I think Fiji now having reclaimed the underdog tag will play much better than what they did against Georgia and Portugal.

I think after they beat Aus they found themselves in the unfamiliar position of being expected to not just win, but win well on the world stage and make the 1/4's, a situation they don't often find themselves in.

I don't think the players responded well to that pressure and expectation and played within themselves and conservatively which certainly didn't suit the Fijian rugby style.

So I expect them to play a lot better - whether that "better" is enough to beat England I'm highly unsure. Conservative, knockout rugby simply suits England down to the ground.

So I'll say Fiji with my heart and England with my head...

Who has to change their jersey?

@Bovidae said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

Who has to change their jersey?

Yeah not seen who won the toss, would've been done earlier in the week I guess

@Bovidae said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

Who has to change their jersey?

I've seen this image posted elsewhere. I assume it's correct

@Duluth England wearing white again, very rare.

@Bones said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

@Duluth England wearing white again, very rare.

They keep changing the shirts so as to sell more. I can only assume they feel no-one wants to buy them currently

They’re already on sale (discounted) in various outlets…

@Dodge hah yeah popped up on my Facebook feed yesterday after someone mentioned about AB ones...60% off or something at Lovell.

I have England by 100 here

@voodoo said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

I have England by 100 here

If you're being held hostage just type "Clive Woodward is my hero"

@Bones said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

@Dodge hah yeah popped up on my Facebook feed yesterday after someone mentioned about AB ones...60% off or something at Lovell.

DM me your address and i'll send you an England one

@Dodge said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

@Bones said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

@Dodge hah yeah popped up on my Facebook feed yesterday after someone mentioned about AB ones...60% off or something at Lovell.

DM me your address and i'll send you an England one

I'm not falling for that again.

Oh you mean a jersey?

England team to face Fiji

England: Smith; May, Marchant, Tuilagi, Daly; Farrell (capt), Mitchell; Genge, George, Cole, Itoje, Chessum, Lawes, Curry, Earl.

Replacements: Dan, Marler, Sinckler, Martin, Vunipola, Care, Ford, Lawrence.

So Borthwick has finally realised what everyone else has known since RWC final 4 years ago - the Ford-Farrell axis does not work. Consequently he dumps the best game controller we have got, to select not the best attacking threat we have but the guy who is the second best game controller and has no attacking threat. Well at least we have a proper centre partnership now. Next step - give them some ball in space.

Not. Holding. Breath.

We continue to pick wingers with no pace, signalling that they will be there as kick chasers only.

Marchant aside (and Smith to a degree), where is our pace?

Vunipola the busted flush. The five year busted flush, is on the bench again. For the life of me I cannot see why. As much as I rate Underhill, why not pick an out and out 8 as a replacement? Good flankers, we have. No 8s not so much.

Arundell's reported fracas with Farrell seems to have been the excuse to cast him to the wind. He's off to France next season and there is yet another real talent for England that will get nowhere near his potential.

It's criminal.

@Catogrande I thought May was quick...or is "was" the important word there?

Bizarre borthwick just can't let Fozzie get the limelight on his own. But hey at least the bench looks like it will have more impact than the starters.

@Bones

Whilst he’s no slouch, he has lost that out and out speed he had. Not frightening pace anymore unfortunately.

@Catogrande said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

@Bones

Whilst he’s no slouch, he has lost that out and out speed he had. Not frightening pace anymore unfortunately.

That was pretty much all he had to give him an edge, so yeah I see your concern.

@Catogrande said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

@Bones

Whilst he’s no slouch, he has lost that out and out speed he had. Not frightening pace anymore unfortunately.

He's more furious than fast nowadays

This is a very distant memory unfortunately

@MiketheSnow it's fucking not for me. That's the last time I went down the club to watch the ABs.

That Fijian team looks weaker than the one that played Portugal. Matavesi >> Ikanivere.

@Bovidae said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

That Fijian team looks weaker than the one that played Portugal. Matavesi >> Ikanivere.

Matavesi only just returned from his Dad’s funeral

He’ll bring it from the bench don’t worry

@MiketheSnow I've noticed that the Fijian lineout turns to shit when Ikanivere comes on.

An Irishman, Welshman and Scotsman walked into a bar, the Englishman wasn’t there, he was still at the World Cup

(Have a few hours at least)

And they’re off…..

Anyone know the reasoning behind red in the Fiji strip?

Raynal straight into his work. Lawes clearly on his own feet levitating horizontally a millimetre above the players lying on the ground.

Stuck on a bus in rural Wales with too weak a signal to watch live

Got the radio at least
Radio 5 Live
Abysmal
Two toffs and Matt Dawson
Orgasming every time England has the ball

They have looked way better to be fair so far

Fucking hell, Raynal plays a two second advantage before awarding the penalty, with Fiji looking to spread it wide.

Curry is a moron.

How did ref not see that live?

I would be looking at YC here. Those tackles can break kneecaps.

Lucky not to see yellow, I guess he tucked the shoulder under, which probably saved him.

@MiketheSnow Yep, the Toffs are terrible.

Fiji 3 England 8

@Damo said in RWC QF: England v Fiji:

How did ref not see that live?

I'm hoping he just had word it was being looked at, so he could play on.

We all know if Botia had done that to Tuilagi - red all day.

Nice touch from Tom Curry to the Fiji player after that "tackle". No malicious intent.

Merchant scores England second try.

Here we go. Don't need to look, it's red.