An afternoon made in rugby heaven, this. Fantastic stadium and crowd and match and spirit. England were recognisable as a rugby team, one with a strategy and a purpose and a pride. They did not always resemble a potentially great one, but if they improve at their current rate (rubbish to reasonable in one week) then they can see off Tonga on Friday and take Australia (probably) to the wire in the quarter-final.

And before we harp on too much about England’s deficiencies we must pause because there was nothing easy for them out on the pitch. They were up against an opposition of such magnificent heart, footballing excellence and passion that any win was a good win, and the scoreline was cruel to Samoa, in the extreme.

Indeed, England led only by four points into the final quarter, and Samoa twice came within inches of scoring tries which would have taken them into the lead. It was hair-raising. “We definitely fancied our chances of winning the game then. We blew it,” said Michael Jones, the coach. Their endurance faded in the final 10 minutes but if they had been in front then, you just never know. As it was, Andy Gomarsall orchestrated two late England tries and their relief whacked you in the face.

At the end of a delightful and rapid match of attack and counter-attack, there were fervent scenes. The warm bond between the Samoans and their adopted hometown of Nantes was celebrated with a lap of honour which will not be bettered for the winning team in the final and the bond between the two teams was also powerful. It was one of those celebrated days that only happen in Rugby World Cups. “It was up in the stars,” said Jones.

And if you saw the two epics of resistance from the two South Seas titans yesterday, you might be interested in this. The International Rugby Board are thinking of cutting the number of teams in the finals. If they do, then it could be that neither team plays in 2011. Scandalous? Of course. Dull of spirit? Definitely. They and their black-and-white World Cup must be stopped. Hail Samoa.

And hail, good old Lazarus England, and the prodigal Gomarsall. The scrum-half has been dropped more times than a parachutist. Yesterday, there seemed to be three of him. He was all over, prompting, covering, cajoling. He was the springboard for everything that was good and focused. England’s effort diminished worryingly in the third quarter, when they let Samoa swarm all over them. But Andy Sheridan, Simon Shaw and Martin Corry gave them a muscular focal point, and gave Gomarsall space to work.

Furthermore, Josh Lewsey was far more at home and involved at full-back and Paul Sackey, with two fine tries, was able to look like the player he can be, rather than the bystander he was last week. But there must be reservations, because although fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and inside-centre Olly Barkley gave the team shape, the execution in the backs was average and the play just a little blunt. There was a good deal of weaving, but not too much that was dangerous for the defence. But there was a plan. You could see what they were trying to do.

England even made a good start. Shaw charged down Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu’s clearance kick and though it bounced agonising away from the chasing Joe Worsley, England set the attack in motion from a ruck. George Chuter, Nick Easter and Matt Stevens engineered a clever burst through midfield and Wilkinson sent Corry over. The fly-half converted, dropped a neat goal and England were established, although two Loki Crichton penalties took away a little of their steam.

The pattern was set. Meaty England drives and clever interpassing between backs and forwards, and thrilling Samoan breakouts. England really hammered it in with more penalties by Wilkinson and a second try. Wilkinson and Mathew Tait combined to send Mark Cueto through a half gap, Worsley came on the burst to straighten the move and, after a recycle, Wilkinson chipped carefully for his onrushing backs and Sackey chased hungrily from the opposite wing to score.

Samoa turned the tide with two sweeping counters, Tuilagis scattering England like ninepins, and they forced two penalties that Crichton kicked to give Samoa heart. It had been a half of vivid colour and fascination.

And it never lost those appealing qualities. Crichton kicked another penalty after Wilkinson had been guilty of lazy running in knocking a ball down to stop a Samoa attack, and then the islanders conjured a delightful try from nothing.

David Lemi executed a lightning chip-and-chase, regathered, and brilliant nifty passing from him and Seilala Mapusua sent Mahonri Schwalger away down the right wing. The hooker kept his head, chipped carefully though and the television official ruled that Junior Polu had grounded the ball.

There was a sniff of an epic upset, the greatest ever. England had to endure a horrible moment when Tait coughed up the ball and it bounced all over the England line before it was snaffled by a defender. Then Samoa came at England in waves from a five-yard scrum, battering away heroically – and Sheridan and Corry had to tackle their stout hearts out. A try look a near-certainty. It never came.

Then England dusted themselves down. The forwards gathered themselves and set up a platform. England struck, without mercy. Wilkinson carefully extended the lead with a drop goal and a fine long penalty and, with Samoa finally falling off tackles, there were two late tries. The first came after Dan Hipkiss made ground up the left, Gomarsall sent out a long pass to Lewsey and Corry scored his second on an inside pass from Sackey.

That was that, and Sackey came for a regal lap of honour. Wilkinson checked inside in an attack from the right, Sackey picked him up with a brilliant supporting run, veered outside Alesana Tuilagi and scored in the corner. Deadly finish, by the wing and the team.

And you have to hand it to the England rugby followers, to their faith and their wallets. This wonderful stadium had its French bands and Samoan-loving locals, but it was also packed with tens of thousands of men and women in white. When they filed out to continue the party, they may have been musing that better days lie ahead. For the neutral, if could not get much better than this.

Star man: Andy Gomarsall(England)

England:J Lewsey; P Sackey (both Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle, D Hipkiss (Leicester) 72min), O Barkley (Bath), M Cueto (Sale); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), A Gomarsall (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale, P Freshwater (Perpignan) 64min), G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps, S Borthwick (Bath) 64min), B Kay, M Corry (both Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps, L Moody (Leicester) 69min), N Easter (Harlequins).

Samoa:L Crichton (Worcester); D Lemi (Bristol), S Mapusua (London Irish, J Meafou (Scopa) 70min), B Lima (unattached, L Lui (Moata’a) 72min), A Tuilagi (Leicester); E Fuimaono-Sapolu (Bath), J Polu (North Harbour, S So’oialo (Harlequins) 65min); K Lealamanua (Dax, F Pala’amo (Leeds) 62min), M Schwalger (Hurricanes), C Johnston (Saracens, T Fuga (Harlequins) 75min), J Tekori (Waitakere, J Purdie (Wellington) 75min), K Thompson (Highlanders), D Leo (Wasps), S Sititi (NTT Docomo Kansai), H Tuilagi (Perpignan, A Vaeluaga (Bristol) 69min) .

Tries: Tries: Corry 2, 75, Sackey 31, 80

Cons: Wilkinson (3). Pens: Wilkinson (4) Drop Goals: Wilkinson (2)

Try: Polu. Con: Crichton Pens: Crichton (5)

Referee: A Lewis (Ireland). Att: 37,022