Fiji beat England for the primary time with a 30-22 victory at Twickenham on Saturday because the hosts accomplished a woeful Rugby World Cup warm-up marketing campaign.
The Pacific islanders, 8-3 down at halftime, totally deserved their win as each groups scored three tries. The reverse means England head to the World Cup in France on a run of 5 defeats in six matches.
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Fiji have been 12 factors forward early within the second half. Although England closed to inside a degree, the guests pulled clear with a attempt seven minutes from time by alternative Simione Kuruvoli.
England desperately wanted a win forward of a tricky Pool D World Cup opener towards Argentina in Marseille on September 9, however as a substitute suffered a defeat that raised contemporary questions on their defence.
Fiji, in the meantime, might be buoyant within the run-up to a World Cup they start towards Wales — the group they knocked out in 2007 in France — in Bordeaux on September 10.
“I am so proud of the boys, this win is for all the people back home in Fiji,” wing Selestino Ravutaumada, the player-of-the-match, instructed Amazon Prime.
England captain Courtney Lawes, profitable his one centesimal cap, admitted: “It is just not good enough. We are where we are at the minute and all we can do is push on.
“We need to get our attack together. We are just turning over too many penalties and today we didn’t attack well enough.” England kicked-off with out common captain Owen Farrell and No 8 Billy Vunipola following the pair’s current purple playing cards.
The skilled George Ford, enjoying at fly-half as a substitute of Farrell, kicked England into an early lead with a penalty in entrance of 56,854 spectators — a much smaller attendance than the greater than 80,000 that watched world champions South Africa inflict a file 35-7 defeat upon New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday.
Recalled wing Jonny May ended England’s greater than six-hour look forward to a attempt by a again when he fended off his reverse man earlier than going over within the nook within the ninth minute after sharp passing by scrum-half Alex Mitchell.
Ford missed the conversion however England have been 8-0 forward.
As rain lashed down, Fiji’s first assault ended with Caleb Muntz kicking a penalty.
The moist climate, accompanied by thunder and lightning, made dealing with tough. With Fiji all the way down to 14 males after prop Eroni Mawi was sin-binned for knocking down a maul, England pressed for a attempt from an attacking lineout.
But Fiji’s defence held and England needed to be content material with an 8-3 lead at halftime.
Early within the second half, Ravutaumada beat May and located Waisea Nayacalevu on his inside.
With Muntz changing, Fiji, regardless of nonetheless being a person down, led 10-8. They went additional forward within the 52nd minute when left wing Vinaya Habosi burst by way of a ruck for a attempt.
Muntz once more transformed and the fly-half’s penalty 4 minutes later prolonged Fiji’s result in 12 factors.
England pulled a attempt again heading into the ultimate quarter when alternative Marcus Smith raced on to Ford’s chip forward.
With Ford changing, 2019 World Cup finalists England have been simply 5 factors behind.
But following Mitchell’s excessive deal with, Muntz made it 5 from 5 from the tee with a 46-metre penalty.
England hit again when alternative again Joe Marchant went in for a attempt on the nook.
Ford transformed. Fiji led by simply 23-22 with 12 minutes remaining however scored subsequent after controlling possession following a knock-on on the restart by England alternative scrum-half Danny Care.
The sidestepping Ravutaumada proved an excessive amount of for England’s defence and he despatched in Kuruvoli for a attempt between the posts duly transformed by Muntz.
Source: www.news.com.au
