England went into the tie with high hopes after a 60-6 win over the same opposition in the tournament’s opening game, but Samoa were the better team in a pulsating clash.
The hosts wiped out an eight-point deficit in the final quarter to send the game into sudden-death, only for Stephen Crichton’s drop goal to book Samoa’s passage into the final to face holders Australia at Old Trafford next Saturday.
There were some good individual performances, but as a team England fell sort when it really mattered. Here’s how the players rated.
There were some good individual performances, but as a team England fell sort when it really mattered. Here’s how the players rated.
![Been excellent all tournament, then came 'that' pass...6.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmEyNjUwYjE3LWRkN2UtNDlhYS1hM2IxLTIxMGU0YTk1MTEzZjo5NmQwYjUwNS00M2Q1LTQ5NDItODM0ZC04ZThkOGNlMzdjODA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
13. Victor Radley (No 13)
Been excellent all tournament, then came 'that' pass...6.Photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
![Not bad, but didn't really make a difference 6.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVjYTJjNDU2LTYwZWItNDIxNi1iMWYzLThjN2Y1NTY1YzhkOTo5MjNlYjAwYy1mOTEyLTQ2MjYtODcyNC1jNzdjODEyNzY4YTA=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
14. Sub Mike Cooper (No 17)
Not bad, but didn't really make a difference 6.Photo: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
![Never really got into the game 5.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY0YTE2Njk0LWYyZGItNDdkMi1iNjM5LTcxZmUzYThkYzk2NDphMTJkYTc2ZC0zZDFiLTQwMGUtOTQ5ZC1lZDRkYTg0Zjc3YmI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
15. Mike McMeeken (No 20)
Never really got into the game 5.Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
![Tried hard, to limited effect 5.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU0OWM4NDg2LTg4YjYtNGZlNy04Mzg5LTEyNDVlNzhjZTE2Mjo1MDhiMzFlNC05NTY3LTRkM2YtOTM5OC01Zjk5YjRiOGNjMTc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
16. Sub Morgan Knowles (No 15)
Tried hard, to limited effect 5.Photo: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
![Didn't dominate on what should have been his stage 5.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVhNWRiZTlkLTllMTMtNGY5OC05NGIyLTIzZmY4MWVlZWU2NDo2NTU0NjZiZi0yMTk3LTQ3ZGEtYWJmYy0zYWRkNWE2NmMyYmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
17. Sub Luke Thompson (No 10)
Didn't dominate on what should have been his stage 5.Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com