Historic defeat to Fiji leaves England in dismal form for Rugby World Cup
I
t by no means rains however it pours. A shock torrent soaked an unsuspecting Twickenham, then Fiji shocked a hapless England.
Steve Borthwick’s aspect slipped to their first-ever defeat by Fiji – and the Pacific Islanders have been full worth for his or her 30-22 win in west London.
Even the rugby gods don’t want England to play attacking rugby. As quickly as Jonny May ended England’s drought with out a strive from a again in six hours and one minute, the heavens opened – after which some.
The storm clouds are gathering round head coach Steve Borthwick, and with good cause.
Fiji have been all the pieces England usually are not. Play like this towards Argentina in two weeks’ time, and England will lose their opening match on the Rugby World Cup.
England are in full disaster now. There is not any different rationalization. Ponderous, confused, at odds with one another – and even the driving maul was blunted by a spirited, potent and composed Fiji staff.
Waisea Nayacalevu, Vinaya Habosi and Simione Kuruvoli all claimed tries for a fluent Fiji. Nayacalevu even had a rating chalked off earlier than the break for a marginal ahead go. So, it might have been worse. Although solely these indignant rugby gods know the way.
May, Marcus Smith and Joe Marchant did seize tries for England, however the unerring Caleb Muntz slotted three conversion and three penalties as Fiji claimed a well-known triumph.
Watch out Wales is all England might be pondering, with Fiji dealing with Warren Gatland’s males on the fast-approaching Rugby World Cup.
England in the meantime, need to be fearing Michael Cheika’s Argentina. The Pumas might be purring about taking up England in Marseille on Saturday, September 9. On this proof, Argentina will win, and deserve it.
May zipped into the nook to start out the day, due to Alex Mitchell’s silver service and Ford’s large flash go, for essentially the most overdue of England tries.
Northampton man Mitchell delivered a first-half efficiency to make a mockery of his omission from England’s authentic 33-man World Cup squad. The pace and high quality of his supply in all features fully outshone something another England scrum-half has produced on this wretched month.
Inexplicably although, straight after that rating, England simply stopped enjoying. Fiji began to dominate, Semi Radradra pressured himself onto the ball increasingly, and the house aspect wilted. Nayacalevu was denied a rating by a marginal ahead go, after wing Ravutaumada carved England to shreds.
Courtney Lawes needed to pull off a determined sort out on the previous Bristol man, to maintain England within the contest.
England needed to resort to the chief weapon of their driving maul to shut the half, however even that was blunted. Two pushed lineouts put Fiji on the verge of breaking level. Saracens prop Eroni Mawi was despatched to the sin-bin and England have been licking their lips.
England have been a person up and went straight again to the maul. But someway Fiji thwarted the drive and turned the ball over, to depart England cowed.
The hosts circled 8-3 forward, however extraordinarily lucky to take action.
Where Nayacalevu was denied a rating earlier than the break, there can be no stopping him after the interval. England have been left bamboozled by the footwork and pace of considered Fiji once more, and the Toulon star surprised the hosts by powering dwelling. Muntz’s conversion handed Fiji the lead for the primary time, at 10-8.
Just eight minutes later Fiji stormed over once more. This time Fijian Drua wing Habosi claimed the glory, with England in full disarray. Muntz’s conversion and a subsequent penalty put the guests’ lead at 20-8.
Smith climbed off the bench and into the full-back berth for England, and shortly snaffled a poacher’s end from Ford’s cute chip. Muntz responded with one other penalty although, to depart Fiji main 23-15 heading into the ultimate quarter.
Ford despatched Marchant into the appropriate nook after a robust maul, then transformed the rating to attract England inside some extent. Danny Care knocked on from the restart although, gifting Fiji an attacking platform within the dwelling 22.
Kuruvoli finally completed Fiji’s third strive, with England undone by two effective offloads. England had no additional reply, and rightly left the sphere with heads bowed.
Say your prayers boys, you may simply want them throughout The Channel.