England survived a battling first-half Tonga performance to triumph by a convincing margin of 36-20 and secured a place in the quarter-finals against Australia in Marseille on October 6.

Two tries from wing Paul Sackey and further scores from centres Mathew Tait and Andy Farrell did the damage, with 16 points added from the boot of fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.

England came out to meet Tonga during the Pacific Islanders' Haka and the simultaneous singing of Sweet Chariot from the stands provided an emotional start to the match. Tonga knew that a win or draw would virtually guarantee them a quarter-final place for the first time in their history.

There was a nasty knock to the face of Lewis Moody in the opening minute as he sought to charge down a Vungakoto Lilo clearance, but the openside flanker got up to the cheers of a partisan and massive English support.

The England players did not lack passion either as they pressured the Tongans continuously, forcing them to make mistakes due to their relatively poor kicking out of hand. However full-back Lilo was a threat on the ground and his work on eight minutes led to a mistake from England wing Mark Cueto, who did not release the ball and Pierre Hola kicked from distance to give his side a 3-0 lead.

Sackey won a penalty for England when his break forward ended with handling in the ruck and Wilkinson kicked a moderately difficult three points to level matters.

On 17 minutes Tonga gave us the opening score. Inside centre Epeli Taione popped the ball to Sukanaivalu Hufanga and he brushed off Wilkinson before powering through and sliding over with several Englishmen trying to pull him back. Hola kicked from close in to take the score to 10-3.

England went looking for a reply and found it through a moment of magic from both Wilkinson and Sackey. With a penalty in England's favour perhaps Tonga thought they would kick for goal, but the fly-half boldly took it quickly and looped a high one into the far corner.

Sackey went to ground as the ball came down near the dead-ball line. He caught it as he slid and touched down just before his elbow touched the line, a fact confirmed by video referee Mark Lawrence and the try was awarded by match ref Alain Rolland.

Tonga gave as good as they received until the half-hour, when England found territorial possession and Barkley missed a simple drop-goal with Wilkinson stranded inexplicably out wide on the left.

Wilkinson showed the Bath man how to do it with a drop-goal and penalty from around the 22, giving the Red Rose a four-point advantage with half time looming.

A handling error from Tonga in the England half with only two minutes left on the clock may have cost them their chance. The ball ran free from a poor Hola pass and Sackey picked and ran down the right flank, too quick for the excellent Sukanaivalu Hufanga, to touch down in the corner. Wilkinson missed the kick.

Tonga's running game - led by outside centre Hufanga - again looked strong in the second half, but their scrum did not match it. Hola struck a penalty to reduce the arrears but England found another route over the try-line in the 56th minute.

Wing Mark Cueto found a gap and when the ball was recycled number eight Nick Easter delivered to Tait, who finished in between the defenders with aplomb. Wilkinson had little trouble converting for a score-line of 26-13, giving his side breathing space as captain Phil Vickery, back from suspension but dropped, made an appearance for replacement tighthead prop Matt Stevens.

An excellent spell of pressure followed from Brian Ashton's players and Wilkinson again had a hand in its culmination, the try for replacement Farrell. He offloaded to the rugby league legend and went around for the return; but instead the Saracens man merely shaped to pass and broke impressively through to the line.

Wilkinson took his tally to 16 with the conversion and another penalty, moving him only six shy of Gavin Hastings World Cup record 227 points.

There was a consolation for the Tongans, who battled to the death, as Hale T Pole shot over in the corner and Hola added the extra pair with finesse.

Quddus Fielea's men were a credit to their nation while England will be happy with both the result and aspects of their performance.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport