AUCKLAND: England reached a first World Cup final since 1995 as they survived a late Tonga fightback in Auckland to set up a meeting with holders Australia.
Wayne Bennett’s side were leading 20-0 with seven minutes remaining after tries from Jermaine McGillvary, Gareth Widdop and John Bateman.
But Tevita Pangai Junior, Siliva Havili and Tuimoala Lolohea crashed over at a sold-out Mount Smart Stadium.
And Andrew Fifita had a try ruled out in the final seconds of the match.
Referee Matt Cecchin ruled that the prop had earlier lost the ball – and to the ire of the Tongans did not refer it to the video referee.
It was an absolutely pulsating, nerve-shredding end to a match played in front of a passionate crowd who heavily favoured Tonga.
England will face the Kangaroos, who thrashed Fiji 54-6 in the other semi-final, in the final in Brisbane next Saturday, 2 December.
England’s last appearance in the final came 22 years ago with Denis Betts, now among the coaching staff, captaining the side in a 16-8 defeat by Australia at Wembley.
Every tournament since has ended in a semi-final defeat, each one by New Zealand, but it looked with seven minutes to go as though England were cruising into next Saturday’s showpiece.
At 20-0 down, Tonga had other ideas.
The Pacific Islanders came from 16-2 down to beat New Zealand in the group stage and, backed by a vocal Tongan support in Auckland, almost engineered a comeback of even greater proportions.
First, after 73 minutes, Junior edged his way over the England line to cross for a try that was eventually confirmed by the video referee – but it looked like nothing more than a well-deserved consolation.
But the nerves began to kick in for Bennett’s side as Tonga kept the ball alive before Havili broke through several would-be tacklers to make the score 20-12.
Two minutes later and England’s advantage was reduced to two points, Lolohea again breaching England’s line to put Tonga within one score of their first World Cup final.
England were in disarray and the crowd were absolutely roaring on Tonga.
McGillvary, one of England’s best performers at this World Cup, stole a key intercept to win the ball back with England just needing to see out the final 90 seconds, but the winger lost the ball in a tackle to give Tonga one last attack.
And when Fifita found a route through it looked like England’s tournament was yet again going to end in semi-final heartbreak.
Elliott Whitehead’s attempted tackle forced the prop to drop the ball but, with Tonga thinking Whitehead had ripped it in an attempted ball steal, Fifita re-gathered and touched down over the line.
Australian referee Cecchin deemed it as a loose carry from the Tonga prop, opting not to consult the video referee, and that was enough for England to hold on to reach a first final in 22 years.
