The penultimate Rugby World Cup quarter-final clash will see England pursue swift revenge over Fiji in Marseille this afternoon. A last-four blockbuster against either France or South Africa will await today’s winners next weekend, with the hosts and defending champions set to collide in a monster showdown in Paris later on tonight after Argentina and New Zealand overcame Wales and Ireland respectively on Saturday.
England will be keen to avoid making it a hat-trick of Northern Hemisphere favourites crashing out in the first knockout round after watching their Six Nations rivals fall in back-to-back contests. Steve Borthwick has made some bold selection calls after his side answered their considerable critics with a 100 per cent group campaign to top Pool D, with captain Owen Farrell moving back to fly-half and Marcus Smith starting at full-back as Elliot Daly also returns following an alarming display against Samoa last weekend.
Fiji recorded their first ever win over England in a warm-up encounter at Twickenham back in August and 10 of those starters are retained here, with the Pacific Islanders hoping to shake off their shock loss to Portugal that saw them end up scraping through with a crucial losing bonus point as they contest a first World Cup quarter-final since 2007. Follow England vs Fiji live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at the Stade Velodrome.
Live updates
England 15-10 Fiji
Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at the Stade Velodrome
Habosi’s yellow card will remain just that. The wing will be back into the fray after his 10-minute sin-bin.
It’s a high degree of danger but mitigated by a late change in direction.
England 15-10 Fiji
Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at the Stade Velodrome
England cannot cope with Fiji’s power driving through the tackles, they keep going through the phases in the 22 after missing the penalty.
Viliame Mata races through a gaping hole and drags Fiji back into the contest.
TRY! England 15-10 Fiji | Viliame Mata 29′
29 mins: Fiji hit back!
Tuilagi is done up like a kipper by the classy show and go from No 8 Mata, who crashes through to touch down the Pacific Islanders’ first try of this quarter-final.
Lomani converts. Great try.
England 15-3 Fiji
26 mins: Lomani hasn’t brought his shooting boots today.
Another penalty is hooked wide after another infringement from Curry.
England 15-3 Fiji
Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at the Stade Velodrome
Tom Curry is extremely lucky to avoid a yellow card for a low no-arms tackle on Josua Tuisova, that flipped the Fiji centre right over. Fiji convert the penalty to cut England’s lead to five points.
Habosi is sin-binned for a head-clash tackle with Smith, that leaves the England full-back with what looks like a broken nose.
Fiji wing Habosi’s challenge will now be under review, so there’s potential for an upgrade to a red card. Ollie Lawrence has come on for Smith while he has his blood injury tended to.
TRY! England 15-3 Fiji | Joe Marchant 23’
23 mins: England are in again!
A slick move is finished off by Marchant, who sells the dummy after getting the pass from Farrell, steps inside and finishes nicely under pressure.
A great attack that from England.
Fiji are also going down to 14 for the next 10 minutes as wing Habosi is shown yellow for a clash of heads with Smith after being done by the step.
Smith’s nose is pouring with blood as Ollie Lawrence comes on for now. Farrell adds the conversion after the delay and England now lead by 12.
PENALTY! England 8-3 Fiji | Frank Lomani 21′
21 mins: No mistake from Lomani this time from the tee and Fiji are on the board, cutting England’s early lead to five.
Curry is very fortunate there not to be shown a card for a no-arms tackle on centre Tuisova, who lands very awkwardly.
The England flanker – sent off just minutes into the opener against Argentina here last month – makes no attempt to wrap, but has his hands on the floor and gets away with it.
Just a penalty.
