England are celebrating sealing their place in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
Steve Borthwick’s side march on at the tournament after the boot of Owen Farrell saw off a Fiji fightback in Sunday’s dramatic finish in Marseille.
The long-serving captain nailed a crucial drop goal and then drilled over his fifth penalty to pull England ahead by six late on after two quick-fire tries from Fiji duo Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu had suddenly levelled the game out of nowhere.
The Red Rose men will now go on to face the winner of Sunday night’s blockbuster clash between hosts France and defending champions South Africa in the last four.
Standard Sport’s rugby correspondent Nick Purewal was at the Stade Velodrome to rate the England players.
Backs
Marcus Smith – 6
Rode out one extremely risky break and dealt with a broken nose to add just enough poise to England’s back-field set-up.
Jonny May – 6
Dug out a tap-tackle on Waisea Nayacalevu just when the Fiji captain looked bound for the whitewash.
Joe Marchant – 8
A fine turn from one of England’s World Cup success stories. Playing with real confidence and grit.
Manu Tuilagi – 8
A return to top form for England’s battering-ram centre. How they will need more of the same in the next fortnight.
Elliot Daly – 7
A very solid showing from one of England’s most versatile and reliable operators.
Owen Farrell – 9
The captain and talisman delivered in every facet to prove exactly why he had been restored to fly-half for this clash. Has to stay there now for England.
Alex Mitchell – 7
Kept the ball fizzing around and his tempo driving proved a real feature when England could get their phase play going.
Forwards
Ellis Genge – 8
This was a return to the Baby Rhino line-busting, ball-carrying Genge England know and love best.
Jamie George – 8
The set-piece functioned in style and the Saracens star delivered another big showing for England.
Dan Cole – 7
Delivered a tone-setting performance in set-piece and tight duties to lay the vital platform.
Maro Itoje – 8
The Saracens talisman insisted he would be back to his best and this was his strongest England showing in some time.
Ollie Chessum – 8
Another vital, gritty, hard-working showing from one of the most important components in England’s scrum and lineout.
Courtney Lawes – 8
One turnover stunned Fiji and completely turned the early momentum on its head in Marseille. Measured and merciless.
Tom Curry – 6
Not quite able to get onto the ball as much as he would have liked but physical, bullish – and with a lot more to come it seems.
Ben Earl – 9
His transformation has been phenomenal. England’s man of the World Cup delivered again and he deserves all the plaudits that will come his way and more.
Replacements
Joe Marler (for Genge, 60) – 7
Kept his head and kept grinding away as England slipped off then recovered to drive through.
Kyle Sinckler (for Cole, 59) – 7
Had to grin and bear it through Fiji’s last-gasp purple patch but managed to do exactly that.
George Martin (for Chessum, 70) – 7
Another to keep driving on at the death to thwart Fiji’s ambitions of a big recovery.
Billy Vunipola (for Curry, 72) – 7
Put himself about well late on.
Danny Care (for Mitchell, 59) – 7
Drove the tempo well again when he had chance to get England on the ball.
Ollie Lawrence (for Smith, blood 23-33, for May, 64) – 7
Once again showed why England rate him so highly with a calm, mature and physical showing.
