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Hello and welcome to ESPN's coverage of the 2015 Rugby World Cup! Host nation England open up against Fiji in Pool A with the Red Rose team boasting an unbeaten record against the Pacific Islanders in five previous encounters
England won 54-12 at Twickenham last time out with two tries each from Manu Tuilagi and Charlie Sharples, both of whom miss out on selection for the tournament.
We've already had the spectacular opening ceremony, highlighted by the introduction of former legends representing each of the competing nations in the tournament. Martin Johnson, who famously hoisted the William Webb Ellis trophy in Australia in 2003 as England captain, received a raptorous ovation. Prince Harry, himself a huge rugby fan, spoke of 'rugby's values' to a packed crowd at Twickenham, reliving the memories of Nelson Mandela in 1995 and 'that drop goal' in Sydney 12 years ago.
England have high hopes of progressing well in to the competition but will have to overcome an extremely difficult group Pool A consisting of Wales, Australia, Uruguay and of course today's opponents Fiji. The runner up in Pool A will likely face Southern Hemisphere giants South Africa so a fast start is vital for Stuart Lancaster's men.
Fiji's team are full of attacking flair and talent, in particular gargantuan wing Nemani Nadolo, the Crusader who plies his trade in New Zealand and also will kick for goal. The nigh on 2m tall, 130kg wrecking machine will have a fascinating matchup against the scintillating Anthony Watson of Bath.
England will play in their red kit as the 'away' team officially while Fiji will play in their convential white. Chris Robshaw leads England out on to the hallowed Twickenham turf alongside his Fijian counterpart Akapusi Qera and following the anthems, the 2015 Rugby World Cup is set to begin!
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Fiji perform the Cibi, their version of the Haka, bizarrely 50 metres away from the English team and we're ready for the kick off.
Ben Youngs fields the kick off and we're underway. George Ford sends it long, Ben Volavola knocks it on and we'll have our first scrum of the evening.
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| 2 |
3 - 0 |
about 30 yards out from dead in front.
Straight through the uprights. England notch the first points of the World Cup.
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| 5 |
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Nerves from both teams as Fiji fail to claim Ben Young's box kick. England launch forwards but a wayward pass brings an end to the move. Scrum Fiji on halfway.
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| 6 |
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Penalty Fiji this time. Brad Barritt fails to roll away and the Pacific Islanders will take a shot at goal from near the left touchline. Fly half Ben Volavola lines it up.
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| 7 |
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Volavola, in only his sixth start for his country, hits the left upright and England will drop out from the 22. A let off for Chris Robshaw's men.
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| 8 |
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England reclaim the kick and George Ford clears his lines. A cross field kick targeting Nadolo is brilliantly claimed by Anthony Watson and England are in Fiji's 22.
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| 9 |
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Penalty Fiji! Anthony Watson is clobbered and in the resulting ruck fails to release the ball. Volavola clears his lines in to the England half.
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| 10 |
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Unsurprisingly Fiji are running Nadolo in to Ford's 10 channel, the bullocking winger causing havoc in the centre of the field. Wayward passes see the ball hacked through by Watson and England are on the offensive again. Lineout England just outside Fiji's 22.
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| 11 |
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More wayward passing from England, who are squandering some early possession. Fiji clear but straight out gives England some more attacking opportunites from the lineout.
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| 12 |
10 - 0 |
Penalty try! England's rolling maul is heading rapidly for the line and is unceremoniusly dragged down short. Peyper walks under the sticks and George Ford has an easy conversion. Fiji scrum half Nikola Matawalu is sin binned for the infringement. 10-0 to the hosts.
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George Ford arrows a kick across field giving Fiji a lineout just outside of their 22.
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| 18 |
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England scrum in another excellent attacking position. They will want to take advantage of the extra man here. Courntney Lawes knocks on however and we will scrum again.
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| 20 |
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Fiji chip through but Mike Brown deals with the dangerous situation before Ben Youngs launches the ball clear. Fiji are dealing well with the one man deficit.
