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00:03England side under the pump facing down the barrel of five defeats on the bouts it is not territory
00:12England are accustomed to occupying and the pressure well and truly on against the Fiji
00:18team who did not have it their own way in Cardiff they started like a steam train an early try
00:26then they blew so many opportunities and wound up being ground away by the Welsh set piece
00:32and the Welsh power Scotland's Holly Davison has made herself one of the top whistlers in the
00:40business and follows her first men's Six Nations appointment with this afternoon's match
00:48Fiji smarting from their failure in Wales against an England side for whom there can be no
00:54margin for error today and the opening restart taken by Ben L the busiest carrier in Johannesburg
01:01and indeed the busiest carrier in the competition so far with 21 charges already
01:08an early exit from Chuck from Portfleet he has kept his berth at number nine
01:13Tommy former England wing is here with us today a lot at stake for both these sets of coaches who
01:20needs it more well unthinkable pressure will be heaped on to Steve Borth which should England leave
01:28the northwest of England without a victory but Fiji at the same time will be wanting to quiet down those
01:34comms that have been coming out of Fiji over the past few days pressure on both as you'd expect
01:42some really exciting rugby ahead of us here over the next hour or so
01:49Canebere's throw Tina Sila Sila at the tail and then fumbled by Pangi Pangi Baru and this Tom this
01:55scrum that's going to follow is surely a place where England will look to follow where Wales picked up
02:00I'm reading as I sat here coaches notes coaches plan they want to try and keep this game open flowing
02:10lack of structure actually I believe they do need a bit of structure but this is a platform that they
02:15need to settle on can't enter a game like this against anyone at test level but especially a team
02:22like England and not have a scrum or a line out that's functioning properly England do get the ball
02:28out the back with Finn Smith tucked neatly in behind Ben Earl's backside they're going to have to watch
02:33out for line speed
02:37the trend set early by England the penalty going against Saracen's Eroni Maui
02:43he's pucking against some familiar faces today well Finn Smith's going for the cross fielder
02:49early on Freeman would have been in but Holly Davison not happy with where it was taken
02:57it's a brilliant kick all the same from Finn Smith and probably you think they're only going to get one
03:02shot at that so Fiji will be slightly wiser
03:09sleepy let's say after Holly Davison's whistle
03:14but this is exactly the start England will have looked for Tom get a knock on get a set piece
03:19win a penalty Fiji four scrum penalties conceded in Cardiff and two mole tries as well
03:26Chesson wins he's England's line-out guru captain Jamie George goes after it but England don't get the drill right
03:37it's one a piece at the set piece on this side
03:43Jamie George drawing level with Owen Farrell on 112 cups
03:47only three men above him now Ben Young's top of the tree on 127.
03:51okay guys on this side better height keep the scrum off the floor
03:58Jamie you and I were in the tunnel here at Hill Dickinson earlier on as the Fijian team entered
04:05ridiculous is probably an understatement when you come to talk about the size of these players so
04:10really at this point with the scrum as a real focal point
04:16the focus for them really has to be on on the technicalities of the area
04:20that front row because they're not lacking in terms of size and strength that is for sure
04:27in front of your picture coming in on the tight head side today former
04:35Dragons propped down in Wales back home we've been threw up Tim Hoyt suffering a six-week injury
04:41in the tight position last week
04:44goes up against the baby rhino Ellis Genge
04:49good platform that for Fiji wheels inside
04:51Kurovole is caught though and they've dropped it forwards
04:58it's a massive scrum huge scrum from the English pack
05:04you can hear from the elation that that's something they focused on in the build up to this week
05:11having been down to Johannesburg and dealt with let's say
05:20I'll tell you one thing I am looking forward to seeing
05:24Levani Bottier picking the ball up at the base of the scrum
05:28well Finn Smith must be looking at those blokes around him saying please
05:34tighten up defensively because that is one bloke you do not want running down
05:38your channel look at him pocket rocket
05:42the demolition man Levani Bottier his first cap since the world cup in 2023
05:47those handling errors Tom that was that was a blight on Fiji's performance last week they were turned
05:51over 13 times unforced eight of those coming in their own half
05:56when you do get comments like
05:59those made by the chairman during the week from Fiji
06:03you make one or two in other games you just brush them off move ahead
06:06crack on with your game so they'll start to play in their minds
06:11they'll know there's a real focus on their performance here in Liverpool
06:18if you haven't seen John Sandy the Fiji rugby chairman
06:21saying this is not a picnic where one goes through the motions
06:24negative return on investment from highly paid players and coaches against Wales first up
06:31players by all accounts from what they've told us are not happy with the words of their chairman
06:38do not go do not go early do not pull him back take the hit take the hit okay reset
06:45same ball
06:50England had the best balance of scrum penalties in a pretty chastening Six Nations campaign
06:56one seven conceded just two plus five for that column
07:01what do you see here in the way England are shaping up top
07:08certainly Fijian defense will be looking where Finn Smith ends up it'll all depend on the shoulder
07:13that England try to edge up on but both Seb Atkinson and Slade flat in the midfield
07:20it's one dominant set free shot for England
07:22Finn Smith has narrowed Fiji up looking for Freeman on the bounce
07:27still alive here
07:29it has come off the come off the corner flag
07:32Holly Davidson had turned her back and blown for the penalty
