'Finisher' Sackey so important

Head coach Brian Ashton and captain Martin Corry both saluted two-try hero Paul Sackey after England booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals with a 36-20 victory over Tonga.

Had England lost, they would have been the first reigning rugby world champions to exit at the pool stage - instead, arch enemies Australia now loom in Marseille, almost four years after England beat the Wallabies to land the Webb Ellis Trophy down under.

Sackey followed up his two tries against Samoa with another two touchdowns, giving England breathing space after they trailed 10-3 early on to the tournament's surprise package, and Ashton said: "It is great to see Paul Sackey bring his game on to the international stage. He is a hell of a lot stronger than he looks, and he had a pretty good all-round game."

Corry added: "If you look at his two tries, they came when we had been under the cosh. We had to weather a storm.

"It is very special when you have a finisher who gets opportunities like those and takes them. You need to be in the right place to take those chances."