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| 21 |
15 - 0 |
The TMO wants to look at another incident, this time Fiji lock Api Ratuniyarawa launching himself in to Chris Robshaw at the ruck. Penalty England! George Ford kicks England to within 20 metres of the Fiji line. A flowing move from the England back line but Anthony Watson is bundled in to touch a couple of metres out. But Fiji botch the lineout! A long throw is claimed by Ben Morgan. England spread it wide and Mike Brown cruises over. Terrible from Fiji but a gift for England. George Ford misses the kick. 15-0 England.
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| 25 |
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Fiji with some sustained pressure before knocking the ball on once again. England hoof it clear before knocking on themselves. Scrum Fiji just inside their half.
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Try Fiji! Matawalu, back on after his sin bin, breaks free down the right flank following the scrum and brilliant finishes in the corner. Fiji back in the game. But has he dropped it?
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With the conversion about to be taken Jaco Peyper, seeing the replay on the big screen, relealises that he should have sent it upstairs. He'd already given the try! A clear knock on. Controversy at Twickenham. Chalk one up for video technology.
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15 - 5 |
It might not matter, England's scrum fractures and Fiji are camped on England's line. Try! Nadolo claims it from Volavola's kick over Watson. Peyper again sends it upstairs. No reason why this should'nt be given as Peyper has asked. Fiji get their reward.
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| 31 |
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Volavola botches the conversion completely but Fiji close to within 10. England knock on from the kick off. Scrums galore at Twickenham!
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18 - 5 |
Penalty England. With build up play going nowhere Fiji stray offside and hand George Ford what should be an easy chance to extend England's lead once again. Ford knocks it through and the lead moves out to 13 points.
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| 36 |
18 - 8 |
England infringe this time and Fiji will have a simple opportunity to cut the lead once more. Sloppy from England to concede an easy chance so soon after scoring themselves.Nadolo lines this one up and strokes is through. Quite out of character for a man of such size, you almost expect him to blow the ball to pieces.
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England are forced back as Fiji end the half well. Anthony Watson nearly ends up over his own line but Ford clears it. Fiji chip through and Mike Brown dots down in his own in goal area. That should be the half.
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Update from Tom Hamilton at Twickenham
Fiji were at times their own worst enemy in the first-half. England managed to score two tries but Mike Brown's effort - following the penalty try - came as a result of a diabolical lineout from the Fijians where they aimed for the tail but only hit Ben Morgan. The TMO got four outings - much to the crowd's frustration - with Matawalu's yellow card causing Fiji all manner of difficulty in the 10 minutes he was off. England's scrum is creaking while giant winger Nemani Nadolo is living up to his pre-match billing with a wonderfully taken try and a neat shot at the sticks.
Ford keeps it in field! Jonny May claims brilliantly and with a fantastic turn of pace accelerates downfield. Fiji pile in over the top and Ford will have the chance to send England in with a 13 point lead. Looked harsh on Fiji that. Short! Looked on line but just on the edge of the range of the Bath fly half.
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| 40 |
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George Ford kicks off as England get the second half underway.
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| 41 |
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England begin to build some momentum, arrested by a forward pass. Fiji are diligent in defence and if they don't tire England will struggle to break them down with the amount of errors they're accumulating. Scrum time.
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| 43 |
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Straight out! Nadolo, standing in the first receiver position, proves that he can't do everything as he kick sails over the touchline. England lineout just outside the Fiji 22.
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| 44 |
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Penalty Fiji. Youngs delays his pass and Watson is unsurprisingly clobbered. A hospital pass by definition. Fiji clear their lines.
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| 47 |
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Penalty Fiji once more. After patient build up play Brad Barritt knocks over Gabrieli Lovobalavu from Volavola's kick through. Nadolo gives this kick more power but pulls it right. Status quo at Twickenham.
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| 49 |
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Finally England get some purchase at the scrum. Fiji wheel it through 90 degrees and Ford launches his team to deep within the Fiji 22.
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| 50 |
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England's rolling maul is entered from the side and Ford launches a cross field kick in anticipation of an upcoming penalty. Fiji defend comfortably but penalty England.
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| 51 |
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Penalty reversal. Tom Wood is deemed to have wrapped Masi Matadigo in a head lock and Fiji will clear their lines.