07:35England convinced that they've scored
07:37off-field decision is try Mike check in touch
07:57check in touch but
08:00the flag in the corner is not in touch
08:08Sam Grove quite the assistant there on the far side had
08:13just left at Holly Davidson this is legal
08:23Fiji as I mentioned earlier on looking to come off the line really quickly Finn Smith with an
08:27intelligent kick over the top
08:29fairly
08:31frustrating bounce from Tommy Freeman's perspective
08:34okay so try is good
08:36Marcus Smith following up for what possibly will be the easiest try he ever scores
08:43not only for England but in his rugby playing career
08:46everybody switched off Marcus Smith stayed alive
08:51picked up the scraps and England leads
09:02outstanding conversion from Finn Smith and England have an early buffer of seven points
09:10it's a great start from England applying huge pressure to
09:14that Fijian scrum and ultimately that pressure has turned itself into seven points
09:20exactly the start that Fiji would have
09:24not wanted here in Liverpool
09:27up goes Chesson that's a fabulous take
09:33Pepper
09:34starting ahead of Tom Curry who's on the bench today
09:37see a lot of this from England they're shaping for the box kick averaging 30 of these a game at
09:42the moment
09:42and up goes the contestable
09:44Faye Woboso against Karawalevu
09:47Fijian taps it back lovely pick up back from Selesi Rayasi
09:58first carry of the game for Evany Mbotia lovely collision hat with Earl and Martin
10:12Faye Woboso
10:13Fiji felt they they forced things a bit too much they want to play that authentic Fijian rugby
10:17but they know that an element of structure is required against England
10:22and Kurovoli more of a natural kicker than Frank Romani
10:26Faye Woboso takes it going backwards we'll see a lot of that from England today
10:31George Martin running some interference but no impact on the Fijian defence
10:37from Portfleet to Ben Earl looking for some soft shoulders
10:43Smith and Seb Atkinson
10:47from Portfleet challenging the fringe defence it was a loose pass which Caniberi has scooped up
10:52majestically there's ping-pong through the middle Kurovoli gets to it ahead of Faye Woboso
10:58Freeman's got some work to do here as well scavenged by the Northampton man
11:03Fiji have turned it over Karawalevu going for the corner but Jamie George gets there
11:09a captain's salvage job
11:13and he celebrates like he scored in the corner
11:20it's all very well Jamie George celebrating in the corner but that's a
11:23horrible turnover in the midfield from an England perspective
11:26England are playing here and taking the line out quickly to Earl over the top
11:31no no not yet thank you use it England
11:37Finn Smith waiting in the pocket George Martin who turned Springboks into speed bumps last week
11:44makes a kinder angle for his playmakers
11:52that's a fine kick from from Portfleet it's warm enough today by the way just to mark your card we
11:57will
11:57have a couple of three-minute water breaks one in each half as we see another angle of Jamie George
12:02putting Karawalevu in England line is yours well I was chuntering on saying oh it's not that warm
12:09like when you're outside the stadium there's a bit of a breeze my days when you're down pit side it
12:14is
12:14absolutely sweltering seven with a nine
12:22it's a smart line-out from Fiji and they found Isoa Nasilasila peeling off the back refusing the
12:28contest from England's Ratova has dropped it and England will be quite happy given their early
12:34strong supremacy to feed in here it's bitty at the moment both teams really struggling to get into their
12:41flow that's going to be remarkable England had five minutes or so where the application of pressure
12:47through that scrum paid off for them but both teams not really bursting into life in terms of their own
12:56shapes and setups they want to employ it's a huge day not just for Steve Borthwick but for Senorussi
13:03Serobakura the Fiji coach an interim charge after the somewhat murky and controversial departure of
13:09McBurn from the job a few months ago he's applied for the job over and over again he's done just
13:14about every other role in the Fiji rugby pathway the board have set him a task of winning two out
13:19of
13:19three if he wants to lead the team into the world cup next year just wait for my call okay
13:25no contract
13:25it's not just the must-win game for Borthwick
13:32you should be setting your targets high but I think also got to have some form of reality and
13:39it can't be that black and white for the Fiji and Bord to look at who they're choosing as their
13:46coach
13:46let's face it we're not very far away from that rugby world cup and stability is what all of these
13:53teams are crying out for right now penalty Fiji
14:05number three collapse and it's a Ronnie Maui on Joe Hayes and that's a psychological boost for
14:14the home team today
14:21great response from the Fijian pack you just wonder what Kaleb Muntz is going to look at here he's going
14:26to have a shot try and get rid of that big zero on the scoreboard keep that ticking over collapse
14:32throughout the game if you speak to number three it was the same up here he's pulling on the set
14:47there's no Kaleb Muntz for Fiji last week problems with his passport
14:50prevented him joining the team early enough from his base in France and Provence in the
14:56but he is absolutely essential to everything Fiji do scored 15 points when he beat England for the
15:03first and only time in the world cup warm-ups three years ago then got injured and was ruled out
15:07of the
15:08tournament he is as important as anybody down there today
15:14got right under that Kaleb Muntz but it's straight and true Fiji on the board
15:20when you talk about the balance that Fiji actually need in the style that they play
15:24he is so key he is the bat he provides all of that balance because he he has an ability
15:31to run but
15:31also he's a bit more pragmatic than potentially those running around outside of him
15:36Thank you
15:37Moreна Warwick thank you
15:40Evani Bottio, mass sued by Tommy Freeman empty
15:44fighting through the contract, once a two-time champion with Magosheo,
15:49world-class back row, go centre, wherever it wants, he names the position.
