Farrell drops England into World Cup semi-final against holders South Africa
Owen Farrell silenced his critics with the drop of class which won a thrilling contest and sent England into the World Cup semi-finals.
On the pitch where George Ford's drop goal hat-trick launched the Red Rose campaign five weeks ago, Farrell dug into the same bag of tricks to break Fiji hearts.
England had thrown away a 14-point lead in the final quarter and were in grave danger of being bundled out of the tournament in humiliating fashion when their captain came to the rescue.
Booed by his own fans at the start, Farrell left the field to cheers as England booked a semi-final against holders South Africa in Paris on Saturday.
“We don’t forget there’s a fair number of people who said we won’t make it out of group and a fair number who said we would lose tonight,” said coach Steve Borthwick.
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“We're going to be written off again I’m sure. But this team is determined to be successful.”
Fiji's Vinaya Habosi is sin-binned for this dangerous hit on England fullback Marcus Smith (PA)Few indeed saw England lasting longer in France than Ireland after a dour pool campaign, but when the going got tough they finally got going.
Summoning their inner Fiji from the first whistle, they fizzed passes left and right and nailed some big hits.
Even the inevitability of Levani Botia winning a couple of early turnovers proved no discouragement as they took the game to the opposition in a most un-England way.
Jamie George celebrates England's nasrrow quarter-final victory in Marseille (Getty Images)When Marcus Smith was bumped by a Semi Radradra shot and did not go down he might have overdone the celebration but the injection of energy it gave England let to a flow of points.
First Farrell kicked them ahead then stuck one in the corner for Maro Itoje to win the line-out and Tuilagi peel round the short side to score.
Former Fiji star Nicky Little admitted beforehand that “back home we’ve already won, we’ve made the quarter-finals”. He even suggested a national holiday was likely.
England scrum-half Danny Care relishes England's win (AFP via Getty Images)That may or may not have been representative of the Islanders’ mindset. Whatever, England quickly came again, Marchant scoring after clever work from Ben Earl.
And with Smith caught by a shoulder to head shot from Vinaya Habosi in the build-up, Fiji were down to 14 and in all sorts of trouble.
Typical of them that they should respond with a beauty of a try, Botia passing backwards through his legs to Viliame Mata, who dummied one way, sent England’s defence the other, and cantered over.
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Ollie Chessum shares winning feeling with family after England won through to Paris semi-final (PA)Though Habosi was then cleared to return, England seemed too far in the ascendancy to be knocked off course. How deceptive appearances can be.
Just past the hour mark Tom Curry made such a nuisance of himself at the breakdown that Botia aimed a punch at him. England’s response was for Farrell to cry foul to ref Mathieu Raynal - Fiji’s was to get even.
First Waisea Nayacalevu powered into Farrell and needed stopping by Jonny May. England were too slow to reset and Peni Ravai went through Itoje for the try.
Maro Itoje shares his glory moment with travelling England fans (AP)The white shirts were rattled and when fly-half Vilimoni Botitu bagged another the scores were suddenly level and the stadium at fever pitch.
It called for a cool head. Farrell has not always been accused of that. He was this time. Drop goal, game won, on to Paris.
ENGLAND - Tries: Tuilagi, Marchant. Con: Farrell. Pens: Farrell 5. Drop: Farrell.
FIJI - Tries: Mata, Ravai, Botitu. Cons: Lomiani, Kuruvoli 2. Pen: Lomani.
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