England have a long way to go before they can hope to win the Rugby World Cup but their opening night as host nation will live in the memory. If the game was a tension-racked mixed bag, the occasion was something else, on a completely different level from any normal international. If this is an indication of what lies ahead support-wise, the next six weeks will be extraordinary. Goodness knows what the decibel levels will be if the local heroes stay involved deep into the tournament.
The less promising news is that England will have to play far better to make it out of the pool, never mind lift any trophies. The precious try bonus point secured by Billy Vunipola in the final seconds could prove highly significant but it could not mask concerning issues elsewhere. Only in fits and starts did the pack exert any real control and the plethora of substitutions early in the second half did not come a moment too soon. Had Fiji kicked all their goals – they left 11 points behind – it would have been horribly tight.
Wales and Australia, the key rivals for progress from Pool A, will have taken due note, with Mike Brown’s two tries failing to obscure England’s lack of snap and crackle for lengthy periods. Their decision-making, scrummaging and midfield patterns were all frequently suspect; the final margin was by no means an accurate reflection of the contest.
The other striking feature was the number of decisions referred to the television match official; on one occasion Fiji had a try scrubbed out after it had been awarded on the field, which may yet encourage kickers to attempt more hasty drop-kick conversions in future. Too many time-outs will also turn off the casual rugby viewer, although no neutral in the throbbing stadium could have complained about the spectator experience.
The atmosphere before kick-off made the 2012 Olympics feel like a garden fete. Heaven knows what Fiji made if it. The first Test match the Pacific islanders ever played, in 1924, kicked off at 7am on a pitch featuring a small tree on the halfway line. If that sounds surreal, it was nothing compared with the pre-match backdrop here: a Giant’s Causeway down the middle of the pitch, stands shaking to Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline and the former Wales and Lions flanker John Taylor acting as the “Voice of God”.
The biggest roar of all, though, was reserved for Martin Johnson, one of the giants of rugby invited to stand on a plinth and represent their countries. The last time Johnson was involved at a World Cup – as head coach in 2011 – it did not end well but there is still unconditional love for the boys of 2003. They remain the gold standard by which all England teams – including this one – will forever be judged.
How Lancaster’s players would love to create their own slice of history, one step at a time. The trick will be to stay calm amid the tumult; easier said than done when the whole wide world is watching. A red-shirted England looked distinctly edgy, rather less of a study in scarlet composure than their coaches would have liked.
It helped that Fiji were just as nervous. They were 10-0 down inside the first 15 minutes without their opponents having to do a great deal. Sakiusa Matadigo’s illegal lifting of Jonny May’s legs led directly to a penalty try and a yellow card for Niko Matawalu for dragging down England’s concerted drive to the line compounded matters. Home advantage, even from the away dressing-room, was already paying its dues. Without their livewire scrum-half Fiji were tactically becalmed and forced to field the hulking Bordeaux full-back Metuisela Talebula at No9.
The referee, Jaco Peyper, was also clearly under instructions to set a stern tone at the breakdown and there were three lengthy TMO referrals for potential collision-related fouls in the first quarter alone. None even produced a sin-binning, never mind a red card. A long tournament will be in danger of stretching well into November if every single potential indiscretion is sent upstairs.
The delays did little for Fiji ’s rhythm either and it was no surprise, with their opponents still down to 14 men, when England exploited a big overlap on the left and Brown touched down his side’s second try with only 22 minutes gone. A further hint that it might not be the visitors’ night came when Matawalu broke thrillingly down the right and slid towards the line only for Brown to dislodge the ball at the last possible moment. The Bath-bound Matawalu tried to claim the score anyway but modern technology does not favour the chancer.
This Fiji team, ranked ninth in the world, are always dangerous in attack and they deserved their 30th-minute score from the gargantuan 20-stone wing Nemani Nadolo. England had previously sought to test him in the air but the way the big man soared above Anthony Watson – not so much a bird or a plane, more of a killer whale – underlined what a fine athlete he is.
A subsequent penalty from the same player, who had also assumed the kicking duties, narrowed the gap and England began to come under some sustained heavy pressure. The crowd, for the first time all evening, took a break from carnival mode and fell quiet.
It took the second-half arrival of Joe Launchbury and the Vunipola brothers to add some thunder on the gain-line, with even Ben Youngs experiencing a muted night on the occasion of his 50th cap. Fiji, though, would not be shaken off and would have been breathing down English necks had the otherwise outstanding Nadolo and his fellow Australian-reared team-mate Volavola been more accurate off the tee.
Only late on did the home side’s scrum and maul establish any real control, before Brown’s second try with eight minutes left paved the way for Vunipola’s late, relieving bonus. Fiji now have five days before they have to face the Wallabies. England have longer to regroup but Wales, on this evidence, will be quietly encouraged.
England: Tries: Penalty, Brown 2, B Vunipola. Conversions: Ford, Farrell 2. Pens: Ford 2, Farrell
Fiji: Try: Nadolo. Pens: Volavola, Nadolo
(The Guardian)