15:57Celestri Rayasi, current European champion with Bodo Begler,
16:01goes to touch, and England through the two Smiths,
16:03play with speed and ambition.
16:07And then Finsmith gets his ribcaids rearranged,
16:09and Tangi Valu had stolen it, but by foul means.
16:13I thought Finsmith was pretty good last week against South Africa.
16:18Actually, I think that was the wrong decision, though.
16:20They had three or four players outside of him that were crying for the ball.
16:24Faye Woboso was one of those.
16:26He wants to get the ball in his hands in those counter-attack opportunities.
16:33Good kick to the corner.
16:34That ball there, probably, he'd say, that those guys outside of him,
16:38including Ben-El and Sevac, consumer too flat.
16:41Which is why he took the ball into contact.
16:44How many?
16:46Fight line.
16:48Open the door.
16:54Chessamun challenged in the air. Fiji in too quickly.
17:06It's these infringements that will frustrate the Fiji coaching hierarchy, Tom.
17:12Because it's a nothing penalty.
17:15Let Oli Chessamun come back down to earth.
17:18And then clatter into him.
17:21As Oli Davison has just highlighted.
17:24But this now makes it a really difficult position for them to defend from.
17:29Five metres out.
17:31Seven-man line out.
17:35Can you imagine England keep it tight?
17:38Chessamun again calls to himself.
17:41Seb Atkinson in the drive as well.
17:43And England trundling their way infield.
17:45Going right through the guts of the Fijian pack.
17:49Jamie George in command at the back.
17:52The captain waiting for his moments.
17:54And finding the white line.
17:59And he's been at the heart of everything.
18:03Tri-saver at one end.
18:05Tri-scorer at the other.
18:07And the captain driving the standards for England.
18:10Proper captain's example.
18:13Standards being set by Jamie George at both ends of the field.
18:17He's having a good afternoon so far.
18:20And England just doing what they need to do.
18:22Keeping the ball tight.
18:25Mauling.
18:25You can hear everyone in the stadium.
18:29Shouting heave as England set up their driving line out.
18:33And they were in real control.
18:35Good patience.
18:38Taking the score out to 12-3.
18:41Kick to come.
18:43Which has gone straight down the middle.
18:46Beautiful shot from Finn Smith.
18:49PG3 England 14.
18:51Now England won't get bored with playing this style of game.
18:57This is the way to frustrate Fiji.
18:59Take the speed out of the game.
19:02Make it as structured as possible.
19:05Knowing full well that those opposite them.
19:08Want the broken game.
19:10Broken defense.
19:13To attack.
19:15Fiji's centers haven't touched the ball yet.
19:17Nor has Jutawaini N'Goro.
19:19Set a new record for tackle breaks in Cardiff.
19:25England with a choke hold on the early skirmishes here.
19:32Once again it's two carries.
19:34And then they shake for a kick to compete this time.
19:38Faye Weboso against Karawalebu.
19:41Oh, Faye Weboso did well.
19:42And he just lost it in the air.
19:44He won the aerial contest.
19:46Now Rayasi looking to get this wide.
19:48It's a loose one though.
19:49And Freeman picks it up.
19:50There's no advantage accruing.
19:58Knock on.
20:00Knock on coming from Faye Weboso.
20:03Pretty torrid afternoon.
20:05Underneath the high ball in Johannesburg last week.
20:08He's taken one today.
20:10That's pretty difficult to get both hands on that.
20:16He mentioned their centers.
20:18As soon as on the bind and then we're going to set.
20:20England will want to do all they can to stop both Vovo and Tuasova getting their hands on the ball.
20:28One has all the magical wisdom under his sleeve and one is basically built like a tank.
20:36With an F1 engine.
20:40Either one could be extremely harmful to England's plans this afternoon.
20:46So creating that stranglehold on the game is really important.
20:50That said, they've got a set piece.
20:53And both centers stacked with Rayasi just outside them.
20:57Who's another very large human being.
21:02What they've got to do first is get this ball in and out cleanly.
21:05England have been done for an early drive.
21:07And here come Fiji.
21:08Caleb Muntz sizing up his options.
21:11He has a little nibble himself.
21:13Another advantage here to Fiji.
21:15Tangi Tangivalu through the middle.
21:17Free kick advantage over.
21:19Rayasi up against Freeman.
21:21Looking for the inside pass held by Karawanebu.
21:24Working well off his wing.
21:29Nasila Sila and Levanin Botia.
21:31Quick ruck ball for Fiji.
21:33Finding some rhythm and some structure.
21:35Rayasi with a pass to Rabobo against Finn Smith.
21:38It's an excellent tackle from England's fly half.
21:42England making a real mess of that on the floor.
21:45Winding goaler digs it out.
21:46And Muntz tries to go between the forwards.
21:50Off the deck well to Tangi Tangivalu.
