England’s management have made two huge selection calls for the quarter-final clash against Fiji on Saturday. The traditionally conservative Steve Borthwick has picked Marcus Smith over Freddie Steward at full-back. Secondly, the Ford/Farrell partnership has gone with Farrell being entrusted with the fly-half duties. Borthwick has given England the tools to unleash now the team needs to repay his attacking intent. Charlie Inglefield assesses whether England has enough to take down Fiji and progress to the semi-finals.
Borthwick has given England the resources to unleash
This is by far the most significant selection of Borthwick’s England tenure. Borthwick has given England rugby an injection of attacking intent with Smith’s inclusion at full-back. It is tough on Steward but Smith’s twinkling feet and attacking intent were too good to ignore. Given the fact that it is a quarter-final of a World Cup with everything on the line, it is a big call by Borthwick. Whatever the result against Fiji it is a positive move that shows Borthwick is not afraid to roll the dice.
England’s backline takes on an entirely different feel with Smith at the back. Fiji’s intoxicating blend of flair and a love of an offload should not detract from their significant improvement in their basics. The set-piece for one. Joe Marchant and Elliot Daly on the wing will support Smith in dealing with any aerial threat. Any way you look at it, England have some attacking thrust at last to work with. Now it is up to Farrell and co to unleash the backline.
Farrell has to justify Ford’s exclusion
All eyes will be on Owen Farrell on Sunday afternoon. Borthwick has understandably put his faith in the England captain despite pressure mounting on Farrell to be dropped. Farrell’s performance against Western Samoa did little to suggest that he can consistently convert his excellent club form to the international stage anymore. However, no one can question the test match animal that Farrell still is. When the pressure is on there are a few better than Farrell who can deliver when it matters.
Borthwick has given England and Farrell his trust that the England captain can deliver on Sunday. Their is much that Farrell can improve on – in particular his kicking off the tee, game management and getting England’s backline going. There are no second chances from now on and with George Ford, Farrell, and Smith all involved in the match day squad England have playmaking options. Stating the obvious Farrell needs to go big on Sunday against Fiji otherwise England will be heading home.
England need to win the physicality battle
England have been going on about the DNA of their rugby this week. Courtney Lawes talked about defence and winning the ball back from contesting kicks. It is a bit worrying that England see those as their way forward. England do need to galvanise themselves – up the energy, up the intensity particularly in the forwards. If they play like they did against Western Samoa England will lose. The basic errors that have blighted England for so long are still there. In the set-piece, Jamie George needs to hit his jumpers and the scrum needs to crank up a notch.
Joe Marler’s inclusion against Samoa in the second half gave England some go forward up front. It allowed Danny Care to do what he does so well in challenging the opposition’s defence. Therefore, it is a bit surprising that he doesn’t start ahead of Dan Cole. However, Borthwick has given England the tools to unleash but that will only come if England’s pack deliver. Cole will again be entrusted with setting the foundations in the first forty minutes. Kyle Sinckler and Marler will come on to try and stick the knife into Fiji’s scrum in the final quarter. England will be up against a Fiji set-piece that is among the best in this tournament. They cannot give the plethora of basic mistakes, missed line-outs and wonky scrums and expect to win. Fiji showed at Twickenham back in August that they will punish England if given the opportunity.
Fiji’s fatigue may play into England’s hands
READ MORE: Henry Arundell and Marcus Smith boost Borthwick’s England attacking options
The tournament is entering four potentially classic quarter final clashes. England v Fiji is one which is so difficult to call, which adds to the excitement. Fiji have achieved so much in the last couple of months and that may be their downfall. There are key players who are struggling with injury – Semi Radradra and Waisea Nayacalevu in particular. As a team they look tired against Portugal having had to front up with their best line-up since the start of the pool stages. Take nothing away from Portugal because they were magnificent in the tournament’s last pool game. It wasn’t so much as Fiji playing poorly, more how brilliant Portugal were.
Fiji have had to endure so much off the pitch as well as on the pitch. What they have achieved is remarkable. The squad have not seen their families in 15 weeks, there have been awful tragedies to endure with Josua Tuisova and Sam Matavesi. This will undoubtedly inspire Fiji to launch a ferocious attack on England right from kick-off. England must be aware of the dangers of what Fiji can throw at them and soak up the pressure. They will also be up against the crowd who will be cheering for Fiji. If England give the Fijians a ten point start they will not compete with the off-loading, and exceptional running talent that ripples through this Fijian team.
England to win a classic
There are so many problems associated with England rugby at the moment. The list is long. Sunday’s game is a must win otherwise it will be a disaster for England rugby. That is not to disrespect Fiji, far from it. Fiji have had to go through so much on the pitch and off the pitch as previously mentioned. England in contrast have had an easy ride to the quarters without ever truly being convincing.
READ MORE: England’s win over Samoa must not cover up serious problems
Both teams were lacklustre in their respective final pool games. Perhaps understandably for Fiji, who looked tired having not had the opportunity to properly rest their frontline players. England having already qualified might have had a slight justification to take the foot off the pedal. But in truth it was another disjointed, muddled and slow performance. Can they raise their game enough to topple Fiji on Sunday? Forget about the rest of the tournament. Where they are currently at, there are big doubts.
Borthwick has given England the tools to unleash. Smith’s inclusion is long overdue and there are no more excuses. The concern is that England are throwing very little and don’t look like doing so anytime soon. The pressure will be on England to step up, especially with Farrell’s overall role in the team. They dare not fail because anything less than a win on Sunday would be disastrous.
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