Print

Mail

wiki links

RUGBY 2007: England, Tonga prepare for do-or-die clash

Reigning champions England's hopes of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals rest solely on the result of today's clash with Tonga.

If they win at the Parc des Princes they go through to a last eight match with Australia in Marseille on Oct. 6.

Lose and instead it will be the Pacific Islanders who will be up against the Wallabies, with England the first title-holders not to reach the knockout phase.

Defeat by South Africa was always likely for an England side that had been beaten in its previous three outings against the Springboks but few foresaw a 0-36 reverse -- the Red Rose's record World Cup loss.

Tonga though upset the odds to beat Pacific rivals Samoa 19-15 and then, albeit against a second-string South Africa, only went down 25-30 last Saturday.

That same day, England beat Samoa 44-22 in a match where their lead was cut to four points before they pulled away in the closing 10 minutes.

"We are still looking down the barrel of a gun," England coach Brian Ashton said on Tuesday as he unveiled his side.

Injury-plagued flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, after being on the sidelines for England's first two matches, marked his first World Cup appearance since kicking the winning drop-goal in the 2003 final with a 24 point haul against Samoa.

Wilkinson, likely to make Tonga pay for any indiscipline, now needs just 22 more points to surpass Scotland great Gavin Hastings's World Cup record of 227.

But his kicking out of hand, in common with that of his teammates, was far less impressive and Ashton admitted this was an area ripe for improvement.

Ashton has made two changes to his starting line-up with Lewis Moody coming in for Joe Worsley at openside as England once more shuffle their back row -- a major problem area during a post 2003 run that has seen England win just 18 out of 43 Tests.

The other change is also in the pack with lock Steve Borthwick taking over from Simon Shaw to partner Ben Kay.

Ashton left his World Cup captain Phil Vickery, back from a two-game suspension for tripping, on the bench with Matt Stevens retaining his place at tighthead prop. Blindside Martin Corry continues to lead the team.

Tonga, who have added set-piece efficiency to their traditional strengths of hard running and tough tackling, made three changes to the side that so nearly shocked the Springboks.

Hale T-Pole returns from suspension at blindside flanker, while Viliami Vaki shifts to lock to replace Paino Hehea.

In the other change, Lisiate Fa'aoso comes in for Emosi Kauhenga in the second row.
This story has been viewed 1164 times.