Red-faced Rugby World Cup organisers were forced to apologise after technical issues ruined an embarrassing opening ceremony at St James' Park.
England dismantled Samoa in the delayed tournament's curtain raiser in Newcastle, but some supporters were left feeling short-changed before the Group A clash kicked off as the pre-match entertainment was wiped out by PA system failures.
A large crowd of 43,000 packed inside St James' were awaiting a set from warm-up act the Kaiser Chiefs, but the show fell completely flat as the audio was abruptly cut off. There was a confused silence in the stadium as rugby league icons Kevin Sinfield and Jason Robinson held the coveted World Cup trophy pitchside.