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| 52 |
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Messy at Twickenham. More sloppy handling from both teams and England will have an attacking scrum in the Fiji half. No rhythm from either side at Twickenham, Stuart Lancaster looking a little concerned.
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| 56 |
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Launchbury to the rescue. A back and forth spot of flowing rugby between the two teams before the Wasps lock shuttles Nadolo in to touch on the half way line. Perhaps an indication that the game is opening up?
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| 59 |
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Penalty Fiji. Outstanding defence from Fiji just as it looked that they were beginning to wilt. England phases pushed on in to the men in whites' 22 before eventually Richard Wigglesworth is pinged for holding on. England lacking ideas currently.
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And a penalty to Fiji yet again. England fail to roll away and Nadolo will have the chance to reduce the deficit to a single converted try. Anxiety rolls around Twickenham. Misses again! A let off for England. And here comes Sam Burgess for his World Cup bow.
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18 - 11 |
Offside England. A much easier chance for Fiji this, close to infront of the sticks after yet more rampaging running for Nadolo. Volavola will take this one, Fiji changing kickers yet again. Strokes it through this time. 18-11.
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| 65 |
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A cute kick-off from Owen Farrell, who has replaced George Ford, sees England regain possession. Penalty to Fiji however, frustration abounds for England.
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| 66 |
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Missed touch however, and Mike Brown slices through the Fiji defence. Great attacking platform for England but disrupted by Fiji once more, this time illegally. Farrell with a simple chance to extend the lead back to two scores.
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| 67 |
21 - 11 |
Nails it, no problem this time for the Saracens man. Cushion restored once more.
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| 68 |
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Swing Low, Sweet Chariot finally beings to reverberate around Twickenham as the England crowd sense that they may have a first win on the cards.
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| 69 |
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| 70 |
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The England set piece is solid after a penalty at the scrum and they look to build from the maul again. Poor again however and Fiji turn it over.
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| 71 |
26 - 11 |
Try England! Finally the host nation have a third as Mike Brown dots down after an excellent offload from Owen Farrell. The Saracens man pressing his case for a start against Wales? The game finally looks safe as Farrell nails the conversion. 28-11.
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28 - 11 |
Farrell - conversion
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| 74 |
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England pile forward in search of what may prove to be a vital bonus point. Mike Brown breaks clear but England crucially knock on. Chance gone begging.
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| 75 |
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Knock on Fiji in their own 22 and England have another chance to secure that try from a relatively central position.
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| 76 |
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| 78 |
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Yet more opportunities for England but a stray boot knocks it out of Richard Wigglesworth's hands and Fiji earn the scrum. Chance slipping away here.
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33 - 11 |
TMO time once more. Mike Brown and then Jonny May fly towards the line but are held up short. Billy Vunipola dives underneath the Fijian player but did the ball touch the line? Is this the vital bonus point? TRY! England get the bonus point at the very death with the narrowest of margins. The relief on Stuart Lancaster's face is palpable. England have inexplicably won by a margin of 24 points after struggling for the whole of the second half to break Fiji down.
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| 80+4 |
35 - 11 |
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| 80+5 |
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That is a huge try for England, piling pressure on Australia and Wales to beat Fiji while scoring four tries themselves. Stuart Lancaster's team were very much under par but the bonus point changes everything. England off the hook!
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| 80+6 |
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Read the full match report here
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| 80+7 |
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England winger Jonny May had this to say - "We went out and established a hold on the game, everything was going to plan, but with some loose play we lost some discipline. I feel frustrated as when we played the way we wanted to we could have won by a lot more than that."
"A great team effort, the subs brought a great impact of the bench and we're happy to get the win."
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| 80+8 |
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England captain Chris Robshaw acknowledged that it didn't entirely go to plan on the Twickenham pitch - "We always knew it was going to be tough and come down to the last five or ten minutes. We got what we wanted to. We were a little cagey out there but I think it comes down to emotion for the opening game of the Rugby World Cup. They put us under a lot of pressure but we got what we wanted."
"We always knew how well Fiji have been playing recently. They're an extremely talented side, ninth in the world and credit to Fiji for making us work. We'll take that, it's a good start and we have a massive two weeks coming up."
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