England hammer Fiji

England kept their winning run going with a big 58-15 win over Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday.

The win means that England have now gone 11 games unbeaten and have won every game under Eddie Jones.  Fiji who were trying make up for a 40-7 clobbering at the hands of the Barbarians last weekend continue their losing run.

England were rampant in the first half scoring five tries through Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Elliot Daly, Joe Launchbury and Teimana Harrison.  Fiji though remained spirited throughout as star winger Nemani Nadolo and second-row Leone Nakarawa both scored in the last ten minutes of the second half to finish the first chukka 34-10.

The English were relentless with their attack as they used every opportunity wonderfully, after scoring a number of tries through the counter attack as well as utilising the driving maul well.  Despite the large scoreline, Fiji impressed on attack throughout the game, even to the last minute as they displayed eletric, running rugby.

England drew first blood when they found themselves sending it wide from the base of a centre field ruck, and they beat the Fiji defence for Joseph to go over in the corner.

The home side then got their second try of the match after they turned the ball over and kicked into the Fiji half, where it came off a Fiji hand and bounced straight into Rokoduguni who took the ball to ground before the ball was spread wide to Daly, who calmly drifted past a defender to score.

England scored their third try when they used an interesting line out move that saw Dylan Hartley float the ball over the lineout for Billy Vunipola to collect, who then swung it to his brother Mako who, through his crash ball, bundled up the defence.  The ball was recycled quickly and given wide to Rokoduguni who scored.

Harrison then grabbed himself a five pointer in this try-fest when England used their maul well to bulldoze over the Fijian line to score a try.  Shortly afterwards the home side get a maul on the 22-metre line and roll forward before Launchbury rumbled over.

Fiji then etched their name into the score sheet when they relentlessly pounded at the English line until the home side looked quite depleted.  Fiji sent it wide quickly and Nadolo scored.  The visitors then dotted down again in quick succession after they camped out on the England line before the ball was given short to the Nakarawa who dummied before falling over the line.

The Fijians kept their momentum going into the second half as they rumbled upfield through their forwards before swinging wide to Metuisela Talebula who broke the line through some clever foot work scored the five-pointer.

England full-back Alex Goode then got his name onto the score sheet when England score another after another electric run up field from Rokoduguni who was tackled just short of the line.  England then recycled quickly and sent it wide for Goode to score.  Joseph then got his second try after a long Fiji pass was skillfully intercepted by the centre.

The last twenty minutes was quieter from the dominant hosts but they did manage to score two more through Rokoduguni and Launchbury who both completed their own braces

The scorers:

For England:
Tries:  Joseph 2, Daly, Rokoduguni 2, Harrison, Launchbury 2, Goode
Cons:  Farrell 4, Ford
Pen:  Farrell

For Fiji:
Tries:  Nadolo, Nakarawa, Talebula

England:  15 Alex Goode, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Teimana Harrison, 6 Chris Robshaw, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Mako Vunipola
Replacements:  16 Jamie George, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Nathan Hughes, 21 Danny Care, 22 Ben Te’o, 23 Henry Slade

Fiji:  15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Benito Masilevu, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12 Albert Vulivuli, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Josh Matavesi, 9 Seru Vularika, 8 Akapusi Qera, 7 Peceli Yato, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Api Ratuniyawara, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma’afu
Replacements:  16 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Leeroy Atalifo, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Naulia Dawai, 21 Eremasi Radrodro, 22 Niko Matawalu, 23 Kini Murimurivalu

Referee:  Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant Referees:  Paul Williams (New Zealand), Lloyd Linton (Scotland)
TMO:  Gareth Simmonds (Wales)