21:53Kurovoli.
21:54Rayasi second receiver.
21:56Kick pass to the wide outsides.
21:58Karawanebu catches it but can't do much with it.
22:03Fiji from one touch line to the other.
22:07Sorry.
22:08Too flat in midfield.
22:10Not giving himself enough space to actually build up a head of steam.
22:13Before getting onto the ball.
22:16That was a proper textbook tackle from Finn Smith.
22:21Focus low.
22:23Time off.
22:24That was really what meant that Rayasi had to kick to the touch line.
22:29There was no one outside him that was a genuine option.
22:33Hey guys it's going to be your water break okay?
22:35We have our first water break of the afternoon.
22:43Yeah as you mentioned first of two water breaks.
22:45Three minutes apiece midway through each half.
22:47Just because the temperature is so high.
22:50It really is baking hot inside the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
22:53Temperature around 30-31 degrees.
22:55Feels warmer than that in the bowl itself.
22:59But England will be so satisfied with the way that any early nerves have been settled.
23:04And a lead for Fiji to chase having scarcely touched the ball has been built.
23:10Starving then of possession in key areas is going to be crucial to the outcome of this afternoon's game.
23:18Fiji incredibly dangerous when they play in the opposition's final third.
23:24Last week probably overplayed.
23:26Tried to offload too many balls which didn't stick.
23:28Didn't go to hand.
23:29And that caused them some problems.
23:34As you can see.
23:38Tackles already started in Mount Tahoe.
23:41There's only 18 but if you continue those throughout the game.
23:46Little rack up meters.
23:48Game 53 in comparison to 24.
23:57Yeah, just 10 carries for Fiji in 20 minutes of first-half rugby.
24:01In stark contrast with the amount of possession they had this point last week.
24:06This is how the tries have happened.
24:08Slightly an orthodox one for Marcus Smith first-half.
24:10It was a brilliant shot from the drone which really showed where the space was.
24:16And then knowing your laws is key.
24:20Finn Smith, Marcus Smith, sorry, following the ball up.
24:25And then Caleb Muntz with a good kick to open Fiji's account this afternoon.
24:37And as I say, England won't mind doing that all afternoon.
24:41Getting themselves deep into Fijian 22.
24:45Getting themselves a platform to play off.
24:48And that as a head-to-head.
24:50If ever there were two people that you could say can influence their team massively.
24:54It's those two players.
24:5613 meters gained for Benel.
24:59He's leading against Livani Bottia.
25:02There is a long way to go.
25:05One is in, one is out.
25:07England go to the tail and Alex Coles.
25:09And then Benel again is the weapon of choice.
25:13Livani Bottia looking for it again.
25:15You'll see his number eight jersey facing towards the sky.
25:18Hunting for steals.
25:23The ball is not out.
25:24Livani Bottia just let his frustrations get the better of him there.
25:35You can clearly play the ball, please do not tackle him if he has not lifted it.
25:41Here we are.
25:44Just tempers fraying a bit there.
25:46He wasn't given the jackal penalty he thought he deserved.
25:48And then he's clattered Jack from Portfleet.
25:51And it's those penalties that really wound Fiji.
25:55And the left peg of Henry Slade back in the team.
25:58Such a weapon for England to eat up the yards.
26:05I don't think he was far wrong in saying the ball was actually out.
26:08But Van Portfleet's got to pick it up for him to be able to complete the tackle.
26:14Here's Slade looking out the back for Finn Smith.
26:17Oh, Fiji have got to be careful.
26:20Karabalevu got a hand through there.
26:21But it's just a knock on, not a penalty.
26:24For me, Livani, if it's clearly wrong, the team will tell you.
26:26But for me, two hands.
26:28I agree.
26:37Karabalevu, key moment.
26:39He's like this.
26:39He's genuinely trying to catch that.
26:44It looks obvious when it is wrong.
26:46And that didn't look wrong.
26:51But that shape really opened up and left some space on those wider channels for England.
26:57Tightened up that inside defensive system.
27:04Lee Blackett, England's attack coach.
27:07He's done such a brilliant work over the years with Wasps, the Scarlets.
27:10Back in a treble last year.
27:13Free kick England.
27:14Seb Atkinson going route one into Kruisova.
27:17Who scarcely had an involvement thus far.
27:20Ivani Botia coming through on Point Portfleet legally this time.
27:26Finn Smith.
27:27Jamie George with a left foot step.
27:31You can see who hard Fiji working defensive breakdowns.
27:33The Jacqueline hunt for everything on the floor.
27:40Atkinson, space in behind.
27:42Errol looking for it, and he's just cuddled it.
27:45With the line approaching.
27:49Well, you just wonder if the dead ball area could have been slightly bigger here at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
27:56Whether Beno would have been better just tapping that along on his foot.
28:00Rather than going to pick it up under so much pressure.
28:06Both Kurovoli and Reassi bearing down on him.
28:10One second.
28:11One second.
28:14Up under so much pressure.
28:18Both Kurovoli and Reassi bearing down on him.
28:22One second.
28:22One second.
28:22One second.
28:23One second.
28:24One second.
28:26One second.
28:27One second.
28:27For what, Mike?
28:30No, but, Mike, what is it for?
