Rugby League World Cup: Semi-Finals Wrap

An historic World Cup Final now awaits at Old Trafford after a famous pairing of semi-finals clashes that showcased the dichotomy between ecstasy and heartbreak with both games decided by a single score. Here are how things unfolded in the semi-finals:

Kangaroos edge Kiwis to keep World Cup title defence alive

Australia grinded their to a 16-14 win over trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at Elland Road in Leeds to book their spot in yet another World Cup Final.

The win, however, did not come easy with the Kiwis managing multiple leads and coming within inches of a last-ditch miracle.

The opening stages of the clash belonged to New Zealand with several of their stars looking likely at different stages before fullback Joseph Manu skied to reel in a Dylan Brown kick and hit Jahrome Hughes on his inside for the game’s first points.

Australia answered with another try worthy of ‘try of the tournament’ consideration when Josh Addo-Carr flew down the left flank to mark a Ben Hunt special from 40 metres out.

New Zealand regained the lead via a penalty goal before Jack Wighton stepped his way through some tackle attempts and bounced the ball to winger Valentine Holmes off the deck to give the Kangaroos their first lead of the night on the half-hour mark.

The Kiwis answered, however, prior to the break through Brown who took advantage of a Ronaldo Mulitalo break to dive over next to the sticks.

New Zealand were denied a try in the early stages of the second-half after their kick-chase was deemed offside before Cameron Murray charged through several bleary defenders off a tap from 10 metres out to wrestle the lead back for the Australians.

Trailing by two, the Kiwis looked poised to snatch a last-ditch victory.

In the 73rd minute, Jordan Rapana busted through some meek Australian defence before finding Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who approached the 10-metre line before being dragged down.

The following play saw Hughes put through a grubber aimed for Peta Hiku who came within inches of grounding the ball, however, the replay showed that he was out of bounds.

The Kangaroos held on to qualify for their 15th-straight World Cup Final.

Liam Martin – nine carries for 113 metres, a line break, and 41 tackles in 80 minutes – was named Player of the Match for Australia.

Skipper James Tedesco ran for a game-high 320 metres from 33 carries and broke eight tackles whilst Isaah Yeo ran for 185 metres and made a game-high 42 tackles in 80 minutes.

The Kiwis were led by Manu’s try assist, 318 run metres, and four offloads whilst Brown scored one try, had a hand in another, and ran for 178 metres.

The clash was like few others in recent international rugby league memory thanks to its fusion of fire, skill, and desire.

Hiku led a passionate pre-game haka before players from both sides embraced each other in front of 28,113 fans in Leeds.

It was the first clash between the nations in nearly three years and it is clear that the next one should come considerably quicker.

Crichton the hero as Sāmoa limp to golden point upset over hosts

Sāmoa are headed to the first Rugby League World Cup Final in their nation’s history after a Stephen Crichton field goal sealed a 27-26 golden point victory over hosts England at Emirates Stadium in London.

Following a prideful, stadium-shaking Siva Tau, Sāmoa looked poised to contend with a slow start reminiscent of their 60-6 loss to England in the tournament opener when Joseph Sua’ali’i sent the game’s opening kick-off flying over the sideline on the full.

The tide quickly turned, however, with veteran centre Tim Lafai taking full advantage of some early ball and standing up his opposite to dive over for the clash’s opening points in just the fifth minute.

A native of Savai’i, Lafai was not named in the Sāmoan squad initially but was called upon for his third World Cup campaign after a string of injuries slashed the side’s outside back stocks.

The Sāmoans were dealt a major blow moments later when skipper Junior Paulo found himself binned for a dangerous throw on England veteran Thomas Burgess.

It was not until after Paulo returned to the field, however, that England struck through Elliott Whitehead who took in a nifty George Williams offload to dash away and score.

On the half-hour mark, Sāmoa found more points through an unlikely 20-metre scoot courtesy of veteran edge forward Ligi Sao.

The game’s back-and-forth nature continued into the second-half as England hit back through John Bateman who scooped up a dropped cross-field punt to score underneath the uprights.

The England lead, however, lasted just moments.

Jarome Luai chanced his arm running the ball on the fifth tackle knifing his way past defenders thanks to some slick footwork, hitting a charging Paulo who came up with a last-ditch speculator inches off the ground that Luai batted on for Crichton to dive over.

Luai laid on a second Lafai try moments later down the left flank as the Sāmoan lead ballooned past a converted try.

England clawed their way back into it through centre Herbie Farnworth who shoved away from close to half-a-dozen Sāmoan defenders to crash over and bring the Lions back within two.

Paulo was penalised for dangerously contacting Sam Tomkins as he kicked the ball in the 67th minute which allowed Tommy Makinson to tie things up at 20.

With the game in the balance and less than eight minutes to play, Crichton picked off a Victor Radley short ball to race more than 60 metres downfield and put Sāmoa back in front.

England, however, refused to yield; with the clock inside the final three minutes of regulation, Williams skipped outside, found a hole in the Sāmoan defensive line, drew the fullback and handed it off to Farnworth to race the final 50 and dive over for his second.

England gave Sāmoa an awful scare in the final seconds when Whitehead somehow came out the other side of some meagre defence and opted to throw a dribbling pass that resulted in a drop rather than take the tackle about 25 metres out with seconds on the clock.

Instead, the two sides headed to golden-point.

England were unable to complete their opening set with Jack Welsby coming up with an error in his own half gifting Sāmoa ideal field position.

The mistake proved uncostly, however, with Whitehead racing out of the line to charge down an Anthony Milford field goal attempt and regain possession for England.

Their solace, however, lasted mere moments with Tomkins throwing a forward pass down a short-side out of acting half before they had even reached halfway.

Sāmoa had a second opportunity to ice the game and punch their ticket to their maiden World Cup Final and they turned to two-time NRL premiership winner Stephen Crichton who slotted a walk-off drop goal from 30 out.

The squad piled atop one another crying out deliriously just 28 days after England humiliated them by 54 points in Newcastle as they became the first side other than the big four of Australia, New Zealand, France and Great Britain/England to qualify for a Rugby League World Cup Final.

Luai was awarded Player of the Match for his three try assists, 88 run metres, and five tackle breaks whilst Sua’ali’i ran for a game-high 245 metres from 20 carries with six tackle breaks and a line break.

Crichton finished with 15 of Sāmoa’s 27 points whilst Lafai wound back the clock to score a double, run for 187 metres, and break five tackles.

Brian To’o was at his metre-eating best with 232 run metres from 24 carries with six tackle breaks whilst Chanel Harris-Tavita, who was tasked with extended playing time after starting nine Fa’amanu Brown was ruled out with a head knock, made a game-high 44 tackles in 69 minutes.

Williams was close to England’s best finishing with a pair of try assists, 185 run metres, four tackle breaks and two line breaks whilst Farnworth scored a double, ran for 169 metres from 12 carries and broke seven tackles.

Makinson also stood out with a team-high 189 run metres and nine tackle breaks whilst Radley ran for 152 metres from 18 carries and made 34 tackles.

Sāmoan communities across the planet flew their blue and red flags with pride and ensured noise levels remained high as their proud squad made World Cup history.

They have never managed a win against the Kangaroos, who they will face at Old Trafford next weekend with the Paul Barrière Trophy at stake, however, they had never defeated England prior to this clash.

Rule this proud nation out at your peril.

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