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England emerges victorious in most exciting match in World Cup
Melbourne, Oct 27: England finally beat a spirited Samoan team 35-22 after trailing the islanders for the first half of their Rugby world cup match.
Melbourne, Oct 27: England finally beat a spirited Samoan team 35-22 after trailing the islanders for the first half of their Rugby world cup match.
Tournament favourites England creaked to a 35-22 victory over a spirited Samoa in the most exciting match of the World Cup on Sunday (October 26), after recovering from a shoddy first-half performance in the pool C clash. Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson saved England once again after an erratic start, contributing 15 points with the boot while his superb crosskick in the 68th minute to an unmarked Iain Balshaw set up the try that broke the defiance of the Samoans. England were also awarded a penalty try early in the second half while flanker Neil Back and replacement prop Phil Vickery both crossed the line as the northern hemisphere side booked a place in the tournament's quarter-finals. Samoa had raced into an early 10-0 lead, following a sixth-minute try by captain and number eight Semo Sititi, and flyhalf Earl Va'a contributed 17 points with five penalties and a conversion.
Despite England's victory, Samoa exposed several areas of weakness in a creaky performance by the world's top-ranked side with their willingness to hold on to possession and spread the ball wide.
The Samoans, led by Setiti, flanker Maurie Fa'asavalu and centre Brian Lima, smashed into the tackle and constantly beat England's forwards to the breakdown to force turnover ball.
After Va'a opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty, the Samoans scored the first try of the tournament against England when they swung it across the field through 10 phases before Sititi crashed over with a man outside.
Va'a added the conversion to make it 10-0 after just seven minutes. Wilkinson then missed his first kick at goal six minutes later, much to the amusement of a vociferous pro-Samoan crowd.
Samoas continued to spread the ball wide and their pressure tackling upset the rhythm of their opponents, who scored their first points after 25 minutes when the forwards rumbled 15 metres from an attacking lineout with flanker Back flopping over.
Wilkinson slotted the conversion, and then a penalty. But Va'a struck back with two penalties in quick succession as Samoa soaked up English pressure, before Wilkinson landed another penalty just before half time to make it 16-13 after the Samoans were offside at a ruck.
After the break, the England forwards resorted to pick and go at the breakdown for 10 minutes, but the Samoa's defence held until referee Jonathan Kaplan awarded a penalty try in the 52nd minute that Wilkinson converted to give England a 20-16 lead.
Va'a slotted another penalty to bring the Samoans to within a point of the English soon afterwards, and then another to give Samoa a 22-20 lead with 18 minutes remaining.
However Wilkinson slotted a drop goal to retake the lead before his astute crosskick to Balshaw sealed the game for the England side.
Replacement prop Vickery crossed in the corner in the 78th minute and Wilkinson converted to close out the scoring.
Teams: England - 15-Jason Robinson; 14-Iain Balshaw, 13-Stuart Abbott (21-Mike Catt 71), 12-Mike Tindall, 11-Ben Cohen; 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Matt Dawson; 8-Lawrence Dallaglio, 7-Neil Back, 6-Joe Worsley (19-Lewis Moody 49), 5-Ben Kay, 4-Martin Johnson (captain), 3-Julian White (17-Phil Vickery 49), 2-Mark Regan (16-Steve Thompson 49), 1-Jason Leonard.
