15 Marcus Smith – 7
Despite starting at fullback, Smith frequently slotted into the second receiver role in the England back-line. Confident under the high ball in his new-found position, Smith started strong but was often swarmed by Fiji defenders and was side-lined through a blood injury, after a nasty clashing of heads with Vinaya Habosi. Ran searching lines and covered well throughout in defence, Smith left Marseille bloodied and battered, but through to the semi-final.
Replacements:
16 Theo Dan N/a
17 Joe Marler 6.5
On for the final 20 minutes, and gave Manu Tuilagi a shove in a bizzare interaction. Scrummed well alongside his former Quins teammate Kyle Sinckler, as the back-up brigade saw out the victory. Kept flying out the line, as the exhaustive tempo ran long into the 80th minute.
18 Kyle Sinckler 6
On alongside Marler as England shook up the front row, Sinckler kept a cool head a sturdy frame to battle against the Fijians with tempers reaching boiling point. Offered a good option in the lose, and was as quick off the line from the first moment he came on to the end of the match. A definite tempo-lift at tight-head.
19 George Martin 5.5
Given just eleven minutes with Ollie Chessum making way for Martin. The lock did his best to make an impact, in an effort to stamp his name on the squad-list for the semi-final in Paris. Strong tackling as Fiji took England to the limit for the final phases of the match.
20 Billy Vunipola 5.5
On to see out proceedings as Tom Curry was running on fumes. Vunipola was sprinting out the line to make key hits on the Fijian carriers. Slotting into number eight for a specialist end to the match, he shifted Ben Earl out to the flank for the final few scrums. The Saracens partnership worked well for the matches closing moments.
21 Danny Care 6.5
On for Alex Mitchell, to offer an experienced England head to see out the dramatic closing moments. Immediate involvement kept in tune with England’s breakdown success, as Care contributed to a 65th minute turnover. Fronting up physically as he did against Samoa, care had a stronger defensive role, than he did in the try-scoring efforts from a week ago.
22 George Ford N/a
23 Ollie Lawrence 6.5
On after 25 minutes for Marcus Smith’s blood injury, the Bath centre slotted in alongside Tuilagi, with Marchant briefly pushed out into the back-three. He returned to the fray full-time after 64 minutes, as he replaced Jonny May for the matches’ dramatic finale. Lawrence gave a key contribution in both stints against Fiji, and kept the tempo high for Borthwick’s men.
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