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Jonny good thing for Samoa handicap backers that Wilko missed

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Why Jonny Wilkinson's last-minute missed conversion was such a big deal on Betfair

ENGLAND got their World Cup bid back on a more credible track when beating Samoa 44-22 this afternoon, and it was a game full of betting drama.

England were matched at 1.01 when 23-6 up in the first half, but were only 26-22 to the good when Samoa were pressuring their line in the second half. They drifted to 1.3 with Samoa, who had touched 75 in running, being backed at 4.1.

But England stretched away in the end to record that 44-22 win.

However, with Paul Sackey scoring in the corner in the last play of the match, Johnny Wilkinson wouldn't have been aware of the value (quite literally) of his conversion, because it would decide the -23.5 Betfair handicap line.

And, as Samoa had been backed at 1.01 on it when they were only 26-22 down, it was a pretty important one.

He missed.