28:36I'm on the team for him.
28:37Yes?
28:37There's some communication with Mike Adamson, our TMO today.
28:40Okay.
28:40Scrum, guys.
28:41Let's go.
28:42Let's go.
28:42Let's go.
28:43Player is going to restart with the scrum in any case.
28:46Yeah, I agree.
28:46Players coming together.
28:48Yeah.
28:51It's OK, it's because we had some time with the TLO, OK?
28:55Let's go, big strong, big strong!
29:00TJ made more metres last week than England and Italy combined in their respective fixtures.
29:04Not being the case today, 17 carries, 45 metres.
29:08They were into the hundreds already in Cardiff.
29:12But England have kept them in the thumbscrews tactically and territorially.
29:17And now they've got a scrum reversal.
29:19Keep it up!
29:22They're going to find a route out of their own 22.
29:25Down far side.
29:28Huge amount of pressure and intensity coming from England there.
29:32I am seeing nothing on this side, correct. Keep these pictures.
29:36Reset.
29:37It's an opportunity so often we see South Africa licking their lips about.
29:42A chance to scrum against a team, which essentially is any other test team,
29:47that they can put under the cosh.
29:49England really licking their lips at every scrum opportunity against Fiji this afternoon.
29:54On the scrum is set, we get the ball in.
29:59It's on holly side.
30:02backwards.
30:03Cl tech.xeeeem.
30:07Quest. Find.
30:10Seth.
30:15Reverbovi,
30:16he's
30:16lost his footing at the base and he's found Caleb Muntz.
30:20and Muntz has taken play up towards halfway
30:23and that's given Fiji a little breathing space
30:26it's a good kick from Muntz
30:28going to be on the line
30:29organised, risk-free
30:34clearance up the field from Fiji
30:37and the line's going to be yours
30:38I wonder what that man's thinking
30:40he's pretty happy so far
30:44slightly more frustrated potentially
30:48here come England again
30:50Atkinson sending it out to Earl
30:52Atkinson got melted by Mbotia
30:54as he threw that
30:55demolition man doing what he says on the tin
30:57that's bounced outside to Marcus Smith
30:59who'll chase the Rabovo
31:01and Waning Golo back
31:03and it's ricocheting everywhere
31:05first from a Fijian hand
31:07then an English one
31:09and England have another
31:11scrum in the Fijian 22
31:12no, we have nothing up here
31:16but it's going to be given us a Fiji scrum
31:18all good
31:23I mean
31:27it's such a big hit
31:28yeah but they're entitled to go back
31:31and then play the ball
31:31they didn't twist the collapse
31:37it was a little bit of pinball there wasn't it
31:38I like that though
31:41first knock on by Fiji
31:42one good pass Holly Davison
31:44I didn't touch the ball
31:45honest
31:46right it was an England scrum
31:48then a Fiji scrum
31:49now it is an England scrum
31:51what a position this is
31:53for England to stretch that lead yet further
31:56great scrum last one
31:58okay same again this time
31:59let's go
32:08same scrum guys as that last one
32:10same on their ball
32:11let's go
32:15Tommy Freeman
32:18right in behind Ben Earl
32:20Seb Atkinson flat
32:21you might see Finn Smith
32:24drop out the back of those three
32:26opening up these wider channels
32:30England penalty and they go quickly
32:32Freeman off his wing
32:34helped out by three blue shirts
32:37that's cynical from Botia
32:38he's in trouble
32:40Alex Coles takes it on
32:42penalty advantage England
32:43Slade
32:47that's held up
32:48yes
32:51well the Davison's going to the pocket
32:55professional foul from Levanine Botia
32:58he's just gone a bit too hard at the breakdown too many times and in that end of the pitch
33:03he's always going to come with further punishment
33:05and also
33:07he's just had a stern word in his ear
33:10from Holly Davison
33:12not five minutes ago
33:16discipline to an area that
33:18has historically cost Fiji but more in and around the tackle area
33:25and that's just
33:28someone that's completely frustrated by the way that opening 27 minutes have unfolded
33:37three years out of the team
33:39his return last 27 minutes
33:41for his off to Coolis heels on the naughty step
33:45bind
33:49Biji have not put an extra back in here so it's 87 at scrum time
33:54from Portfleet had to be quick
33:55Finn Smith, Marcus Smith looking to get the footwork going but
34:00the turf conspiring against them
34:02England going around the fringes through Pepper
34:04and they have their thirds
34:08and Guy Pepper at the 14th time of asking
34:10is an England tri-scorer
34:15well it's good transition, good attack from England
34:19Marcus Smith just losing his footing
34:22but Pepper
34:23he just goes about the work that he needs to do
34:26doesn't he really quietly
34:27trucks around the field
34:29big unit in that back row
34:31don't really hear about the massive contributions that he's making
34:36throughout the game
34:37because
34:38his back row teammates take so much of the limelight
34:41but
34:41fully deserving of
34:43that try and the follow-up
34:48you've just seen
34:50there's the slip from
34:52Marcus Smith and then just too much power
34:55from Guy Pepper
34:57and Fiji
34:59well they're on the ropes
35:01already I think
35:02need to get themselves back into a position
35:05where they're level-headed
35:08and they get an opportunity to score
35:10they need to take that
35:11you just feel they need to be the ones
35:12that get the next
35:14try
35:16at an eventful time of it
