France have developed this incredible ability, particularly at World Cups, to turn in a shocker and you only have to go back to 2011 against Tonga, and four years earlier against Argentina, when they lost on the opening night in Paris, to prove the point.
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“Certain players who were under pressure put their hands up and in the end they won the game comfortably”. Mako Vunipola’s introduction came at a time when the Fijian front row were clearly tiring, but his dynamic play was sorely missed in the opening hour of the game.
The tournament hosts would surely have wanted to launch their World Cup campaign in style. Fiji should be proud of their attacking intent, but impressed most with their forward play.
Replacement prop Kieran Brookes meanwhile says playing in a World Cup is a “massive dream come true”, especially given he only made his full global debut last June.
The young royals watched on intently throughout the nail-biting game, which saw England defeat Fiji 35-11.
“Good evening and welcome to Twickenham, to England 2015 and the eighth Rugby World Cup”, he said.
England were reprieved when referee Jaco Peyper belatedly deferred to the TMO after awarding a try to Nikola Matawalu. Ford punishes Fiji for offside. Geoff Parling, centres Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joesph shifted the ball quickly to create space for Brown, who stepped inside his man to place the ball. England get on the rolling maul and Matawalu is penalised for stopping the advance and is sin-binned.
But Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo then scored his first try of the tournament and kicked a penalty to cut the deficit to 10 points at halftime.
Ford added a penalty and Nadolo slotted one over to reduce England’s lead at the breat to 18-8.
Only when Lancaster virtually emptied his bench around the hour mark was there a notable change, with Billy and Mako Vunipola making immediate and direct progress, the team finally building multiple phases that finally had the islanders running out of steam and leaving holes.
“Nobody wants games to be decided by demonstrably unjust calls but what was totally inacceptable was the time taken to make those decisions”, the 53-year-old wrote for the Telegraph.
England’s Mike Brown goes over to score the second try against Fiji at Twickenham. “It was a big last five minutes”.
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Robshaw said the bonus could be “hugely important” in deciding who wins Pool A to get an easier path from the quarter finals.
