Hoped to wake up to catch the end of the days play until I saw that BT Sport are showing it, not Sky so I ended up listening to TMS. I wonder if there's been a fall-out between CA and Sky as Sky didn't show BBL last year.
Watching the Australia vs Fiji RLWC semi-final, I'm totally bemused as to how Fiji beat NZ in the quarter-final - Australia leading 40-6 with 20 minutes left to play.
Final score 54 - 6, which gives England something to think about - if they can get past Tonga in their semi. An amazing performance by winger Valentine Holmes - six tries today to add to the five he scored last week in the quarter-final against Samoa.
Good middle of the day - not so great in the first and last sessions. Be handy to get these 2 out quickly when play starts otherwise we might find ourselves on the back foot.
A five minute horror spell for England towards the end - conceded three converted tries - but they hung on to scrape home 20-18.
Need an 1981 Botham style miracle! Aussies have just been clinical when taking their chances and had the chance to edge ahead whereas we've blown some good position.
Tongans a little upset by this referee's decision not to go to the video ref - had he done so, England would have lost. Reminds me of the Joubert decision that cost Scotland victory in the RU World Cup quarter-final against Australia two years ago.
I have to admit that I don't follow egg-chasing and know very little about the rules and regulations but even so, why did it not go to TVR? Unbelievable really!
The English player clearly stripped the ball from the Tongan - he actually aimed for the ball & not the man. Had the ball just been dislodged in the tackle, it would have been ruled a knock-on - but in this instance the Tongan had every right to pick the ball up again and carry on playing.
I agree this should have gone to the video referee but I don't think the ball was dislodged deliberately. The Tongan's frustration is understandable, if you have the technology available then use it. The tournament organisers have their dream final, though.