35:18at Ellis Park last weekend
35:19he was roundly booed Guy Pepper
35:21mostly because the Springbok faithful
35:23thought he was Henry Pollock
35:25I don't know how to take that
35:35luckily enough I don't think anyone's confusing you for Henry Pollock
35:39same colour here
35:43here's Ben El
35:45hot-footing it away from Kuro Vali
35:50accuracy of England's clean outs have been very good
35:52getting rid of those Fiji and Japo threats
35:55from Portfleet
35:57pointing to the skies
35:58England so far have been very businesslike in how they've approached this
36:02tactically smart technically sound
36:04and they've got Fiji right where they want them
36:10Jack around Portfleet
36:11take the line England
36:12his basics
36:13are so good
36:15his kicking game's always on point
36:17it's a brilliant clearance
36:19from the England scrum half
36:21it sounds obvious but
36:23it's so important if you've got
36:25the scrum half that's got all of those tools on point
36:28in his armory
36:30Thuisova to Petelli Yato
36:31to the veterans of this Fiji team
36:33first time Thuisova's touched the ball
36:35and England again
36:37disrupting them at the base forcing the knock on
36:39Guy Pepper with a really timely bit of breakdown work
36:50just a reminder if you haven't selected your
36:52Nations Championship fantasy team mate
36:54you can scan the QR code on screen now
36:57pick the players you want to play
36:58get the points
36:59win the prizes
37:00top prize to be awarded at the end of each round
37:02and the winner of the overall championship standings
37:05gets tickets
37:06to the Allianz Stadium
37:08at the end of November
37:09for the final match of this seven round competition
37:13where all the finals will be played
37:16well maybe that's as easy as the
37:19three drinks in the free box that they gave away prior to this game
37:23for those dressed up
37:26won't be too long before we see these two in action you fancy
37:29Benhard Janssen von Rendsburg
37:31once a baby Springbok
37:33he is soon to be a fully fledged England international
37:36after serving his five years of residency
37:38Noah Kalori sitting just behind him
37:40top try scorer in England this season
37:43what will van Rendsburg give England that's a bit different in that midfield
37:47he is so good
37:49so so good
37:50he's got everything
37:51really physical as you'd expect from
37:53a South African born centre
37:55but actually has the ability to
37:58open up holes with
38:00his intelligent lines of running
38:02which actually leave a huge amount of space for those around him
38:07really
38:09tough call
38:10i think now for Steve Borthwick about who plays in the midfield for
38:14for England
38:15it's a difficult area it's not one that he's
38:18he's certainly settled on
38:20here we are
38:21i think it's a real opportunity for Janssen van Rendsburg over the
38:25coming games to put his hand up for
38:28for November and beyond because he is incredible
38:34yeah Henry Slade just to illustrate that point playing with his 14th
38:39center partner today in Seb Atkinson
38:42find
38:48scrum penalty would do nicely for England here
38:50advantage one collapse
38:51we're gonna get it
38:52so then Portfleet into Slade at first receiver
38:55the Ruvali gets the grips with him
38:59one more try for bonus point for England
39:02Smith
39:02Atkinson with the headgear
39:05loose pass
39:07and we'll go back for the infringement
39:12they started to come back into that midfield
39:14number one
39:16game
39:16collapse
39:18game started to open up big holes
39:20okay 13 HIA
39:22we're opening up
39:23yeah England
39:2312 I don't think it is I think it's
39:27I don't think it is I think it's
39:29Josef Atkinson has already had to don his headgear for the rest of this match but it's Henry Slade
39:34who is being taken off and that does mean
39:38that the boy from Tabazimbi Limpopo
39:41far north of South Africa
39:44Benhard Janssen van Rendsburg
39:47gets his first taste of test rugby with the red rose on his chest
39:52and Hamish do we have the replacement
39:57the whole Janssen van Rendsburg clan are here to see this
40:01from the farm in Limpopo province
40:04they've made the long journey to watch Benhard BV
40:08get his England debut five years in the making
40:14Fiji on the line
40:17he'll just be desperate to get his hands on the ball now
40:19have England got
40:21any thought for getting him into the game this could be a real opportunity straight off this line out
40:29Coles takes at the tail
40:31and England again looking to sap Fijian lungs
40:33to break Fiji's spirit
40:38Jamie George piloting things again
40:43Rony Maui ordered out of it
40:46belatedly the dump truck reverses away
40:49England's still going here they've mulled this 15 meters
40:52Jamie George is losing his clothing
40:59oh how Fiji got in there how and after they cocooned that
41:06they did well there to try and
41:10arrest that England drive and eventually turn it over
41:18real balance isn't it about when you take the ball out of those driving balls especially when you're going
41:22forward because at any moment in time the opposition can just get their hands in
41:29and if they can kill it then it's a turnover
41:34he's got one
41:39with the lion's share of possession Fiji now conceding seven penalties
41:43two of them coming at scrum time
41:46discipline again
41:47and that's Pupin they're undoing
41:50Crouch!
41:54Bind!
