New Zealand vs England of 2008 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage Top 24 Facts

• published: 14 Dec 2015
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Facts : 1 New Zealand vs England In a re-play of both sides last match, New Zealand once again faced England, this time for the right to play in the World Cup final Facts : 2 English coach Tony Smith left it to within an hour of kick-off before naming his team for the match Facts : 3 Sika Manu s faster than expected recovery from an eye socket injury saw his return with David Kidwell dropped in his place Facts : 4 Jon Wilkin Coach: Tony Smith The Kiwis performing their Haka before the match Facts : 5 This time when the Kiwis performed their haka, the England side stood in a line ten metres away and faced them Facts : 6 In the ninth minute New Zealand were on the attack courtesy of a mistake from England and got the first try of the match, passing to Sam Perrett on the right wing who crossed out wide, then improved his kicker s position before putting the ball down Facts : 7 England, also benefitting from some New Zealand mistakes, were attacking the Kiwis line and threw the ball out wide to the right wing as well and Ade Gardner dived over in the corner just before the fifteen-minute mark Facts : 8 The video referee showed that Gardner s toe touched the sideline before he grounded the ball so the try was not given Facts : 9 Four minutes later the Kiwis were back down at England s end when Lance Hohaia got over for a close-range try Facts : 10 Rob Purdham s restart kick went over the sideline on the full so New Zealand got the ball back and in the following set of six they scored again through Jerome Ropati Facts : 11 Then in the twenty-ninth minute England had an opportunity in attack down at New Zealand s end and kept the ball alive, the ball going to captain Jamie Peacock who forced his way over from close range Facts : 12 A New Zealand knock-on less than two minutes from half time saw the English get a scrum a few metres into the opposition s half Facts : 13 In a bold set move from the scrum base, England s loose forward Purdham broke away with the ball and immediately kicked it ahead for Danny Maguire racing through to regather and dive over by the goal posts Facts : 14 The video referee ruled that the chaser was only just in line with the kicker so the try was awarded Facts : 15 After a few minutes of the second half, England second-rower Gareth Ellis was forced from the field with a rib injury Facts : 16 Both sides had attacking opportunities during the first 16 minutes of the half, but it was New Zealand s Bronson Harrison who scored first after receiving