Tongan tragedy

England scores 13 tries to win 101-10

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Friday October 15, 1999 10:23 PM

Tonga's Tevita Tiueti (left) is tackled by England's Lawrence Dallaglio during England's big win in the Rugby World Cup. AP

TWICKENHAM, England (CNN/SI) -- Tonga found Friday that the 15 England Roses they were facing were anything but shrinking violets in their Group B matchup at Twickenham.

Following England's 30-16 loss to New Zealand last week some England supporters might have challenged their teams ability to contend for the Webb Ellis Trophy.

These worries are now no doubt a thing of the past, no doubt put to rest after England ran in 13 tries to defeat Tonga 101-10 and advance to the Second Round of the World Cup finals.

England's coach Clive Woodward will no doubt have a smile on his face, as his team has scored 22 tries in their three games and will be confident of beating either France or Fiji in the playoff at Twickenham on Wednesday.

Austin Healey, who started on the wing but reverted to scrum half after an injury to Matt Dawson, scored three tries while centers Will Greenwood and Jeremy Guscott and winger Dan Luger each had two. Fly half Paul Grayson, in for the rested Jonny Wilkinson, broke Wilkinson's English record of 32 points in a match to take the mark to 36 with 12 conversions and four penalties.

Tongan prop Ngalu Taufo'ou was expelled for a violent attack on Richard Hill just before half time during a spell when Australian referee Wayne Erikson set some kind of record with one red and three yellow cards in the space of two minutes.

England ran in four first half tries to open up a 38-10 interval lead but st first had problems handling the quick Tongans in the loose.

After Grayson had kicked the English ahead with two penalties, Dawson crossed the line for the first try after a slick move involving Lawrence Dallaglio and Luger and England led 11-0 after 13 minutes.

But the Tongans hit back with a well-worked move from left to right. a long pass from Semi Taupeaafe finding the other winger Tevita Tiueti on the right and fullback Sateki Tu'ipulotu kicked the conversion to cut the lead to four points.

Grayson landed two more penalties and Tu'ipulotu replied for 17-10 before hooker Phil Greening crossed for his try in the 29th minute.

Healey was held just short of the corner by Tu'ipulotu but the ball was recycled and Greening darted through a gap to charge over for the score. Grayson kicked the conversion and England led by 14 points.

The Tongans' moment of madness came five minutes before halftime when fullback Matt Perry was hit in the air by substitute Isi Tapueluelu and a fight broke out in which England prop Phil Vickery threw a punch and Taufo'ou ran into the battle to launch a flying punch which floored Richard Hill.

Referee Erickson showed the red card to Taufo'ou and yellows to Vickery and Tapueluelu and, a minute later, also showed the yellow one to Tongan flanker David Edwards.

Down to 14, the Tongans were unable to stop the England charge and, in the final minutes of the half, Luger and Perry both crossed for tries that Grayson converted to stretch the lead to 38-10 by the interval.

More England forward pressure in the corner brought another try for Greenwood eight minutes into the second and the center crossed for another a minute later when the Tongans found themselves with one defender against four English attackers.

A minute later Healey finished off another slick move with a try and then a charge down the right by Nick Beal set up another four against one situation and Hill ran over for the eighth try.

Grayson continued to kick the conversions and the English were running away at 66-10 with 25 minutes still to go.

Guscott, anxious to get on the scoresheet to keep his place on the team, should have scored a try when he ran onto a kick ahead by Grayson but failed to ground the ball properly.

But the talented center got his reward with a 90-meter dash for the ninth England try after taking a pass from Healey only 10 meters from his own posts. No Tongan got within tackling distance and Guscott's score brought the biggest cheer from the 74,000 England fans.

Two minutes later Healey ran over for his second try and Grayson's eighth and ninth conversions made it 80-10 with 13 minutes to go.

Healey grabbed his third try in the corner, Luger ran in for his second and Guscott darted through for his second during injury time and Grayson, having already beaten Wilkinson's record, took England through the 100 mark.

England

Tonga

 

Related information
Stories
All Blacks beat Italy into submission Some question of distribution of World Cup wealth England kicks off Cup campaign with stunning win New Zealand outlasts England 30-16
Stats
Engalnd vs. Tonga Match Summary
Multimedia
Tonga coach Dave Waterson compliments England’s play. (145 K) England's Lawrence Dellaglio comments on the game. (95 K) Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.