Express Sport – Owen just bootiful
England vs Fiji: Rugby World Cup updates as Steve Borthwick’s men book place in semis
EXPRESS SPORT SAYS England booked their place in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals on Sunday as they defeated Fiji 30-24 in the last eight. Steve Borthwick’s men dominated the majority of the match in Marseille but almost blew their chance to progress after Fiji launched a second half comeback.
England scored the first try of the game midway through the first half as Manu Tuilagi crashed over following good work from the forward pack. And a second try of the afternoon from Joe Marchant took England’s advantage to 15-3.
Fiji got off the mark as Viliame Mata penetrated the England defence and crossed the whitewash, before Owen Farrell nudged over two penalties to put Borthwick’s team 21-10 up at the interval.
Fiji held firm after the break after Farrell added another three points from the boot. And the Pacific Islanders remarkably drew level courtesy of two converted tries as Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu both crossed. But Farrell added a late drop-goal and penalty to steer England to victory.
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