England 'need to learn' from World Cup heartache

Jack Welsby (right) was in the England team which lost to Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final last year

Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens Date: Sunday, 22 October Kick-off: 14:30 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer; live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app

The last time England played a Pacific Island nation on home soil, it resulted in one of the most disappointing defeats in their recent history.

Now, those players are ready to learn lessons from that defeat as they face Tonga in a three-match series starting in St Helens on Sunday.

England have played only one game since that semi-final - a 64-0 thrashing of France in April - meaning the pain of that loss is still felt.

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"We need to learn," full-back Jack Welsby told BBC Sport. "The result wasn't good enough, we wanted that final against Australia at Old Trafford but it wasn't to be.

"You learn your best lessons from your losses."

For England captain George Williams, the primary lesson is that against quality international opposition, his side have to be at their best.

Three Test matches against Tonga in the rugby league heartlands of St Helens, Huddersfield and Leeds may have a different atmosphere, pressure and meaning to a World Cup semi-final in front of more than 40,000 people - but the sting of that defeat will prevent levels dropping.

"It showed at international level against the top teams you can't be slightly off," said Williams, who will miss the first two games of the series after an appeal against a suspension for a shoulder barge was rejected on Tuesday.

"We were off and we got burned. It shows if you are not an eight or nine out of 10, you get turned over."

Tonga are the first Pacific Island nation, and the first tier two country, to take part in a full series against England. But a quick look at the world rankings and recent history will disabuse any notion of three comfortable home wins being on the cards.

'We want to get revenge'

Tonga - in the guise of a Tonga Invitational side - beat both Australia and the Great Britain Lions in one-off matches in 2019

This is a series between the sides ranked fourth and fifth in the world, with England narrowly the higher. Tonga have a squad packed with talent seen in Australia's National Rugby League as well as three Super League players - Huddersfield playmaker Tui Lolohea, plus St Helens duo Konrad Hurrell and Will Hopoate.

England and Tonga last played each other in an epic World Cup semi-final in 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. Since then, Kristian Woolf's side have beaten both Australia and Great Britain in one-off games.

That victory over the Lions in 2019 particularly stands out, and although Welsby was not on that tour, he says it is firmly on the England players' minds.

"It's something we want to right and get revenge," he said. "This is a different squad, they have a different squad, but there are some things you can't heal.

"That is a wound that has sat there since we haven't faced them, so we will have to be at our best to turn them over."

'Surreal' to represent third nation - Frizell

Also in the Tonga squad is Tyson Frizell, who is preparing to play for a third different country at international level.

Born in Australia to a Welsh father and a Tongan mother, Frizell is completing the full set of nations he is eligible to represent.

"It's pretty surreal," the 32-year-old told BBC Sport at the pre-series media conference in St Helens. "To represent Wales, Australia and now Tonga, it's something I'm very excited about and proud of, I'm proud of my background.

"It's strange, being at the back end of my career but also one of the new guys."

Frizell brings far more experience than the usual international debutant - not least a World Cup winners' medal, earned in 2017 when Australia held off England to win 6-0 in the final.

Despite all that, as well as making 239 NRL appearances and counting, he admitted some nerves when joining a new squad for the first time.

"It's like your first day at school; it is a bit intimidating coming into a new group," he said. "A few of the players I've played against and a few with, but it's still a new environment.

"I've been welcomed straight away and feel very comfortable within the squad, I'm enjoying my time so far.

"I can be myself. If something needs to be said, I'm comfortable. I've been around a few years, I have experience of what it takes to win World Cups and big games. I've got a small bit of knowledge there."