after being scared, the English reach the semi-finals | EUROtoday

Fiji had 5 minutes of insanity

After two nearly copy-pasted makes an attempt from their facilities, Tuilagi (14^e) then Marchant (23^e), in bulldozer mode, it was the foot of opener Farrell who furnished the scoreboard. And the Fijians appeared too inconsistent to actually disturb them, with the solely flash of magic in the first half being this go between the legs of fly-half Botitu for Mata’s attempt (28^e), recovering a ball mendacity on the floor about ten meters from the English line.

But in the house of 5 minutes, all the pieces nearly modified for the XV de la Rose. Test of the Ravai pillar in energy (64^e), then one other attempt from opener Botitu, after an excellent full-field breakthrough from his second line Nasilasila (69^e): with the two transformations, the Fijians have been again on observe. And England had conceded as many tries (3) in a single match as since the begin of the World Cup, whereas its protection appeared in place…

But it was lastly the foot of the opener Owen Farrell, with a drop first (72^e) then a ultimate penalty (77^e), which despatched England to the semi-final, beneath the gaze of Princess of Wales Kate. A Farrell who has taken a step additional in comparison with the legend Jonny Wilkinson as high scorer in the historical past of the XV de la Rose (1,206 factors in opposition to 1,179 now).

A lenient draw for the English

“We were in control for the vast majority of the time, but there was a sequence where they scored tries in quick succession that only they could score,” commented Steve Borthwick after the match: “But I “I’m happy with the way my players handled it afterwards.”