wo “thunderbolts” in 4 minutes, and England flashed from protected semi-final passage to preventing for his or her Rugby World Cup lives.

Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu each crashed over, to show that lightning actually can strike twice, as Fiji worn out a 24-10 deficit at Stade Velodrome.

Steve Borthwick is extremely pleased with his England crew for at all times discovering a solution to win at this World Cup, regardless of the circumstances and no matter it takes.

Clawing an 18-17 victory over Samoa in a pool stage match with quarter-final qualification secured is one factor — however fending off a Fiji onslaught in a knockout match was one thing else fully.

Borthwick hailed his males for dealing with these bolts from the blue, driving again upfield and securing scores to win 30-24. “For large parts we controlled the game, then had a couple of thunderbolts in quick succession,” mentioned the pinnacle coach.

“Not that long ago an England team is probably not going to come back and win that game, and this team did. There is a smartness about the team. There is a composure about the team.”

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First Owen Farrell pulled the set off on a snap drop-goal, then the captain posted a penalty after Ben Earl’s barnstorming 50-metre break.

Farrell praised his ahead pack’s degree heads for digging the backs out of a gap for the essential drop-goal. Then the England skipper laid a giant phrase of thanks on the jet-heeled toes of stellar No 8 Earl.

“We pulled the trigger as backs a bit too early and got hit behind the gainline but the forwards got us back in the right position again for the drop-goal, so fair play to them,” mentioned Farrell.

“And Ben’s obviously growing and growing as a player, but it’s no surprise to me.

“It’s how hungry he is, how much he wants the ball and wants to get involved when it really matters most.”

England at all times mentioned they'd ship when it actually mattered most.

Borthwick should have felt like a damaged file for regularly pledging that England can be prepared for his or her opening World Cup match in opposition to Argentina.

England delivered in spades that evening, with Farrell and Billy Vunipola banned and Tom Curry despatched off inside 4 minutes, to prevail 27-10.

The remainder of the group stage was straightforward sufficient to navigate after seeing off Japan 34-12. Yesterday, although, England knew one false transfer too many and they might be going dwelling.

Instead, the Red Rose males are within the semi-finals and face the Herculean activity of defeating a South Africa facet ­positively dripping with supremacy.

The Springboks will punish any England transgression with out mercy in Paris on Saturday evening.

They appear to have a sixth sense for absorbing strain, biding their time, then putting virtually with out warning.

To decide off groups similar to Scotland with out breaking sweat within the pool phases appeared intimidating sufficient, however to dismiss the hosts in full flight final evening proved menace personified.

South Africa’s 29-28 win in Paris may dampen some event enthusiasm on the bottom right here, however the brutal Boks is not going to care one jot.

England are equally unfazed, however whether or not Borthwick’s males can discover the muscle and manpower to match and higher the Boks stays to be seen.

Borthwick’s males have hit their World Cup par, and have to be revered and praised for turning the ramshackle finish of Eddie Jones’s reign into a reputable event marketing campaign.

The solely northern hemisphere representatives within the World Cup’s final 4 did move by way of the straightforward half of the draw, nevertheless. In these pages on Friday, World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio branded the facet of the draw containing Ireland, New Zealand, France and South Africa as representing “a different sport” throughout the pool phases.

Well, now England need to rise to that completely different self-discipline, cranking up by way of the collision-area notches once more, to deal with the Boks’ compelling mixture of energy and panache.