PASSION LOSES TO POWER
England’s
professionalism wins
28.09.2007
England
36, Tonga 20 in Paris (World Cup, Pool A)
England won by 16
points. I predicted Tonga
by 7.
Reviews
Was this match going to be a
magical moment in rugby history? It was not to be. England kept their calm under some
ferocious Tongan defence in the first half. In the second half the English
applied the pressure, dominated set plays and controlled much of the game. They
stuck to their plans as Mr Wilkinson dominated the kicking part of the plan. Tonga came back with a final try but England deserved to win and teams like Tonga
deserved to be at this tournament. I had written England
off but although not the team of 2003 they are playing better with each game
and will push Australia
very hard next weekend.
http://sport.independent.co.uk/rugby_union/world_cup_news/article3010403.ece
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/7016857.stm
Previews
This will be a very
difficult match for England.
They will need to rest key players before the quarter finals next weekend.
However making the quarter finals is by no means a certainty. England must win against Tonga to proceed. England’s last match was an encouraging 44-22
win over Tonga.
Tonga
will put everything into this game. A win would be an historic victory and
would take them into the quarter finals for the first time in a Rugby World
Cup.
http://worldcup.planet-rugby.com/Story/0,21043,13088_2759488,00.html
http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=17766
GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-England 9th, Tonga 11th