41:55He popped him Joshua Tusova in at number eight here
42:00number three second time
42:02and you can hear the England pack shouting eight's coming
42:07might not be wearing number eight on his shoulders but
42:10number three is definitely don't want that person that was in the eight position coming down your channel
42:14but another opportunity for England
42:18straight back to a scrum
42:21scrum call
42:22it was the second early engaging which means the free kick becomes the penalty
42:27and the second going too quickly against Ellis Genge
42:34so England on the bonus point trail here
42:39they look to get their first win of the campaign
42:43stony-eyed look from Senerusi Cerro Vapura
42:48seeing this team's prospects of victory fading fast
43:02in the back shaping up very flat behind the scrum
43:05the forwards might have other ideas about where this is going
43:08but Portfleet lifted out
43:11Faye Waboso straight through Petheliato
43:16for Portfleet to Coles
43:20Fiji scrambling England looking for options
43:24but Portfleet leaves it for the bruisers to do the job
43:28pepper around the corner Ben Errol
43:31the ball
43:32ball is chiseled loose
43:34penalty advantage from Rendsburg
43:44international rugby beckons
43:47and with his first touch as an England player
43:51Benhard Janssen von Rendsburg
43:53the pride of Tabazimbi
43:55has scored a try under the posts for England
43:59and what a moment for Janssen von Rendsburg
44:02he's a brilliant carry
44:05from Faye Waboso
44:07and as soon as Janssen von Rendsburg got into that position
44:10you could see him creeping
44:11you know he was going to pick a low
44:15diving movement which would make it impossible for Fiji to stop
44:19and England had taken another seven
44:2128-3
44:23Fiji with one minute 20 left on the clock
44:29this is going to unravel and turn into a horror show you feel right now
44:36Benhard Janssen von Rendsburg
44:37of London Irish then the Bristol Bears bringing a smile to Steve Borthwick's face
44:42a boy who grew up with black mambas invading his house
44:46and homemade biltong on the table
44:49the big five all around him
44:51and some big animals of an English disposition
44:55celebrating raucously alongside him there
44:58Faye Waboso takes that well under some duress
45:04is that fact real about black mambas he had to shoot one in his closet one time it was in
45:09a bank of shoes
45:18and Portfleet spoons that up into the air well taken by Faye Waboso
45:24starved opportunities against the Springboks but bossing the airways today
45:29and Smith has lost it but backwards
45:35goals the dummy run
45:37Pepper through the hands of Hayes
45:39what will Faye Waboso conjure this time
45:43so hard to put away
45:46Smith looking to narrow up Fiji and that's a beauty of a kick to Freeman
45:49dabs it on his toes
45:51Waningolo going back there he's rescued it for the Fijians but
45:54they're going to come under stress at this breakdown as well
45:59it's trapped between two Fijian boots and Alex Coles
46:03gets his lanky frame onto it
46:07England again into the 22 Marcus Smith wonderful footwork transfixing stuff
46:14from Portfleet around the fringes to Seb Atkinson and it's five for England and this is becoming a right
46:27well Seb Atkinson
46:30wearing a scrum cap that looks about four sizes too big for him
46:34with a really simple dot down
46:38for the five pointer but this is all about Marcus Smith and his ability to daddle defenders
46:45it's an excellent crossfield kick again from Finn Smith
46:49Tommy Freeman will be slightly disappointed with his attempted kick through
46:55and then Van Portfleet accelerating into that hole and doing so well to get his hands free of contact
47:16and he's got the ball in his hand
47:17five and five for Fitzsmith 35 points for England
47:26look at this footwork accelerating changing direction
47:33such a massive threat when he's got the ball in his hands and he's going forward
47:37how is he going to be able to take his hands off?
48:07a Sinbin period, Jutta Wai-Ninggolo going nowhere, months off the deck, the gap opened up for him,
48:13not the offload away, but it just didn't stick, nothing much sticking for Fiji just now.
48:18First one, then knock on by three.
48:30The three or one. Really important right hand there from Jamie George.
48:38Didn't just rest easy with his first attempt at the tackle, kept on fighting,
48:45pulled that arm down of months, just made the offload incredibly difficult for him.
48:52They have been accused of being wasteful in their attack, they haven't been today,
48:56six visits to the Fijian 22, five tries, that entry there, Fiji's first of the game in the final minute
49:03of the half.
49:03Five, five, six.
49:08So time is up, do England want to play further?
49:13Spun on the mark, same scrum.
49:17Come on, spun right round on the mark, same scrum.
49:21I think if I was stood in the heat that they've been stood in for the past 40 minutes,
49:26this will be going into one of the stands and they'll be getting into the air conditioning down below.
49:30Both packs, spin, go forward.
49:42Apologies for any of the foul language you might have picked up.
49:45Scrums are no place for the shine retirement.
49:48Crouch!
49:52Bind!
49:55Set!
49:58Put a bit of a squeeze on and they are going to be rewarded this time.
50:03They want to play quickly, Guruvoli is on the mark, Yato and Botia with him, months wide,
50:10Bussova tossing it back to Wain N'Golo, this is where he tends to thrive.
50:14He can run but not without his legs, Maui taking it on.
50:20Just for a bit of pride for Fiji here to get themselves a try, the last knock-ins of the
50:25half.
50:26Big collisions, big English defence, with Eli Yato.
