England kept their Rugby League World Cup dream alive with a stunning 82-0 thrashing of France — but reaching the semi-finals will still require a very specific set of results next weekend, including a 68-point swing and a Tonga win.
Brian McDermott’s side bounced back in style after being humbled 30-12 by Tonga in their opening game, and now their fate hangs on two matches: their own clash with Papua New Guinea, and Tonga’s meeting with Samoa.
England Rugby League World Cup (Credits: BBC Sport)
England Rugby League World Cup: The 68-Point Equation
First, England must beat co-hosts Papua New Guinea in Wollongong next Friday. Then they need Tonga to beat Samoa two days later in Sydney. If Samoa win, England are out — their inferior head-to-head record against Tonga seals it.
If Tonga do win, it all comes down to points difference. England currently sit at +64 after the Tonga loss and the France rout. Samoa, following hefty wins over France and PNG, are at +132 — exactly 68 points better.
So 68 is the magic number. If England beat PNG by 68 points or more, any Tongan victory sends McDermott’s men through. Anything less, and they will need Tonga to run up a big score against their Pacific rivals too.
McDermott: “What We Have Done Today Is Enormous”
“What we have done today is enormous, given the context,” McDermott told his post-match media conference in Perth. “Knowing we had to win big — and we have had candid conversations about that this week — we have done that without getting hot. Everything was measured and planned.”
Captain George Williams added: “We were the best we could be. The situation has been difficult, but we have given ourselves half a chance.”
Why England’s World Cup Path Is So Complicated
The convoluted scenario is a product of this tournament’s unusual format. Pool A features four teams — Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands — fighting for two semi-final spots in a simple round-robin.
But Pools B and C are combined into one six-team league, from which only the top two advance. England, drawn in Pool B, play the three Pool C teams — Tonga, France and PNG — meaning they compete with Samoa for a semi-final place without ever actually playing them.
The format was introduced after France, who were supposed to host a 16-team men’s World Cup, pulled out over money troubles. Australia stepped in with New Zealand and PNG, shrinking the field from 16 teams to 10 to cut costs.
England will be desperate to avoid an unwanted first: in 16 previous Rugby League World Cups, neither England nor Great Britain have ever finished outside the top four.
Also Read: England Thrash France To Keep Alive World Cup Hopes
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
