England held off a spirited late fightback to seal their place in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals on Sunday. Steve Borthwick’s side delivered an impressive display full of physicality and defensive ferocity to take control of the last-eight clash in Marseille, carving out handy leads thanks to tries from Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant plus the boot of captain Owen Farrell, restored to fly-half at the expense of George Ford with Marcus Smith deployed from the outset at full-back.
However, Fiji refused to surrender meekly and were given hope by No 8 Viliame Mata before two quick-fire tries in four minutes from Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu stunned England and levelled up the game heading into the last 10 minutes. But Farrell’s enduring class and experience shone through, the skipper slotting a key drop goal and later adding a fifth penalty to guide his team safely into the semis by a six-point margin.
England will discover their next opponents later on, when hosts France take on defending champions South Africa in a mammoth fourth quarter-final showdown in Paris. Follow England vs Fiji reaction live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at the Stade Velodrome.
Live updates
England player ratings
Replacements
Joe Marler (for Genge, 60) – 7
Kept his head and kept grinding away as England slipped off then recovered to drive through.
Kyle Sinckler (for Cole, 59) – 7
Had to grin and bear it through Fiji’s last-gasp purple patch but managed to do exactly that.
George Martin (for Chessum, 70) – 7
Another to keep driving on at the death to thwart Fiji’s ambitions of a big recovery.
Billy Vunipola (for Curry, 72) – 7
Put himself about well late on.
Danny Care (for Mitchell, 59) – 7
Drove the tempo well again when he had chance to get England on the ball.
Ollie Lawrence (for Smith, blood 23-33, for May, 64) – 7
Once again showed why England rate him so highly with a calm, mature and physical showing.
England player ratings
Forwards
Ellis Genge – 8
This was a return to the Baby Rhino line-busting, ball-carrying Genge England know and love best.
Jamie George – 8
The set-piece functioned in style and the Saracens star delivered another big showing for England.
Dan Cole – 7
Delivered a tone-setting performance in set-piece and tight duties to lay the vital platform.
Maro Itoje – 8
The Saracens talisman insisted he would be back to his best and this was his strongest England showing in some time.
Ollie Chessum – 8
Another vital, gritty, hard-working showing from one of the most important components in England’s scrum and lineout.
Courtney Lawes – 8
One turnover stunned Fiji and completely turned the early momentum on its head in Marseille. Measured and merciless.
Tom Curry – 6
Not quite able to get onto the ball as much as he would have liked but physical, bullish – and with a lot more to come it seems.
Ben Earl – 9
His transformation has been phenomenal. England’s man of the World Cup delivered again and he deserves all the plaudits that will come his way and more.
England player ratings
Backs
Marcus Smith – 6
Rode out one extremely risky break and dealt with a broken nose to add just enough poise to England’s back-field set-up.
Jonny May – 6
Dug out a tap-tackle on Waisea Nayacalevu just when the Fiji captain looked bound for the whitewash.
Joe Marchant – 8
A fine turn from one of England’s World Cup success stories. Playing with real confidence and grit.
Manu Tuilagi – 8
A return to top form for England’s battering-ram centre. How they will need more of the same in the next fortnight.
Elliot Daly – 7
A very solid showing from one of England’s most versatile and reliable operators.
Owen Farrell – 9
The captain and talisman delivered in every facet to prove exactly why he had been restored to fly-half for this clash. Has to stay there now for England.
Alex Mitchell – 7
Kept the ball fizzing around and his tempo driving proved a real feature when England could get their phase play going.
Nick Purewal’s match report from Marseille
Ben Earl raced half the length of the Stade Velodrome pitch, steaming away from all chasers to seal England’s 30-24 Rugby World Cup quarter-final win over Fiji.
The Saracens back-rower blitzed clear of all the cover to stop Fiji’s ferocious recovery in its tracks.
As the Pacific Islanders tried one poach too many at the breakdown after only just stopping Earl scoring himself, Owen Farrell stepped up and slotted his fifth penalty of a madcap Marseille encounter.
England had led 24-10 on 52 minutes, only to see that advantage evaporate as Fiji delivered two stunning scores in four minutes to level the last-eight clash.
A Farrell drop goal edged England back into the lead, before that Earl break and the skipper’s final penalty took the Red Rose men through – but only just.
Click here to read the report in full
Steve Borthwick reaction
“I thought the players were magnificent, the whole squad worked hard to get that result,” the England head coach told ITV.
“After the performance you have to give immense credit to Fiji – they’ve had a fantastic World Cup and I’m delighted we found a way to win that game.
“For the vast majority we were in control there was a spell midway through the second half where they scored back-to-back tries and they’re the only team in the world who can do that. But I was pleased with how the players handled it thereafter.
“A lot has been written about these players and what I see is a group who can handle and rise to these occasions.
“We’ve had great week. It’s been a brilliant part of the world to prepare but Paris is a bit special so we are looking forward to it.
“We don’t forget there’s a fair number of people who said we won’t make it out of group and a fair number who said we would lose tonight and we’re going to be written off again I’m sure.
“But this team is determined to be successful.”
Owen Farrell reaction
“It was what we expected,” the winning England captain told ITV.
They are a tough, tough team that can turn it on in the blink of an eye. I thought we started the game really well. We really got after it in that first half.
“We always knew Fiji were going to have some good patches and they did. To find a way to win and get through to the semi-finals is a big step forward but we know we have plenty of work to do.
“The forwards did a great job and put it on the plate for us. I just had to knock it [the drop goal] over.”
England 30-24 Fiji
Full-time
Time to catch our breath!
A staggering finish to this quarter-final.
England advance and will face either hosts France or defending champions South Africa in Paris next Saturday.
Fiji are understandably crestfallen. What a game.
England 30-24 Fiji
86 mins: Still we play on in Marseille!
Fiji back with ball in hand just inside the England half, building back through the phases and trying to force a last-gasp opening.
But there’s the turnover from Lawes! Doge off his feet at the breakdown and then holding on.
Farrell has the ball and pelts it into touch!
ENGLAND ARE INTO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS! INCREDIBLE DRAMA IN MARSEILLE!
England 30-24 Fiji
84 mins: It’s a deliberate knock-on from the England captain!
Fiji penalty, no card for Farrell.
Oh that’s a dreadful kick to touch from Fiji!
They needed to boom that right into the corner.
Instead it’s off just inside the England half.
England 30-24 Fiji
82 mins: No handling mistakes from Fiji and they are up past 15 phases, but England’s defence is stellar and pushing them back – great tackle from Care.
It’s all too narrow and congested from Fiji before they finally try to open this up.
There’s a potential deliberate knock-on here from Farrell that will be checked…