Echoes of 2007 as England move into Rugby World Cup semi-finals with Fiji victory

England disrupt at the line-out but Fiji retain the ball. They return to their narrow shape, looking to bludgeon through England’s forwards.

The final call is that it’s just a penalty. Fiji kick to touch, but it only makes it to just inside the England half.

Farrell is protesting his innocence in the background, but Nic Berry is now on the pitch asking whether it should be more than a penalty…

It’s certainly deliberate, but it could yet be a yellow card…

Fiji have been pushed back almost to half-way. The ball goes to ground and they fling a pass, which comes off the hand of Farrell. It looks like a deliberate knock-on though and is being checked by the TMO…

Fiji fling it wide to the left, but there is no space there. They are being repelled backwards in the tackle and are now behind their 1src. Fiji look to spin it wide right, but it is well-read by Care who rushes up to make the tackle.

Fiji retain the ball and feed left to Nayacalevu. Fiji keep it narrow, crashing into England defenders just short of the England 22. All of Fiji’s players are within a 15 metre channel.

By the time the ball goes in, the clock will be in the red. This really is the final role of the dice for Fiji.

With a minute to go, Fiji win a scrum after an England knock-on. England get a shunt on but the scrum is re-set. Fiji now have one last shot at a World Cup semi-final.

England have a scrum on their own 22. They must keep it stable her and exit well. Vunipola breaks from the base. Botia is lurking, looking to move in for the jackal, but Owen Farrell cuts him off. England clear to touch just short of their own 1src.

Fiji re-start well, forcing Courtney Lawes into touch as he catches. England are dogged at the maul though and repel Fiji backwards to win a penalty. Courtney Lawes is right at the heart of it.

England have the bit between their teeth now, crashing forwards in waves of attack, first from Lawes and then through Earl. Tuilagi barrels into defenders before England go back right. Smith is collared, and England play away. With momentum slipping, Farrell shows brilliant game management to drop into the pocket and slot the drop goal. England go back ahead!

Kurivoli’s kick cannons back off the post, but there’s still danger for England as Fiji gather. They appeal for a penalty as Courtney Lawes appears to catch it in the air.

England are at sixes and sevens all of a sudden. Ollie Chessum is batted off by Semi Radradra who flies full pelt into Marcus Smith. The England full-back stays down. As England scramble in defence, Courtney Lawes has one too many bites at the cherry in the breakdown, and  Fiji win a penalty.

England are penalised at the lineout for off-side – it looked like Sincler got in front of the ball carrier at the maul. Fiji send it down-field for a lineout just outside England’s 22.

England then win a penalty at the scrum for Fiji wheeling. Replacement props Joe Marler and Kyle Sincler claiming the glory. Marler has a bit of fun with Tuilagi giving him a big shove.

England’s imaculate defensive performance continues with another breakdown victory. This time it’s the good work of Danny Care in defence that opens up the opportunity for England to jackle. Borthwick’s side are taking on Fiji at their own game here, and they are coming out on top.

Botia first drags Curry out the ruck by the leg before adopting a ‘put-em up’ boxing stance in the face of the incensed Curry. He catches the England flanker in the face with an open palm, but the referee rules that it’s all just handbags, and Fiji kick up-field for a lineout.

After Fiji win a penalty at the breakdown, it kicks off all of a sudden. It looks as if Botia might have thrown a slap there at Curry…

Dicing with the shot clock dead zone again, Farrell kicks but it falls short and Fiji look to run it out.

Fiji thread together an intricate sequence of off-loads to get themselves into a threatening position on the left flank. Nayacalevu is knocked back by Farrell though and England then win another penalty at the breakdown. Kevin Sinfield will be grinning like a Cheshire Cat at his side’s performance so far. Farrell points for the sticks from wide out to the right. 

After Fiji kick, Smith looks to slither through but is collared by Botia. England kick up-field.

Cries of “smash it” from Owen Farrell as Fiji set their maul. Sometimes rugby really is that simple…

England are causing Fiji all sorts of problems with their kick chase. This time Farrell hoists one high into the air to put pressure on Droasese through Daly. After some refereeing debate, it is ruled to have come off the hand of Daly though and Fiji win the line-out. 

England play off the trop of the line-out and look dangerous. Genge is repelled though with a slightly static carry. England look to probe the blindside, but Smith is place in the unfortunate position of taking the ball with Botia’s shoulder flying right into his knee ligaments. Smith does his best to squirm out of the challenge, and England win a penalty for off-side. Farrell opts for the posts, and England add three more.

The turnovers are starting to add up for England. This time it’s Itoje who disrupts at the line-out. With quick ball and playing under advantage, Farrell feeds Genge who barrels through Botitu. England chip in-behind and chase well, heaving Fiji into touch.

Fiji bash into the guts of England’s defence once again through Nayacalevu, but Courtney Lawes gets over the ball this time to make a turnover in a crucial area of the pitch. Mitchell thumps the ball downs-field for a Fiji line-out around half-way.

Offf the line-out, Fiji play right up to the line, whizzing it across the backline to the left flank. England scramble well, and Earl, who else, makes a good chop tackle to quell the momentum. As Fiji play back right, Curry makes a good read to intercept, but the ball goes to ground. Fiji scrum.

Ben Early is getting through a mountain of work both in attack and defence, proving a nuisance at the breakdown and making powerful carries. After England work it up to the Fiji 22, Fiji win a turnover and kick back. Farrell lines up a 5src-22 but over cooks it. For an unfortunate ball woman, the Fijian winger doesn’t have time to slow down, careering over the barrier and using her as a speed bump.

England have a good charge at the line through the forwards, but the maul is held up to give Fiji a scrum. Handbags ensue on the ground, with Ellis Genge accusing a Fijian of slapping him. But it is Genge who is penalised in the end for refusing to release the Fijian player’s shirt. Silly ill-discipline from England’s vice captain. Tempers are flaring a little early in this second half.

There’s a tackle from Farrell on Radradra that looks border-line high, but the upstairs referee checks it and waives play on. Farrell then dribbles through a beautiful kick to the corner, but his is matched in expertise by the brilliant Radradra who flicks up a late off-load to his team-mate, and Fiji play out. In a breathless passage of play, England eventually win a penalty as Botia fails to show a clear release. England kick to the corner.

We’re back under way. England gather the kick-off, and Mitchell returns serve with a high box kick. Fiji kick too long with their next effort and Mitchell calls the mark. He nudges to touch for a Fijian line-out on half way.

England come in-field off the line-out, and Daly is charged with running hard into the Fijian defence. Tough break.. After a couple of phases, England recycle and move it out wide left to Daly again, who chips in behind dangerously. Fiji corner flag to gather the kick and look to run it back from behind their own line. Alex Mitchell does his utmost to avoid making a tackle, wafting the Fijian player through, but luckily his team-mate makes a better effort. Fiji kick into touch, and the referee blows up for half-time. Goodness me, that was a breathless first half. 

Fiji keep it narrow and look to bash through England’s defence, but England continue to front up. Ben Earl is proving a menace and gets into a jackal position. Fiji clean him out but do so illegally in the side of the ruck, and England win a penalty. Farrell sends it up-field for a line-out on the Fiji 22.

England give away a scru