first minute a superb Stephen Jones break deep in his own half should have led to a try.
Jones found the supporting Tom Shanklin, but he delayed his pass to a free Mark Jones, allowing the defence to rally.
Stephen Jones put Wales ahead with a penalty and Chris Horsman and Gethin Jenkins had Fiji under pressure at the scrum, but Jones missed with a straightforward kick and Wales continued to spurn overlaps.
Seru Rabeni had already made his mark on Shanklin and Thomas with trademark hits, and another on James Hook in midfield forced a turnover.
The islanders attacked quickly with a flowing move, the ball coming to Gloucester flanker Qera who stormed over from close range.
With confidence flying, Nicky Little and Rabeni attacked from their own 22.
he ball fell to Delasau, who chipped over the top of the defence, a wicked bounce flying over Mark Jones' head and collected his own kick for the second try.
Little added two penalties, before a dynamic Qera break from his own 22 ended with Kele Leawere barging over for the third try from close range.
A panicked Wales spurned penalties in front of goal, and were finally rewarded in the 34th minute as a five-metre scrum was walked over for Popham's try.
Fiji relished Wales' desperate, expansive style, but their discipline fractured with a late hit from Leawere on Popham.
Qera was then yellow-carded for aiming a knee into Stephen Jones' chest on the stroke of half-time, but Hook missed the resultant penalty from in front of the posts.
Wales pounced on 14-man Fiji after the break, and after a Martyn Williams turnover in his own 22 Shane Williams danced inside from the wing with a superbly balanced run, beating three defenders and crossing under the posts.
A fine three-quarter move from an attacking scrum saw Hook free Mark Jones with an inside pass.
The wing found Gareth Thomas, who celebrated becoming the first Welshman to 100 caps by taking his record try tally to 40.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/7016857.stm
Dwayne Peel found acres of space from a line-out to spark the next try, accurate passing along the line sending Mark Jones in at the corner and regaining the lead for Wales, Stephen Jones' conversion making it 29-25.
The outsiders found their second wind with some thrilling attacking rugby, two Little penalties putting them back in front going into the final quarter.
Wales wheeled on the replacements, but needed a desperate, brave tackle from Thomas on his own line to deny Seremaia Bai a try.
As Fiji went for the kill, Little floated out a needless pass - and Martyn Williams plucked the ball out of the air for a 65m run-in.
But the islanders regrouped once more and, when Delasau was held out inches short, Dewes picked up to cross for a try awarded by the video referee, sealing the biggest upset of the 2007 World Cup.
It was Wales' third south sea island embarrassment in World Cups following defeats to the Samoans in 1991 and 1999. *>*
Tries: Sackey 2, Tait, Farrell
Cons: Wilkinson 2
Pens: Wilkinson 2
Drop-goals: Wilkinson 2
Tonga (10) 20
Tries: Hufanga, Pole
Cons: Hola 2
Pens: Hola 2
Champions England clinched a World Cup quarter-final against Australia with an ultimately convincing win over Tonga.
Tonga opened the scoring through Sukanaivalu Hufanga's sparkling try but two Paul Sackey scores helped England into a 19-10 half-time lead.
Pierre Hola's second penalty saw Tonga reduce the lead to six points.
But Mathew Tait and Andy Farrell went over to secure victory before Hale T Pole's late consolation, while Jonny Wilkinson kicked 16 points in Paris.
The England fly-half now has 222 World Cup points and is just five behind Gavin Hastings, who is the competition's all-time leading scorer with 227.
No champions had ever failed to reach the knock-out stages at the World Cup, but following their dismal start to the tournament there had been real fears England would crash out before the last eight.
They had showed signs of life in the win over Samoa but Tonga had beaten their Pacific Island rivals and then pushed South Africa right to the last whistle.
The pre-match script suggested the Sea Eagles' pace and power was likely to trouble England initially before the defending champions' set-piece ability, superior tactical game and greater fitness began to bear fruit, and so it proved.
Tonga threatened from the first whistle with Epi Taione and Finau Maka blasting into the England midfield and they took the lead after 10 minutes.
There looked to be little danger when Mark Cueto fielded a poor Tonga kick but the Sale winger dithered and Tonga captain Nili Latu wrapped him up.
Cueto held on as the ruck formed and Hola stepped up to drill the penalty between the posts, but England were level within three minutes after Tonga handled in a ruck and Wilkinson opened his account for the night.
Tonga enjoyed the best of the territory in the opening quarter and they went back in front with a fine try after 17 minutes.
Taione handed off former Newcastle team-mate Wilkinson and fed Hufanga, who beat three men before sliding over by the posts despite inside centre Olly Barkley's attempted tackle.
Hola converted but England hit back immediately with a dramatic score.
Tonga infringed as England drove at the heart of their defence from the re-start and it looked as though Wilkinson would take the shot at goal, but instead he kicked to the right wing.
The giant Joseph Vaka had left Sackey unattended and the Wasps flyer just managed to catch the ball and get it down before rolling over the dead ball line.
Wilkinson, who had spoken earlier in the week about his trouble timing his kicks with the official World Cup ball, caught his conversion attempt horribly and missed the posts by miles. As the game moved deeper into the half England's upper hand in the set-piece began to pay dividends and Wilkinson knocked over a trademark drop-goal and a regulation penalty to put the defending champions 14-10 up.
