So after that delay we are nearly 20 minutes late - but we are up and running! Tonga kick off through Isaiya Katoa.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

There is a sizeable pocket of Tonga fans - a good 100 of them at least - behind one end of the pitch. They were as loud as the players during the Sipi Tau.

I imagine they will get even louder if their team makes a strong start.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Matt Newsum
Commentator on BBC One

Spine tingling stuff, that's the ceremony complete. Now we're set for a real Test match!

It's Sipi Tau time. The Tongan version of the haka coming up. Great theatre as ever. England line up shoulder to shoulder on the halfway line to face it down.

Image source, PA Media

God Save The King - nailed.

Respectful near silence across St Helens for the Tongan anthem. There are plenty of Tonga fans in the stands as well, and a few tears from the players.

This is not a friendly.

The good news is - the players are out on the pitch now...

Warrington wing and England squad member Matty Ashton, speaking to BBC One about the delay to kick-off:

"It's not an ideal situation but the boys will still be relaxed. They'll be chilled out and up for it, I'm sure they'll be ready.

"It was a privilege to listen to [ex-England captain and future Warrington coach] Sam Burgess last night, he's a really motivational leader and I look forward to getting to work with him."

England's Victor Radley is known as 'Victor the inflictor' down under, where he plays for Sydney Roosters. That's superb.

He qualifies via his Sheffield-born dad Nigel but team-mates joke that they don’t understand his accent.

Image source, Getty Images

Suspended England captain George Williams, speaking on BBC One:

"It's really frustrating to miss out but it is what it is, I'm going to get behind the boys today and hopefully we can do a good job. There's some exciting boys in there, I wish I was playing.

"It's a massive game for [Mikey Lewis] but I've said to him to do what he's been doing to get himself here. He's been one of the standouts in Super League, he's running games and hopefully we'll see that today."

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

There are a lot of empty seats in the grandstand directly opposite the press box, which can presumably be explained by the issue at the turnstiles.

Kick-off has been delayed by 10 minutes - issues getting into the stadium we are hearing. Bear with us.

Tonga's former St Helens coach Kristian Woolf, speaking to BBC One:

"It's great coming back, coming off the bus and seeing some familiar faces, it looks like it's going to be a good crowd and it's a great day for footy."

On lessons learned from last year's World Cup quarter-final exit:"Preparation is everything. We were disappointed with our performances and they came off the back of our preparation with our performances. It's something we've got right this time, I'm really proud of our blokes in terms of how important they've made it, how fit they've come over and how they've prepared so far."

Andy Gilder: England's gameplan today should be run at Lolohoea, run at Lolohea and run at Lolohea. Doesn't want to defend, won't defend. Exploit it.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

The England supporters' band have just been interviewed pitchside by the PA announcer, who invited them to play a tune for the crowd.

They opted for When The Saints Go Marching In, which is the definition of playing to your audience.

Image source, Getty Images

England coach Shaun Wane, speaking about the decision to make Jack Welsby captain with George Williams suspended:

"[I look for] a person who can handle pressure really well and Jack has done that for years. He's very confident, he doesn't panic under pressure and they're good skills to have as captain.

"It's a strong leadership group. George is 28 and one of the best players in the world, he's not that old, but the next one in will be Jack. I'll be gone in a few years and the next person in will hopefully have some good leaders."

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf said his tourists were proud to be breaking new ground for rugby league.

"It is very historic, to be the first tier-two nation to get this sort of invite," he said. "It's a big deal for us, something we are very excited about. We have been wanting more meaningful games, so we are looking forward to it.

"It is not just three nations [England, Australia and New Zealand] any more, there are four, five, six competing together, which means we can look to put a schedule together. We want those top five or six teams playing each other."

Jamie Peacock
Former England captain on BBC One

Image source, Getty Images

We want to see England under pressure. Tonga are genuine opposition who can beat them. 2017 [the World Cup semi-final loss to England] was when Tonga announced themselves, it was one of the best games I’ve ever witnessed and just what international rugby is all about.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

Image source, Getty Images

Just six of the England XIII today started the World Cup semi-final defeat by Samoa at Emirates Stadium in London last year.

Captain Jack Welsby, Tommy Makinson, Tom Burgess, John Bateman, Elliott Whitehead and Victor Radley are the only survivors.

Today could be a new dawn for England - or a false start, if Tonga have their way.

Jon Wilkin
Former England international on BBC One

International rugby league is something you always relish.

The Pacific islands is an amazing story for development of rugby league, it’s where some of the best development is going on. The development of Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea speaks of real strength in the international game.