50:33Guruvoli, they're standing so flat, the Fijians.
50:36Wain N'Golo back on the inside to Nasilasilha.
50:39They've reversed 10 metres from where the penalty was given.
50:43Wain N'Golo around the corner where Pepper is waiting and pouncing.
50:48This is Rayasi.
50:51Let's hear him scare him stuff from Fiji.
50:55Again, they're very narrow, Levani and Botia.
50:58Even he can't break these defensive chains.
51:02Guruvoli, a little space around the fringe.
51:04Picked up by Ikaniveri, scored a couple against England in November.
51:09Yato lifted up to Guruvoli.
51:12A hint of Fijian flair, Ravovo, the Yato again.
51:18Ravovo still going, Marcus Smith goes down.
51:21And Ravovo under the bar to raise a few Fijian smiles.
51:30Well, he's one of the players that Fiji would have been disappointed not to have got the ball too
51:34more often during this first 40 minutes.
51:40But Ellis Genge is really unhappy here, just out of shot.
51:44You could hear a cry of Holly, he's kicked me.
51:47I think from the Bristol prop.
51:48Can you just make sure as well that there is no tick by number 9 White?
51:52Yeah, it's Corovole on Genge, just what the allegation is.
51:55It's just being mocked up in the background.
51:57Munch has popped over the conversion, and at the moment we're heading for half-time.
52:00Unless there's anything else to look at.
52:13It's a fairly simple finish for Ravovo, a man of his quality.
52:29The dreaded words of any tri-scorer, TMO check, check.
52:32Actions of 9 White, 1 Blue, kicking out backwards, into his chest.
52:40Okay, so I'm at the screen, Mike.
52:43We're looking at actions of 9 Blue, kicking out an England player.
52:49It's 9 White, it's Simeone Curuvoli, who could be in real trouble here.
53:01Ellis Genge was incensed by what happened in the lead-up to Ravovo touching down.
53:14Just trying to find the correct angles to show Holly Davidson,
53:17Mike Adamson has seen enough to flag this up.
53:21So watch Curuvoli here after he's tackled by Genge, middle of your picture.
53:28And then he's kicking back into Blue, Flare on the right.
53:35So at the moment with the angles we're seeing, we have the score and time across the action,
53:39so we're just gonna need some more angles.
53:44So watch the left leg of Curuvoli here.
53:48Yeah, I think you just catch it underneath.
53:54The graphic that says TMO review on our screens.
54:06Yeah, and he is in a lot of trouble.
54:09Do we have any other angles, Mike, or is this it?
54:12Curuvoli.
54:15So the problem is the big screen has graphics on it, which is obscuring Holly Davidson's view.
54:219, into the chest of the blue player on the ground.
54:26Okay, so let's just go through this from the start, there's a tackle.
54:30Can we confirm that number one is not holding on to the white player at all?
54:38There's a lot for Holly Davidson to work through here, there's no hold from Ellis Genge,
54:43you can see him.
54:43So here's another angle on the ground on the left.
54:50So just hold that back slightly.
54:55It doesn't really matter whether Ellis Genge is holding him or not,
54:59can't kick out like that into someone's chest.
55:03The only thing that I want to know, Mike, is if he is being held at all in that breakdown,
55:08which would add mitigation into our sanctions.
55:14Agree.
55:15At the moment he is kicked, he is not being held.
55:22Okay, so we have no aggregating factors as to why he kicks out.
55:26And therefore he kicks, which is just not a rugby action at all.
55:32It's not a rugby action whatsoever.
55:33Are you agreeing that's not a rugby action whatsoever?
55:36This is getting worse for Signore Curuvoli.
55:38Yeah, it's a deliberate kick out backwards, what he has to do.
55:42Yeah, so with all of those facts, we are on a permanent red card against 3D now.
55:47Do you agree with that?
55:48Yes.
55:49Yes?
55:49This won't be a 20-minute dismissal.
55:52Yes.
55:53Simeone Curuvoli is gone.
55:54It was before the try, correct.
55:56So, Mike, can you get me the mark?
55:58Captains and number nine.
56:02He's about to suffer the consequences of his petulance Simeone Curuvoli.
56:09We see a tackle taking place, we then have no evidence at all that he is holding on to.
56:16His hands are in the air, you then choose deliberately to kick out and hit him.
56:22Therefore, it is a permanent red card.
56:25It is a permanent red card for the man who has tried to beat England in 2023.
56:49And a first half that began with English dominance ends with Fijian petulance as the boos ring out around the
56:58Hill Dickinson Stadium.
57:02So many tough questions were asked of this England team, of their identity, their physicality and their defending.
57:10They might not have come up with all the answers, but they are doing everything they can to make this
57:15as pragmatic, as professional and uncluster the job as possible.
57:21They have Fiji right where they want them, down to 14 players for the remainder of this match and down
57:27by 32 points.
57:28Let themse party가� iniono highland Lakesh食 to the floor, flirty, from the weitere整 걸로 in the Blue Country,
57:28so that they will get to hand them away from wprowadça.
57:28And so they are actually no especial two or qualidade of theчport of men carrying.
57:28Simple, clubs and non-cluIfiές creating stuff that can sail all these.
57:28And so, along the way, it is now safe to be confirmed.
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