England advanced to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup 2023 following an intense showdown against Fiji at Stade de Marseille on Sunday. The match ended with a final score of 30-24 in England’s favour, but it was a hard-fought battle.
In the first half, England looked promising, with tries from Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant, complemented by 11 points from Owen Farrell’s precise kicks, giving them a solid 21-10 lead going into halftime. However, Fiji mounted a remarkable comeback in the second half.
The Flying Fijians surged back into the game, scoring tries through Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu, levelling the score at 24-24 and putting England’s lead in jeopardy.
Ultimately, it was England’s fly-half and captain, Owen Farrell, who came to the rescue. He settled the nerves with a clutch drop goal to regain the lead and later secured the victory with a crucial penalty, sending England to the semi-finals.
In the upcoming semi-final, England will face the defending champions, South Africa, after the Springboks ended the host nation France’s dreams with a thrilling 29-28 victory in a game featuring seven tries in Saint-Denis. This match will be a highly anticipated rematch of the final from four years ago in Japan, where the Springboks emerged as champions.
Owen Farrell, who was named the Mastercard Player of the Match, acknowledged Fiji’s resilience, saying, “They are a tough, tough team that can turn it on in the blink of an eye.” He praised England’s strong start but acknowledged Fiji’s ability to mount comebacks.
England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, lauded Fiji’s exceptional performance in the tournament and the match, acknowledging that it was a challenging contest. He highlighted the determination and resilience of his players, who have risen to the occasion, despite being written off by many.
England’s journey through the tournament has been remarkable, especially considering their loss to Fiji in August during a warm-up match. Now, they have their sights set on the semi-final in Paris, where they will once again aim to prove their mettle on the world stage.
Source: -Rugby World Cup Website
