One thousand, seven hundred and seventy-eight days since Australia beat England in Brisbane to lift the last World Cup, and delayed by twelve months due to the COVID pandemic, the 2021 Rugby League World Cup finally got underway at St James´ Park in Newcastle as hosts England took on the fancied Samoa in what promised, on paper at least, to be a very close contest.
Shaun Wane had agonised for months over his selection for what was a must win game both in terms of English aspirations, while maintaining the interest of any casual viewers tuning in to the BBC coverage of the competition.
The bookies could barely choose between the two sides, Samoa being installed as slight favourites with a two-point handicap on the coupon. A packed and partisan stadium held their breath and hoped for the best.
England put boot to ball to start proceedings and had the best of the early exchanges.
On four minutes Herbie Farnworth chased down a George Williams last tackle grubber but knocked on in the act of grounding. The video referee spotted an infringement on a chaser, and England opted to kick the penalty; Tommy Makinson slotting the ball between the uprights.
England were dominant on the field, but not on the scoreboard. Sam Tomkins was held up over the line on twelve minutes and on the next play Tom Burgess bounced the ball as he stretched for the line.
A quarter of the game had passed when George Williams made a half break through the Samoan defence before finding Jack Welsby on his inside shoulder to take the pass and go thirty metres to score by the sticks. Tommy Makinson added the conversion to put England 8-0 ahead.
Three minutes later and England went in again, this time through a sensational Dom Young solo effort as he took a pass from Welsby on the halfway line and weaved his way to the line to score under the sticks, after being ankle tapped to the ground as he crossed the line. Makinson added the conversion for daylight on the scoreboard.
On the half hour Young grabbed his second as he leapt for the line in the right corner to ground off another terrific Welsby pass. Samoa looked at sixes and sevens, England clicking into gear. Makinson was wide with the conversion attempt, his first miss of the afternoon.
England’s first mistake gave Samoa an opening when a stray Welsby pass went into the hands of Tago who outpaced the chasers as he sprinted seventy metres to the line. Stephen Crichton added the goal to reduce the arrears to twelve points and serve the host a reminder that they weren´t going to have it all their own way.
With a minute left on the clock Suaalii went close, and on the next play Crichton just failed to ground a grubber in the field of play, Samoa ending the half on the front foot but trailing on the scoreboard.
After a long injury delay, Farnworth went close on forty-seven but was prevented by a last-ditch defence. But within a minute England were in for their fourth try of the afternoon going down the short side with Kallum Watkins taking a Mike McMeeken no-look pass to go in. Makinson added the conversion for 24-6.
Young spilled the ball on his own twenty in fifty-six and on the fourth tackle Samoa were awarded a penalty for interference at the play the ball from Tomkins, but the forwards put the ball to ground and another Samoa opportunity went begging. The wind was in Englands sails.
As England tired it was their indiscipline which came to the fore, but Samoa´s tiredness was manifesting itself in more dropped ball.
On sixty-two an awful late tackle from Anthony Milford on Sam Tomkins saw the Samoa half-back sent to the sinbin for ten minutes, England with a one-man advantage. Makinson kicked the resulting penalty, in off the post, to further extend the lead, and barring a miracle secure the win.
On sixty-four the victory was put beyond any doubt with Farnworth collecting a bounce pass five from the line, throwing the dummy and dipping the shoulder to go in. Makinson kicked his sixth goal of the afternoon. England now in total control.
Just over ten minutes of the game remained when Elliott Whitehead burrowed his way over the line from three metres out for the sixth England try in what was turning into a rout. Makinson belted another kick through the uprights for 38-6.
England were gifted a try by referee Klein on seventy with Whitehead taking a blatant forward pass from Makinson to go in from thirty metres out. Makinson was on target with the boot for the eighth time in the game.
Makinson added his name to the try scorers list as he picked up a Williams cross-field kick to ground in the corner. Makinson added the extras to bring up the fifty for England, a sensational scoreline and against the expectations of all the pundits and bookies.
It was way too easy for England as George Williams went through a massive gap for a simple walk-in try but this time Makinson couldn´t kick the goal.
An England 40-20 gave the field position and on the second tackle Tom Burgess crashed through the line to get the tenth England try of the game in a complete performance. As the final hooter sounded Makinson added his ninth try to give a final score of 60-6.
England were totally dominant against a much-fancied Samoa side who had been given the favourites tag for this World Cup opener. An unfamiliar seventeen all peaked for Wane at the perfect time and recorded a tremendous win by an incredible score line. No-one thought that England would win by this margin, and it will give the side a massive lift and confidence boost going in to the remaining group matches, and more importantly the crucial knock-out stages.
England: Tomkins, Makinson (T, 10G), Watkins (T), Farnworth (T), Young (2T), Welsby (T), Williams (T), Burgess (T), McIlorum, Hill, Whitehead (2T), McMeeken, Radley. Subs: Cooper, Knowles, Lees, Thompson.
Samoa: Suaalii, Tabuai-Fidow, Tago (T), Crichton (G), To´o, Luai, Milford (SB on 61), Papalii, Levi, Paulo, Su´a, Aloiai, Tuilagi. Subs: Taupau, Leniu, Harris-Tavita, May.
Half-Time: 18-6.
Full-Time: 60-6.
Score Progression: 2-0, 6-0, 8-0, 12-0, 14-0, 18-0, 18-4, 18-6 : HT : 22-6, 24-6, (SB), 26-6, 30-6, 32-6, 36-6, 38-6, 42-6, 44-6, 48-6, 50-6, 54-6, 58-6, 60-6 : FT .
Lead Exchanges: England.
Referee: Ashley Klein.
Attendance: 43,199 at St James´ Park, Newcastle.