Undaunted, Tonga went back on the attack, with the likes of Taione battering away at England's thin white line, but when Hola threw a poor pass it fell at the feet of Sackey.
He was on England's 22 but the Wasps winger has pace to burn and Hufanga gave up the chase with 30m still to go.
Wilkinson once again missed the conversion attempt to the left of the posts but England were 19-0 up and the quarter-finals were in sight.
The rain which began to hammer down during the half-time interval benefited England, who had a better kicking game and the advantage in the set-piece.
But they missed the chance to extend their lead when Wilkinson missed a kickable penalty - yet again to the left - after the battered and bloodied Lewis Moody fell victim to a high tackle by the otherwise excellent Tonga captain Latu.
The let-off boosted Tonga's morale and, after England brought on former Great Britain rugby league captain Farrell for Barkley with just under half an hour to play, they trimmed the gap with a second Hola penalty.
England looked a little rattled but within three minutes the scoreline had a very different air.
Cueto dummied his way through the Tonga defence and although he failed to find the supporting Farrell, when England switched play to the left Tait sliced over for the try.
While Wilkinson was adding the conversion to make it 26-13 England captain Phil Vickery sauntered on with the air of a gunslinger walking into "his" saloon before embracing Matt Stevens, the man who kept him out of the starting line-up.
Farrell looked fired up from his first touch and after 66 minutes he made the game safe, cutting back against the grain to score his first try for England after dummying a run-around with Wilkinson.
The Newcastle fly-half kicked the conversion and added a late drop-goal and although Pole went over for a last-gasp converted try, the champions ensured their defence of the Webb Ellis trophy will last for another week at least. QC
Rugby World Cup Updates Go Here :
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7017637.stm
Wales (10) 34
Tries: Popham, S Williams, G Thomas, M Jones, M Williams
Cons: Hook, S Jones (2)
Pens: S Jones
Fiji (25) 38
Tries: Qera, Delasau, Leawere, Dewes
Cons: Little (3)
Pens: Little (4)
A late try from Graham Dewes saw Fiji dump Wales out of the World Cup and get a quarter-final against South Africa.
Wales' open style played into Fiji's hands, big hits and strong running leading to tries from Akapusi Qera, Vilimoni Delasau and Kele Leawere.
Alix Popham, Shane Williams, Gareth Thomas and Mark Jones brought Wales back, and Martyn Williams' 73rd-minute interception try looked the clincher.
But the islanders rallied, Dewes bullying over from short range.
It was Fiji's first win in nine games against Wales and sees them advance to their first quarter-final since 1987.
With a record of six wins from 20 games in charge of Wales, coach Gareth Jenkins' position will now come under serious question.
His side had aimed to banish their slow-starting blues at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, and in the first minute a superb Stephen Jones break deep in his own half should have led to a try.
Jones found the supporting Tom Shanklin, but he delayed his pass to a free Mark Jones, allowing the defence to rally.
Stephen Jones put Wales ahead with a penalty and Chris Horsman and Gethin Jenkins had Fiji under pressure at the scrum, but Jones missed with a straightforward kick and Wales continued to spurn overlaps.
Seru Rabeni had already made his mark on Shanklin and Thomas with trademark hits, and another on James Hook in midfield forced a turnover.
The islanders attacked quickly with a flowing move, the ball coming to Gloucester flanker Qera who stormed over from close range.
With confidence flying, Nicky Little and Rabeni attacked from their own 22.
he ball fell to Delasau, who chipped over the top of the defence, a wicked bounce flying over Mark Jones' head and collected his own kick for the second try.
Little added two penalties, before a dynamic Qera break from his own 22 ended with Kele Leawere barging over for the third try from close range.
A panicked Wales spurned penalties in front of goal, and were finally rewarded in the 34th minute as a five-metre scrum was walked over for Popham's try.
Fiji relished Wales' desperate, expansive style, but their discipline fractured with a late hit from Leawere on Popham.
Qera was then yellow-carded for aiming a knee into Stephen Jones' chest on the stroke of half-time, but Hook missed the resultant penalty from in front of the posts.
Wales pounced on 14-man Fiji after the break, and after a Martyn Williams turnover in his own 22 Shane Williams danced inside from the wing with a superbly balanced run, beating three defenders and crossing under the posts.
A fine three-quarter move from an attacking scrum saw Hook free Mark Jones with an inside pass.
The wing found Gareth Thomas, who celebrated becoming the first Welshman to 100 caps by taking his record try tally to 40.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/7016857.stm
Dwayne Peel found acres of space from a line-out to spark the next try, accurate passing along the line sending Mark Jones in at the corner and regaining the lead for Wales, Stephen Jones' conversion making it 29-25.
The outsiders found their second wind with some thrilling attacking rugby, two Little penalties putting them back in front going into the final quarter.
Wales wheeled on the replacements, but needed a desperate, brave tackle from Thomas on his own line to deny Seremaia Bai a try.
As Fiji went for the kill, Little floated out a needless pass - and Martyn Williams plucked the ball out of the air for a 65m run-in.
But the islanders regrouped once more and, when Delasau was held out inches short, Dewes picked up to cross for a try awarded by the video referee, sealing the biggest upset of the 2007 World Cup.
It was Wales' third south sea island embarrassment in World Cups following defeats to the Samoans in 1991 and 1999. *>*