England hold off Fiji fightback to reach semis
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - OCTOBER 15: Ollie Lawrence and Owen Farrell of England react during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between England and Fiji at Stade Velodrome on October 15, 2023 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
By Nick Powell, Online Editor
England…………………………….30
Tries: Tuilagi 14, Marchant 23
Conversions: Farrell 24
Penalties: Farrell 11, 34, 38, 54, 78
Drop-goal: Farrell 72
Fiji………………………………………24
Tries: Mata 28, Ravai 64, Botitu 68
Conversions: Lomani 29, Kuruvoli 65, 70
Penalties: Lomani 20
England held off a thrilling Fijian fightback to avenge defeat in August to the same opposition and reach the World Cup semi-finals.
After their most cohesive and impressive half of rugby so far in the tournament England led 21-10 at half-time as Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant crossed, with Villiame Mata’s response nullified by three Owen Farrell penalties.
Farrell gave England a 14-point lead as he struck another after the break, but Fiji roared back with tries from Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu to level the scores into the last ten minutes.
Farrell slotted a drop goal in an almost immediate response though, and knocked over another penalty to see England over the line and leave them as the last Home Nation remaining in the competition.
“It feels good at the minute,” the England captain said. “We’re glad to the job done. I’m glad we had the fight that we showed at the end against a top, powerful outfit in Fiji.
“There’s plenty to still to go for us, plenty to work on, it’s a good place to be for us now and we’ll get after it going into next week.
“The skill and power of Fiji can always hurt you at times, so you have to be on high alert, and I thought we were.”
Having famously been beaten by Fiji in the lead-up to the tournament, England knew the threat their opponents would pose with their fearless, skilful opponents bidding for a first place in the semi-finals in their history.
There were plenty more danger signs for Steve Borthwick‘s men in the early exchanges. Fiji made three turnovers at the breakdown in the first ten minutes, and halted England’s first big opportunity in the 22 by forcing them to hold on.
But England already had a penalty advantage, and there would be no more shot-clock drama for Farrell as he slotted a simple three-pointer to open the scoring.
While Fiji were in the ascendancy at the ruck England were in charge at the maul, and after gaining plenty of yards from the restart the 2019 finalists went back on attack.
Farrell struck a good kick into the corner, and though the maul was scrappier on this occasion England still managed to earn a penalty advantage, before Tuilagi snuck round the blindside and finished well for the first try.
Farrell’s conversion hit the post, before his opposite goalkicker did the same off both posts as Frank Lomani missed his first penalty attempt off the tee.
Lomani was given an immediate chance to make up for it, after Tom Curry was penalised and lucky to avoid further sanction for a no-arms tackle at the same venue where he was red carded for a high shot in England’s opening game, and the Fijian scrum-half cut the gap to five after a very even first quarter.
But what followed was one of England’s finest sets of attacking phases in the tournament so far. It began with a well-timed short pass from Ben Earl to Joe Marchant, and after England continually made yardage on the left hand side, Marchant was the eventual scorer a nicely worked try.
Farrell knocked over the conversion, with the TMO sending Fiji’s Vinaya Habosi to the sinbin for a head-clash tackle on Marcus Smith, but the Pacific Islanders struck back with the spirit and quality that has typified their tournament.
A quality offload from Vilimoni Botitu to Josua Tuisova got them back on the front foot, and a phase later Mata scooped off a loose ball on the ground to reduce the margin to one score again.
With Habosi’s yellow card not upgraded in the bunker, Fiji would have smelt blood in the lead up to break against a team who have had a poor record in response to conceding in the last twelve months. England, however, arrested the Fijian flow with two penalties earned firstly at the scrum and then at the ruck, which were both scored by Farrell to give his side a 21-10 lead.
England had one final chance at the end of the first period, but Elliot Daly’s dangerous looking chip was dealt with well by the Fijians, who were ultimately happy to get the ball off the field at the end of what had been an entertaining half with much-improved displays from both teams on their final pool matches.
Fiji made a statement of intent as the first team to return to the pitch for the second period, but England provided one of their own as they went to the corner with a penalty in kickable range. The Pacific Islanders tied the ball up at the maul though, and were able to clear their lines after a petulant shirt grab by Ellis Genge was penalised.
Fiji went in search of a try to cut the gap, but England were beginning to look vastly more comfortable with dominance at both the lineout and ruck.
By contrast, the problems Fiji had caused England at the ruck early on were being replaced with declining discipline, and Farrell brought his haul to 14 points and extended England’s gap to the same number with another penalty.
But Fiji were never going to die wondering, and after being handed an attacking opportunity from an England lineout infringement, stretched the men in white from side to side defensively.
Sireli Maqala stepped down the right, skipper Waisea Nayacalevu charged up the left, and eventually Peni Ravai burst through the tackle of Maro Itoje to cut the gap to a single score.
The game had come to life, Itoje and second row partner Ollie Chessum missed tackles on Semi Radradra, with the Lyon bulldozer only slowed down by an immensely brave tackle from Marcus Smith, who for the second time in the game found himself drenched in blood as a result of a hit.
From the resulting attack Fiji had won a penalty though, and whilst Simione Kuruvoli missed his shot at goal, a kick once again hit the posts and Fiji regained possession. It wouldn’t be long before Radradra sent Isoa Nasilasila away in space, who fed Botitu to cross and give Kuruvoli a simple kick to level.
He converted, but England went straight back on the offensive as a half break from Courtney Lawes set up an opportunity along the left touchline for Manu Tuilagi. Whilst England struggled to keep the attack going, Farrell made sure of a reward as he calmly took the drop goal.
Fiji went in search of an equalising or winning score, but Billy Vunipola intercepted and found Ben Earl, who sprinted up the field before a penalty gave Farrell a chance for another three points from the tee.
His successful kick meant Fiji now needed a converted try to snatch it, and though they were driven back by determined England defence, Farrell knocked-on deliberately to give them one last chance.
Fiji were penalised for going off their feet at the ruck though, and Farrell, who had been at the centre of the action all day and was rewarded with the World Cup’s Player of the Match award, kicked the ball off the field to end another dramatic quarter-final at the tournament.
ENGLAND: Smith 8 (Lawrence 23-36), May 7 (Lawrence 65, ), Marchant 7, Tuilagi 7, Daly 7, Farrell 8 (c), Mitchell 7 (Care 60, 7); Genge 7 (Marler 61, 6), George 7, Cole 6 (Sinckler 60, 7), Itoje 7, Chessum 6 (Martin 70), Lawes 8, Curry 7 (Vunipola 74), Earl 8
Not Used: Dan, Ford
FIJI: Droasese 6, Habosi 7 (Maqala 46, 7), Nayacalevu 7 (c), Tuisova 6 (Masi 72), Radradra 8, Botitu 7, Lomani 6 (Kuruvoli 56, 6); Mawi 6 (Ravai 49, 7), Ikanivere 6 (Matavesi 49, 6), Tagi 5 (Doge 23, 6), Nasilasila 7, Tuisue 7 (Miramira 76), Tagitagivalu 6 (Derenalagi 56, 6), Botia 8, Mata 7
Star Man: Ben Earl (England)
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