England run in eight to leave Fiji in pieces

By BEN JAYCOCK

England ……………………. 53pts

Tries: Cleaves 15, Penalty 27, Jibulu 33, Thomas 47, Thame 50, Michelow 54, Woodman 67, Fisilau 80 Conversions: Slevin 16, 48, 54, Johnson 80 Penalties: Slevin 12

Fiji……………………………….. 7pts

Tries: McGoon 20 Conversions: Ravula 21

England's pack flexed their muscles as they recorded their first win of the tournament with an emphatic landslide victory over a helpless Fiji.

Mark Mapletoft's side built on their previous encounter with Ireland, which saw the two sides play out a 34-34 draw.

England showed their quality against the U20s Six Nations Grand Slam holders last week, and reinforced their skill with the demolition of Fiji.

England ran in eight tries in Stellenbosch to claim a winning bonus point, with Cassius Cleaves and Nathan Jibulu crossing either side of a penalty try in the first half.

Nye Thomas, Toby Thame, Nathan Michelow, Tristan Woodman and Greg Fisilau added further tries after the break, while Fiji's solitary points came from prop Moses McGoon.

England captain Finn Carnduff said: “The set piece was good but it was an all round performance from the boys. We worked hard all week as we knew Fiji were always going to be a tough game but I think our overall performance was good from the outset today. In a tournament like this with a short turnaround, squad depth is key. We had boys making their debuts today and the result showed the work rate and mentality of all the boys.”

England's total forward dominance stifled Fiji's dangerous backs and laid the foundations for an emphatic victory. With James Halliwell a muscular presence at tight-head, England dominated Fiji's set-piece which forced them to live off scraps of possession.

Having conceded only five penalties in 80 minutes in their narrow defeat against Australia in their opening match, Fiji were penalised nine times in the first 30 minutes here, mostly for scrum offences. That presented England with plentiful attacking opportunities which they capitalised on.

England began the match on the front foot in both possession and territory but the resilient Fijian defence forced them to take an early shot at goal, which Connor Slevin knocked over from 40 metres.

Slevin's boot then set up England's first try, Cleaves winning the race to his poke through to put England into a 10-0 lead after the fly-half added the conversion.

Touchdown: Nathan Michelow scores England's sixth try and, above, Afolabi Fasogbon on the charge

PICTURES: World Rugby

Fiji hit back with a try of their own through McGoon but it did not take long for England to extend their lead courtesy of a dominant scrum, resulting in a penalty try.

Seven minutes before half-time, England scored their third try through hooker Nathan Jibulu off the back of the driving maul to open up a 22-7 lead at the break.

The second half began in much the same way for Mapletoft's side and with McGoon sent to the sin-bin for repeated infringements, scrumhalf Thomas secured the bonus point, sniping through a gap in the Fiji defence. Three minutes later, Thomas was the creator, finding Thame on the left who ran in unopposed.

After 55 minutes, England scored the pick of their tries and again Slevin was the architect, with a cross-kick bouncing into the hands of Michelow. The flanker still had a lot to do, grabbing the ball just outside the 22, but he duly stepped inside the Fijian full-back to score England's sixth try.

A seventh arrived with 13 minutes left on the clock as Woodman peeled off the back of another dominant maul.

They were not done there and Exeter Chiefs No.8 Fisilau picked the ball off the back of a scrum and stepped inside to take England past the 50-point mark with the clock in the red.

Newcastle Falcons fly-half Louie Johnson's conversion capped off a sublime display by the three-time champions.

England face Australia on Tuesday afternoon knowing a bonus point win could see them top Pool B and secure a spot in the semi-finals, depending on how Ireland fare against Fiji earlier in the day.

Going close: Jacob Cusick on the attack