Saturday 29 September 2007

Rugby World Cup: England Go Through, Tonga Go Home

England 36 - Tonga 20

England managed to scrape together some decent moves in a match that saw a passionate contest between a fallen great and a rising minnow. For Tonga this was the end of the road for them in their best showing ever at a Rugby World Cup and the celebrations by all accounts were going on all night for them.

England too will be celebrating and eyeing now a quarterfinal with the Wallabies. Although the English should have it over the Wallabies in the front row, it is looking still like they will be sorely lacking and off the pace at the breakdown. Plus why do they have such lardy forwards? Hardly suitable for getting across the pitch at speed.

One bright light is the return of Jonny Wilkinson's form. He continues to add the structure and soul in an English team where confidence and spirit has been missing for too long. With Larkham out for the Wallabies, the untested as yet Berrick Barnes (and no, Fiji and Wales don't really cut it) might find himself under a little more pressure than usual when he comes to face Wilko next weekend.

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