Paulo cleared to play in final against Kangaroos

Samoa captain Junior Paulo has been cleared to play in next weekend's World Cup final against Australia after receiving a caution for a lifting tackle on England prop Tom Burgess.

Paulo, who successfully challenged a striking charge after last weekend’s historic defeat of Tonga, was sin-binned for the 13th minute incident but returned to lead Samoa to the biggest win by any Pacific nation after downing England 27-26 in golden point.

Fellow Samoa prop Royce Hunt also received a caution for his involvement in the tackle, while England forward Morgan Knowles received a one-match ban for dangerous contact and John Bateman was cautioned for contrary behaviour.

England coach Shaun Wane and Burgess had called for Paulo to be allowed to play in November 19 final at Old Trafford.

A shattered Wane was in tears as he addressed the media after the match but the England coach threw his support behind Paulo and said he believed Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga would also want the Samoa captain to play.

“The way this World Cup has been refereed has been fantastic,’ Wane said. “They’ve let the players play. I’m glad he didn’t get sent off.

“I don’t think Mal [Meninga] would want him missing the game, that’s not the way this World Cup has been and everyone wants to see a strong Australia and a strong Samoa. I don’t think he should be [suspended].”

Burgess also backed Paulo to play, saying: “He should definitely play the final, there was nothing in it.

“It was just the way the tackle went,” Burgess told Fox Sports. “He should not miss a week for that, no way. I was fine”.

Samoa coach Matt Parish expects Sea Eagles prop Martin Taupau to be available for the World Cup final but hooker Fa’amanu Brown is set to be ruled out due to England's 11-day stand down rule for players suffering a head knock.

After losing backs Tyrone May, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Izack Tago to injury in the opening match against England, Samoa were also without hooker Danny Levi due to family reasons.

The loss of Paulo would have been a massive blow for Samoa but Parish believed Hunt's involvement in the tackle was a mitigating factor.

“Clearly he let go,” Parish said. “Obviously it was a dangerous position, but he let go. Royce was in the tackle too and he obviously made some contribution to it.

“They didn’t go through with it, they didn’t drive him, they let him go, they placed him on the ground.

“Burgess got up and it was a penalty, and moved on. I couldn’t see him missing the final over that.”