3rd QF England v Fiji - Stade de Marseille

First topic message reminder :

England: 15. Marcus Smith 14. Jonny May  13. Joe Marchant  12. Manu Tuilagi  11. Elliot Daly 10. Owen Farrell (c)9. Alex Mitchell 1. Ellis Genge 2. Jamie George 3. Dan Cole 4. Maro Itoje 5. Ollie Chessum 6. Courtney Lawes 7. Tom Curry 8. Ben Earl

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: 1. Eroni Mawi 2. Tevita Ikanivere 3. Luke Tagi 4. Isoa Nasilasila 5. Albert Tuisue 6. Lekima Tagitagivalu 7. Levani Botia 8. Viliame Mata 9. Frank Lomani 10. Vilimoni Botitu 11. Semi Radradra 12. Josua Tuisova 13. Waisea Nayacalevu (c) 14. Vinaya Habosi 15. Ilaisa Droasese

Replacements: 16. Samuel 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 TMO: Ben Whitehouse

Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) and Pierre Broussett (France)

Itoje with the sack again there. He's wrecking Fiji's lineout at the moment.

That's what Tuisova can do though. He can break the gain line without needing much momentum first.

Fiji looked fairly rattled, but that try has put them back within 5.

Stays yellow, as expected.

Heaf wrote:Was in both team's way and it was Fiji's fault there was an injured player there in the first place ... don't think they can have an argument against that

Strange justification. The play needs to be stopped for the players and medical staff's safety. End of.

So the YC remains a YC, correct due to mitigation of Smith's change of direction.

I thought Farrell was a bit of ^%&* there by laughing at the ref when he explained the mitigation.

Miles forwards

It wasn't Tuisova with the initial break and offload, sorry. Only just got half a replay.

Ooooftt. This RWC is the first time I've seen Bill Mata playing like this in a while. His peak early on with Edinburgh was insane. Playing like a world class forward and Sevens player rolled into one.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:

Heaf wrote:Was in both team's way and it was Fiji's fault there was an injured player there in the first place ... don't think they can have an argument against that

Strange justification. The play needs to be stopped for the players and medical staff's safety. End of.

Not saying it was right - but your comment was more about Fiji being hard done by when they weren't ...

Really like Mitchell, box kicking is mostly spot on too

Ben Earl comes across as a bit of a five knuckle shuffle

Solid goalkicking from Farrell thus far.

Curry so far more of a liability than asset.
England so far so good. Taking points on offer, Itoje having good game.

Curry a very lucky boy to stay on. the no arms tackle and at least one head high tackle. Farrell is continuing with his upright tackles as well

Strange by Raynal - tells the Fiji SH not to feed the scrum crooked at the next stoppage - why not free kick him at the time?

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Get Curry off, he's a ticking time-bomb

Penalties are not good but Curry is a major reason Fiji hasn't been getting many yards.

TJ wrote:Curry a very lucky boy to stay on.  the no arms tackle and at least one head high tackle.  Farrell is continuing with his upright tackles as well

Nothing worthy of a yellow though ...

Farrell's had a strong game in general. Kicking from hand has been really good, goal kicking solid and picking options well from 10.

Itoje has been excellent too. Genge and Earl prevalent. Mitchell recovered very well from last weeks shocker to do his role well.

A ton of lineouts so far. 8 on England's throw, 9 on Fiji's according to ESPN. Fiji have won 8/9 but generally cut numbers and thrown to marked areas so haven't had a platform from it. Whereas England have got their maul rumbling a few times.

Nice of the Scottish lads to get involved in the knockout stages.

Not sure all of Fiji's line outs have been straight

England have managed to not go to sleep after 15 mins - let's hope they can continue to improve in the 2nd half as well ...

lostinwales wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Get Curry off, he's a ticking time-bomb

Penalties are not good but Curry is a major reason Fiji hasn't been getting many yards.

My feeling too. 9 tackles completed and 2 missed. He's leading the line speed close to the ruck and making hits behind the gain line.

The no arms was a dismal position to get into and definitely a penalty. I don't think we've had a replay of the potential high shot?

It does feel like part of Curry's role is in a way playing with fire. Against Samoa he was the only player regularly competing jackals. Most the side weren't jackaling unless it was an obvious unsupported player and in our own 22. Whereas Curry was contesting everything near him hard to force Samoa to commit attackers to rucks to secure the ball without England committing many defenders. Here he is seemingly being used to fly up and try to make dominant hits.

It doesn't excuse penalties or getting too low to wrap of course. But it does feel he's being used in higher risk roles.

Farrell in trouble...? No!

Surely his foot was in touch when he scooped that back?

Apparently you're allowed to collapse mauls and go in the side now?

I mean, his hands are definitely on the floor, but we've seen dodgier jackals than that awarded already tonight so I can understand Botia being a bit frustrated with that.

Likewise it looked like that maul got dragged down so I can understand England's frustration even if Genge's ensuing penalty is dumb.

I mean, his hands are definitely on the floor, but we've seen dodgier jackals than that awarded already tonight so I can understand Botia being a bit frustrated with that.

Likewise it looked like that maul got dragged down so I can understand England's frustration even if Genge's ensuing penalty is dumb.

Raynal is letting them get away with murder at the mauls

Amazing from Lawes again

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Amazing from Lawes again

Yeah although hands on the floor.

It's the wid west out there - officials very sloppy

Genge has had a big second half bar the bit of sportsmanship pen.

Scottrf wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Amazing from Lawes again

Yeah although hands on the floor.

Ball was out???

No 7&1/2 wrote:Genge has had a big second half bar the bit of sportsmanship pen.

Looked like he took one in the face for his troubles - surprised not looked at ...

Genge has had a big game to be fair. Carrying really well and being used alongside Curry to line up against their big carriers on shortened Fiji lineouts.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Amazing from Lawes again

Yeah although hands on the floor.

Ball was out???

Was it? My bad!

Heaf wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Genge has had a big second half bar the bit of sportsmanship pen.

Looked like he took one in the face for his troubles - surprised not looked at ...

He did get a slap. Which was what he was looking for.

Why did they reverse the line out throw in?

Daly has had a good game on the wing. He's a really smart chaser in terms of when to contest or not. He's nailing his positioning. He's also done well to get out of tricky positions with his footwork when needed.

The breakdown is an absolute mess.

Raynal is such a loose ref

Still, ya think Curry needs a rest and some valium, not necessarily in that order?

I'm not even saying England or Fiji are getting an advantage, it's just very inconsistent for both sides.

Raynal is hopeless. Never has any control and that feeds into the game.

Fiji getting very frustrated out there.

bsando wrote:I'm not even saying England or Fiji are getting an advantage, it's just very inconsistent for both sides.

It's a bit all over the shop. The Botia penalty for hands on the floor sums it up. His hands clearly on the floor but jackals with even clearer infringements have been rewarded in the match.

Lawes has showed his experience by adjusting to that and contesting jackals everywhere as he's more likely to get them. Usually in this England defensive setup Lawes has only attacked breakdowns hard near his own line.

Crowd problem?

https://twitter.com/GoodBadRugby/status/1713589401194811467

Got to stop giving away soft pens ...

England have given penalties for crossing at the lineout like that a few times under Borthwick. It's very annoying.

Rugby Fan wrote:Crowd problem?

https://twitter.com/GoodBadRugby/status/1713589401194811467

French?

Fiji not going away. 7 point game with just over 15 left.

And the result - in a position to attack and end up conceding a try ...

I don't think Smith will want to play at full back anymore.