England coach ‘fights again tears’ as World Cup dream shattered

Stephen Crichton hit an extra-time drop-goal to clinch a scintillating 27-26 win over the match hosts at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

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Subsequent week’s remaining in opposition to the reigning champions, in Manchester’s Outdated Trafford, is “the largest sport in Samoan historical past”, mentioned Paulo, who loved an immense sport in defence and assault in opposition to the English.

“It’s monumental,” the large prop mentioned. “We knew the affect we have been going to have on Samoans, what we’ve been in a position to create it doesn’t go unnoticed by the gamers.

“We’ve nonetheless obtained every week forward… the battle isn’t over.

“We now have to benefit from the win tonight after which we’ve one other week simply to prep. There’s just one week to go. It’s all concerning the journey, and the journey continues.”

Paulo might doubtlessly be cited, having obtained a yellow card for a tip deal with.

England coach Shaun Wane was fast to argue in his favour, saying the ultimate shouldn’t be disadvantaged of such a participant given accepted match refereeing requirements.

Samoa coach Matt Parish agreed, saying there had been no malicious intent and he launched Tom Burgess reasonably than drive him into the bottom.

Parish, beneath the cosh from pundits after struggling a 60-6 defeat by England within the match opener, mentioned the Samoa dressing room was “inspirational, passionate”.

“It’s what this sport’s all about: ardour, satisfaction, it’s unbelievable for these guys. We’ve had a couple of issues which have gone in opposition to us, 5 guys have gone dwelling and folks had lots to say 4 weeks in the past, ‘get the aircraft dwelling’.

“To place Samoa in a World Cup remaining, a rustic that’s a small dot within the ocean, it’s unbelievable.”

Samoa’s Jarome Luai, who produced a man-of-the-match efficiency at stand-off, can be up in opposition to Penrith Panthers teammate Nathan Cleary subsequent weekend, each contemporary from having gained the NRL Grand Finals collectively.

“There are not any pals on the pitch, solely brothers and enemies,” Luai mentioned.

“We now have to take pleasure in this second and see what we will do subsequent week.”

England coach Wane was brutal in his evaluation of the end result on the Emirates, blaming a scarcity of composure and deviating from a confirmed gameplan.

“We weren’t ok, the very best workforce gained. I’m gutted, completely wounded,” Wane mentioned.

“I used to be by no means completely happy in that sport, we have been under our requirements. There’s some soul looking occurring from us workers. The gamers have been nice, I don’t doubt their effort.

“Samoa have been the very best workforce immediately. We didn’t do the best issues on the proper time and I blame myself.

“We now have to be higher, this isn’t ok. I blame me. We now have to be higher, semi-final isn’t ok.”

Wane added: “It was small particulars immediately that price us dearly. They’d higher composure, we have been simply not ok and on the largest stage attainable.

“We wanted to do issues that labored for us. We went away from issues that labored for us.” Looking forward to the ultimate, Wane mentioned “it’ll be sport on, Australia are workforce… however Samoa have some excellent people”.

England skipper Sam Tomkins mentioned there have been a “lot of disillusioned males in that dressing room”.

“Australia will go into the ultimate as robust favourites and deservedly so,” mentioned Tomkins.

The complete-back praised the selection of Samoan gamers to observe the ‘heritage’ path, opting to end up for the Pacific Island groups reasonably then attempting to characterize Australia or New Zealand, the place they could have been born and raised.

“It’s actually opened up the worldwide sport.”

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