• Pool B + C: England 34-12 Papua New Guinea

• Women’s side crash out after defeat by Samoa

Game over. Two ultimately straightforward victories from three group games would ordinarily be enough to secure qualification in the Rugby League World Cup, but the format means that, barring a rugby league miracle from Tonga on Sunday, England are heading home early.

That format – 10 teams in lopsided groups and England in a unique position of being effectively out after defeat on the opening weekend – has been a point of discussion since that defeat by the Tongans a fortnight ago. But at some stage, the attention has to turn internally and the tough, uncompromising questions have to be asked of English rugby league.

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• Tom Trbojevic scores hat-trick in Kangaroos’ unconvincing 36-22 win

• Semi Valemei also scores three as Fiji run in four tries in Brisbane

The naysayers have questioned this increasingly provincial sport and its sometimes laughable and often one-sided, so-called World Cup. But against the favourites and hosts Australia, the Fiji Bati showed – from the tears on the players cheeks during their anthem, their wondrous pre-match hymn, right through 80 minutes of fearless effort in attack and defence – why this tournament is worth persisting with.

The inspiring Fijians appeared to have answers to every criticism, a response to every question, except three. The quality on the Australian bench, the class of James Tedesco and the finishing of triple try-scorer Tom Trbojevic finally took down the likeable underdogs, in front of a healthy Sunday night crowd in Brisbane and no doubt millions watching on prime time television.

• Pool B + C: England 82-0 France

• Herbie Farnworth and Dom Young grab hat-tricks

England will only really know next weekend whether this record-breaking result means anything, but when not only a win but a convincing one would keep their hopes of reaching the World Cup semi-finals alive, this was a case of job done for Brian McDermott and his side.

With the shortened and controversial group stage format meaning just one defeat is near-ruinous, even the head coach broke ranks this week and admitted England’s chances of qualification are slim at best after the 30-12 loss to Tonga on the opening weekend. Samoa’s 64-6 win against Papua New Guinea earlier on Saturday meant the permutations became simple, but daunting. Samoa beat France 78-4 last week, giving them a +132 points differential; England now have a +64 points differential.

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