Samoa - 15-Tanner Vili; 14-Lome Fa'atau, 13-Terry Fanolua (21-Dale Rasmussen 46), 12-Brian Lima, 11-Sailosi Tagicakibau (22-Dominic Feaunati 73); 10-Earl Va'a, 9-Steve So'oialo (20-Denning Tyrell 75); 8-Semo Sititi (captain), 7-Maurie Fa'asavalu, 6-Peter Poulos (18-Kitiona Viliamu 62), 5-Leo Lafaiali'i (19-Des Tuaivi'i 66), 4-Opeta Palepoi, 3-Jeremy Tomuli (17-Simon Lemalu 53), 2-Jonathan Meredith (16-Mahonri Schwalger 75), 1-Kas Lealamanua. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Bureau Report
Tournament favourites England creaked to a 35-22 victory over a spirited Samoa in the most exciting match of the World Cup on Sunday (October 26), after recovering from a shoddy first-half performance in the pool C clash. Flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson saved England once again after an erratic start, contributing 15 points with the boot while his superb crosskick in the 68th minute to an unmarked Iain Balshaw set up the try that broke the defiance of the Samoans. England were also awarded a penalty try early in the second half while flanker Neil Back and replacement prop Phil Vickery both crossed the line as the northern hemisphere side booked a place in the tournament's quarter-finals. Samoa had raced into an early 10-0 lead, following a sixth-minute try by captain and number eight Semo Sititi, and flyhalf Earl Va'a contributed 17 points with five penalties and a conversion.
Despite England's victory, Samoa exposed several areas of weakness in a creaky performance by the world's top-ranked side with their willingness to hold on to possession and spread the ball wide.
The Samoans, led by Setiti, flanker Maurie Fa'asavalu and centre Brian Lima, smashed into the tackle and constantly beat England's forwards to the breakdown to force turnover ball.
After Va'a opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty, the Samoans scored the first try of the tournament against England when they swung it across the field through 10 phases before Sititi crashed over with a man outside.
Va'a added the conversion to make it 10-0 after just seven minutes. Wilkinson then missed his first kick at goal six minutes later, much to the amusement of a vociferous pro-Samoan crowd.
Samoas continued to spread the ball wide and their pressure tackling upset the rhythm of their opponents, who scored their first points after 25 minutes when the forwards rumbled 15 metres from an attacking lineout with flanker Back flopping over.
Wilkinson slotted the conversion, and then a penalty. But Va'a struck back with two penalties in quick succession as Samoa soaked up English pressure, before Wilkinson landed another penalty just before half time to make it 16-13 after the Samoans were offside at a ruck.
After the break, the England forwards resorted to pick and go at the breakdown for 10 minutes, but the Samoa's defence held until referee Jonathan Kaplan awarded a penalty try in the 52nd minute that Wilkinson converted to give England a 20-16 lead.
Va'a slotted another penalty to bring the Samoans to within a point of the English soon afterwards, and then another to give Samoa a 22-20 lead with 18 minutes remaining.
However Wilkinson slotted a drop goal to retake the lead before his astute crosskick to Balshaw sealed the game for the England side.
Replacement prop Vickery crossed in the corner in the 78th minute and Wilkinson converted to close out the scoring.
Teams: England - 15-Jason Robinson; 14-Iain Balshaw, 13-Stuart Abbott (21-Mike Catt 71), 12-Mike Tindall, 11-Ben Cohen; 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Matt Dawson; 8-Lawrence Dallaglio, 7-Neil Back, 6-Joe Worsley (19-Lewis Moody 49), 5-Ben Kay, 4-Martin Johnson (captain), 3-Julian White (17-Phil Vickery 49), 2-Mark Regan (16-Steve Thompson 49), 1-Jason Leonard.
Samoa - 15-Tanner Vili; 14-Lome Fa'atau, 13-Terry Fanolua (21-Dale Rasmussen 46), 12-Brian Lima, 11-Sailosi Tagicakibau (22-Dominic Feaunati 73); 10-Earl Va'a, 9-Steve So'oialo (20-Denning Tyrell 75); 8-Semo Sititi (captain), 7-Maurie Fa'asavalu, 6-Peter Poulos (18-Kitiona Viliamu 62), 5-Leo Lafaiali'i (19-Des Tuaivi'i 66), 4-Opeta Palepoi, 3-Jeremy Tomuli (17-Simon Lemalu 53), 2-Jonathan Meredith (16-Mahonri Schwalger 75), 1-Kas Lealamanua. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Bureau Report