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England keeps campaign alive
From Julian Guyer in Nantes, France
September 23, 2007
ENGLAND defeated Samoa 44-22 in the Rugby World Cup Pool A match in Nantes today to get its campaign back on track.
Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, playing his first Rugby World Cup match since the 2003 final, kicked 24 points, while captain Martin Corry scored two tries at either end of a match in which England's lead had been cut to just four points early in the second half.
Wing Paul Sackey also grabbed a brace, including a last-minute score that gave England a bonus point for scoring four tries.
England now faces a winner-takes-all clash with Tonga in Paris on Friday to decide who qualifies from Pool A with South Africa.
But Samoa's third successive defeat ended its hopes of a place in the last eight.
England, which had struggled to assert itself during the unconvincing 28-10 win against the US and the 36-0 thrashing by South Africa - the team's record Rugby World Cup defeat - scored a try as early as the second minute.
Lock Simon Shaw charged down Samoa fly-half Eliota Fuimano-Sapolu's kick and flanker Joe Worsley regathered but was held up short of the line.
England stretched the Samoa defence left and right before blindside flanker Corry, leading the side in place of suspended prop Phil Vickery, drove over.
Wilkinson, fit after an ankle problem, converted for his first Rugby World Cup points since landing the winning drop goal in the final four years ago.
England, with scrum half Andy Gomarsall distributing well, maintained its early dominance and a sixth-minute forward surge was rewarded by a Wilkinson drop goal.
But Samoa hit back with two penalties from Loki Crichton, playing at full back in place of the injured Gavin Williams.
Wilkinson then kicked two more penalties before playing a crucial role in England's second try.
His clever grubber kick split the Samoa defence and Sackey was first to the touch down before Wilkinson converted
But Crichton rewarded Samoa's pressure late in the first-half with two more penalties to reduce England's lead to 23-12 at the break.
Crichton again made no mistake as Samoa scored the first points of the second-half, after Wilkinson was penalised for obstruction.
Wilkinson made amends moments later, landing a penalty after being tackled high by Samoa centre Brian Lima.
Samoa then cut England's lead with a controversial try.
Hooker Mahonri Schawager broke clear and his chip ahead led to a race between Polu and covering centre Mathew Tait for the touchdown.
Video referee Bryce Lawrence needed several minutes before awarding Samoa a score, which looked far from clear cut, and Crichton, maintaining his perfect record, added the conversion to leave England just four points clear at 26-22.
Wilkinson, who had pulled a penalty wide of the right post, stretched England's lead to seven points after a sustained spell of Samoa pressure with his second drop goal in the 68th minute.
And he crucially put England two scores ahead with just nine minutes remaining when he kicked a penalty from the halfway line.
Then, with time running out, Corry showed good handling skills to collect Sackey's pass for a converted try, which put England out of sight at 39-22, before Sackey raced in for the bonus point.
Agence France-Presse
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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Originally Posted by Burgs
One team is playing really good rugby the other is England 
