England book place in last eight
Wilkinson kicked 16 points
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Friday, 28, Sep 2007 10:07
England have sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup after beating Tonga 36-20 in Paris.
The world champions will clash with Australia in the last eight after scoring four tries against the Tongans.
Paul Sackey scored a brace while Matthew Tait and Andy Farrell also crossed the line. Jonny Wilkinson kicked two penalties and conversions along with a pair of drop goals.
England knew a defeat or draw would send them crashing out of the tournament.
Brian Ashton's side made a sluggish start and went 3-0 down when fly-half Pierre Hola kicked a penalty on eight minutes.
England hit back five minutes later when Tonga conceded a penalty from a line-out with Wilkinson levelling the scores.
The world champions' leaky defence was exposed on 16 minutes when centre Epi Taione danced past Wilkinson and offloaded to Sukanaivalu Hufanga who brushed past two players to score the first try of the game.
Wilkinson helped England score their first try when he launched a cross-kick into the hands of Sackey to touch down. But Wilkinson then missed the conversion as England still trailed 10-8.
England then went ahead by four points thanks to a drop-goal and a penalty from Wilkinson.
Three minutes from half-time, England stretched their lead to nine points after Sackey intercepted Joseph Vaka's pass and raced 75 metres to touch down, with Wilkinson missing his conversion attempt.
In a lacklustre start to the second half, Tonga reduced their deficit to 19-13 when Hola booted over a penalty on 53 minutes.
England fans breathed a sigh of relief three minutes later when Tait crossed the line after a well-worked move involving Nick Easter, with Wilkinson kicking over the conversion to make it 26-13.
Farrell hit back at his critics 15 minutes from time when he dummied a pass to Wilkinson to touch down to earn England a bonus point, with Wilkinson slotting over the extras.
England made sure of victory seven minutes from time when Wilkinson kicked over his second penalty from 15 metres out.
In the dying minutes, Tonga scored a deserved try when Hale T Pole dived over in the corner.