QF v Fiji

[francoisfou]

What are the odds on England being defeated by Afghanistan and Fiji on the same day

[16th man]

Curry for Billy as the game opens up. Christ.

[Beasties]

Can we have Dan Cole back on please?

[Beasties]

Earl has been superb.

[16th man]

Go on Ben Earl.

[Stom]

Joe Marler has been great since arriving.

[Danno]

Just take the kick you fanny

[morepork]

Just use it Fiji

[16th man]

That's never deliberate. Clearly in the act of making the tackle.

Actually on second viewing it's fucking stupid.

[morepork]

That's never deliberate. Clearly in the act of making the tackle.

Are you serious?

[switchskier]

That's never deliberate. Clearly in the act of making the tackle.

Are you serious?

Utterly ridiculous. One had waft to stop the game. Should have been yellow.

[Galfon]

Sad end to gripping contest.Just about deserved.

[Which Tyler]

Utterly ridiculous. One had waft to stop the game. Should have been yellow.

Penalty seems dead right to me - why yellow?
Isn't that down to "did the knock on stop a significant line-break"?
Or is there something else about pure cynicism?

[jngf]

Gutsy defensive effort by England but was disappointed that Fiji didn’t edge it given their superior skills.

[UKHamlet]

You realise that England are going to win the cup by accident, don't you? Borthwick gets lifetime head coach award. Marcus Smith permanent 15.

[Danno]

Oh no. He said the Eddie thing. Ford hasn't been dropped to the bench, he's "changed his role".

Nice one, Sleeve

[Puja]

You realise that England are going to win the cup by accident, don't you? Borthwick gets lifetime head coach award. Marcus Smith permanent 15.

Don't threaten us with a good time! We could dine out on that for another 20 years!

Puja

[canta_brian]

Utterly ridiculous. One had waft to stop the game. Should have been yellow.

Penalty seems dead right to me - why yellow?
Isn't that down to "did the knock on stop a significant line-break"?
Or is there something else about pure cynicism?

Aaron Smith feeling a little put out right now

[Stom]

Marchant was excellent today

[Oakboy]

Fiji must now be regretting missing two easy kicks in the 1st half.

We won. What else is there to say?

[jngf]

I think I predicted that England would edge a close win but they aren’t an especially creative or attack oriented team which makes them dull to watch for the most part. Plus Itoje and Lawes getting rag dolled shows that our big men just ain’t especially powerful

[switchskier]

Utterly ridiculous. One had waft to stop the game. Should have been yellow.

Penalty seems dead right to me - why yellow?
Isn't that down to "did the knock on stop a significant line-break"?
Or is there something else about pure cynicism?

I thought that deliberate and no attempt to catch the ball (going with one hand) was yellow?

[FKAS]

Utterly ridiculous. One had waft to stop the game. Should have been yellow.

Penalty seems dead right to me - why yellow?
Isn't that down to "did the knock on stop a significant line-break"?
Or is there something else about pure cynicism?

It looked Care was in the backfield as cover but the Fijian catching the ball would have made a good 15 to 20 metres. I think Farrell is a bit lucky. I was thinking yellow when I saw the replay.

Improved performance by England buys they'll need more again next week to have any chance of making the final. Silver Ballerina has had some stick for his selections and tactics but they were spot on today. Needless penalties from senior players will be infuriating for him, particularly Curry who gave away some daft ones.

[Puja]

Utterly ridiculous. One had waft to stop the game. Should have been yellow.

Penalty seems dead right to me - why yellow?
Isn't that down to "did the knock on stop a significant line-break"?
Or is there something else about pure cynicism?

Aaron Smith feeling a little put out right now

The ref's right though - it's a shit pass from Fiji that has missed the person Farrell is "tackling" and is going to ground way before it reaches no20. So it's not stopped a linebreak because an unimpeded ball would've been bouncing every which way around the floor, giving our cover plenty of time to come across.

I wouldn't've hated a yellow just for sheer cynicism though. Was a bit nervous about the way he chose to kick it out the first time as well - drop the ball for a tap kick and then volley it, rather than catching and punting normally. I mean, he pulled it off, but there's far too high a chance for a Lionel Beauxis there. It didn't count anyway, as the ref had gone off to argue with Nayacalevu, but it was far too casual for my liking.

Puja

[Spiffy]

Farrell was quite good in the first half but not the second. He has been so poor recently that an improvement to mediocrity makes him look good compared to his usual self. Prepare yourselves for gushing media comments about captain courageous, Ice man, inspirational leader, match winning drop goal etc. Try to keep yer dinner down!