England hold off valiant Fiji in Marseille thriller

MATCH REPORT: England secured their place in this year’s World Cup semifinals with a narrow 30-24 win over a spirited Fijian side in Marseille on Sunday.

Steve Borthwick’s side looked comfortable at 24-10 ahead leading into the final quarter. However, Fiji staged a dramatic fightback to level the scores at 24-24 with just 10 minutes to go.

However, a drop goal and penalty from Owen Farrell in the final minutes helped England hold off the Fijians.

England will now face either France or South Africa in next weekend’s semis.

Fiji showed a lot of promise on attack in the opening few minutes, but it was England who opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a Farrell penalty.

England extended their lead in the 14th minute with centre Manu Tuilagi crashing over for a try after his team were camped inside Fiji’s 22. Farrell struck the upright with his conversion attempt.

Fiji had an opportunity to get their first points of the game in the 18th minute, but Frank Lomani also found the upright with his penalty attempt.

Lomani did make amends for it in the 20th minute with a three-pointer.

However, England had more of the momentum in the game and they were in again in the 23rd minute with Joe Marchant finishing off some great interplay inside the Fijian half. Farell made it a 12-point lead with the conversion.

Fiji also suffered a blow after Vinaya Habosi received a yellow card for a head-on-head collision with Marcus Smith in the build-up to that score.

But that didn’t stop the Fijians from showing some magic on attack and after several strong carries, Viliame Mata was put into space to race in for a try. Lomani made it a five-point ball game with his conversion.

Farrell managed to push his team’s lead to eight points with a penalty in the 34th minute before he added another a few minutes later.

Both teams had their fair share of the ball in the opening stages of the second half and England extended their lead in the 54th minute with another Farrell penalty.

Just when you thought the game was slipping away, Fiji kept their hopes alive when Peni Ravai bashed his way through the English defence to score a try in the 64th minute. Simione Kuruvoli added the extra two points with the conversion.

Kuruvoli had a chance to make it a four-point ball game a few minutes later but he hit the upright with his penalty attempt.

However, it didn’t matter as flyhalf Vilimoni Botitu was put into space to score his team’s third try after some great interplay between Semi Radradra and Isoa Nasilasila.

Kuruvoli levelled the scores with his conversion.

England put their foot on the gas after that and after a few phases inside Fiji’s half, Farrell put his team back in front with a drop goal.

Farrell then made things a little harder for Fiji with a penalty in the 78th minute to put his team six points ahead.

The Fijians continued to be a threat with ball in hand as the clock ticked over 80 minutes. However, England’s defence stood firm.

Man of the match: Fiji wing Semi Radradra was a constant threat and his incredible offload was the catalyst for Fiji’s third try in the game. Levani Botia was also a powerhouse with ball in hand. For England, Owen Farrell’s accurate boot was key in the win, while Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes stood up to the physical challenge when it mattered. However, the award goes to No. 8 Ben Earl, who was just everywhere on the field for England. He was aggressive on defence and he had a few strong carries as well.

The scorers:

For England:
Tries: Tuilagi, Marchant
Con: Farrell
Pens: Farrell 5
DG: Farrell

Fiji:
Tries: Mata, Ravai, Botitu
Cons: Loamni, Kuruvoli 2
Pen: Lomani

Yellow card: Vinaya Habosi (Fiji, 23′ – foul play, head-on-head clash

Teams:

England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Jonny May, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Courtney Lawes, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Martin, 20 Billy Vunipola, 21 Danny Care, 22 George Ford, 23 Ollie Lawrence.

Fiji: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Vinaya Habosi, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (captain), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Vilimoni Botitu, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Lekima Tagitagivalu, 5 Albert Tuisue, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Meli Derenalagi, 20 Vilive Miramira, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Iosefo Masi, 23 Sireli Maqala.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)