The XV de la Rose was more solid than the Flying Fijians to reach the last four on Sunday in Marseille. He will face France or South Africa.
The English dream continues one more round. Thanks to a drop then a penalty from Owen Farrell, England countered the explosive comeback of Fiji (30-24) and snatched their qualification for the semi-finals of the World Cup, Sunday October 15 in Marseille. In a disjointed match, the XV de la Rose controlled its subject for a long time, before collapsing in the face of the Fijian anger and bordering on criminality. From experience, the English still had the last word and will find France or South Africa in the last four.
It was certain that nothing would be easy for the English in this World Cup. That each success would be painful, laborious, agonizing. So when the Fijians began a thunderous but somewhat late comeback, England turned a cheek without panicking. Better, she countered even harder. A drop (72nd, 27-24) – definitely the theme of English trips to Marseille – then a penalty from Owen Farrell (78th, 30-24), and the XV de la Rose was right again.
England even played rugby
It wasn’t over yet, and we had to get rid of one last Fijian possession, less intense than the Irish’s 37 insane playing times the day before, but unpredictable with punchers Waisea Nayacalevu and Semi Radradra in the equation. When, after five long minutes of tension, Mr. Raynal penalized Fijian support, the English part of the Vélodrome melted into such intoxication that we wish courage to the Marseille restaurateurs to satisfy their throats.
The night will be long in the Old Port, and it could have been quieter for Maro Itoje and his family. Impeccable for an hour, they did their best to extinguish the slightest Fijian flame by scratching as many balloons as possible in the confrontation zones. Their superiority on the ball put them on the right track, with a try from Manu Tuilagi (14th, 8-0) and, something new, they had the good idea to explore regions too rarely visited during the tournament by restarting balloons, by a Marcus Smith who was just waiting for that. England has not become New Zealand, but it has expanded a hitherto very limited palette, and that is already a big step. Joe Marchant’s try (24th, 15-3), after sweeping the width of the field, attests to this.
Never has a Tier 2 nation failed so close to the semi-finals
One more after Vinaya Habosi’s yellow, the English fell back into their ways for a time on a try from Viliame Mata (28th, 15-10), but generally had control of the match. The absence of a professional opener – center Vilimoni Botitu stuck to it – to score (8 points gone) and leave their camp limited the Fijian options. Then they remembered that the offloads flowed through their veins and brought the balloons to life to find, finally, continuity.
The attempt of despair by Peni Ravai (64th, 24-17) was followed by that of hope, planted by Vilimoni Botitu after a crossing in the axis (68th, 24-24). Enough to wake up an initially timid then playful part of the Vélodrome, but too tight to reach the semi-finals. Never has a Tier 2 nation failed so close to the final four, and Fiji will have four years to let go of their regrets for not having ignited the game earlier.