It was never a try. I don't think anyone would be talking about it, had it happened in another game, or even earlier in this one. People just love a bit of controversy.

Key question to always ask in these situations is what decision would be made if it were anywhere else on the field, and that to me is loose carry, knock on.

Some? Have you seen the comments on YT, there's apparently a petition with allegedly 50,000 signatures to it calling for the game to be replayed/ref to be hung drawn and 1/4'd, video ref to look at it etc.
Pretty much every man, woman and child from Tonga/Pacific island nations is calling the ref bent, the game is bent, white mans rules and so on.
I don't agree, the reaction if we'd lost it in the dying seconds like that would be nowhere near that of the tongan's or other countries 'fans' sticking their oar in.

Don't read YT or Facebook comments sections is a good rule to live by.

I was watching the highlights package after watching the game live (on tv), I just read the top comments and it was incredible what was being said, how vociferous, how nonobjective and how numerous which was what my point was in response to the previous poster

I think the commentators were very unfair on the ref too. Had he had the slightest doubt he would have gone to the VR. He had a perfect side on view, and saw what the cameras did, that Fifita was guilty of a loose carry and Whitehead's tackle made him drop it. They complain about refs using the VR too much, then when he makes the call they whinge, mainly because it didn't go the way they wanted it too.

I really don't buy the whole Tonga being better/more deserving stuff. That last 5 minutes or so was as much down to England clocking off and then panicking as through anything Tonga did. Whilst Australia are likely to beat england, I think they'd put a bigger score on Tonga by moving their big forwards around far more than England did.

I'm actually hoping all this negative stuff works in Englands favour. Nobody likes being told they don't deserve to be where they are especially if they think they do. The one thing that always brings the best out of the British is backs against the wall so long as it's heartfelt and for real. It's not even a cliche I've seen it myself time and time again.

England can feed off that as a goal that truly unites them. If there is one way to prove your worth then giving your very best in a final has to be it.

It probably won't be enough to win but it might be enough to bring a bit of real passion back into the interaction alone game.

Finally I'm not a huge fan of 'the biff' but I'd make an exception this week. If I were to see that level of commitment return I may start wearing my England shirt again. I'm not being daft either, the Aussies have never responded well when teams get into them. They have gotten used to being respected with teams holding off allowing them to show off. You disrupt that sense of entitlement they have and they will lose composure and that's half the battle.

They won't look like supermen when they are being legally carried off by the bucket load. I exaggerate but you get the idea.

No respect - No backward steps - Never admit it's over
It might just work with a big dollop of luck

He might get knocked for being on the starting team-sheet but Batemans about the only one who's got it in him, ain't he?

Compare to the semi? against Aus where Hall's finger tips definitely touched the ball in the last few seconds & the VR never gave it. Now that was robbed. The reaction was far more reserved than Tonga.

Having read the comments on YT (sorry Seth) I hold my hand up. Those idiots have taken whinging to whole new levels. Pathetic.

Maybe against their backs/halves, but he's like Scrappy Doo compared to their forwards. The problem I've found with Bateman is he isn't that smart in these situations, a fight early doors deep in their own half when they are in possession is great, but he would just as likely do it in possession on his own goal line, kickable range late in the game etc. I'm sure Graham, Burgess x2 and Walmsley would be fine with a bit of biff.

Not about size size though, innit?
It's what's inside.
If it was Bateman against a big pudding like Aaron Woods I know who my coin would be on.