England withheld a stunning second half fightback from a ferocious Fiji as Owen Farrell’s kicking cool sent Steve Borthwick’s side to a semi-final date on Saturday evening.

Having led 24-10 at the hour mark, few could have foreseen the unpredictably enthralling final quarter of action in Marseille, Fiji scoring two converted tries to draw level, before a fantastically taken Farrell drop goal and the fly half’s fifth penalty put England ahead again, an advantage they didn’t relinquish for a second time.

At stake was a semi-final spot on Saturday night in Paris against the winners of France v South Africa, who play in the last quarterfinal. 

Fiji were aiming for to reach a landmark final four stage for the first time in their Rugby World Cup history, England aiming to replicate, and go one better, than their run to the final four years ago.

Having won the toss, England captain, Owen Farrell kicked us off in Marseille, his side showing some sparky passing before a brilliant rip by Fijian flanker, Levani Botia, extinguished the threat.

The breakdown was brutally contested in the opening stages, both sides scrabbling frantically to coherently maintain the ball, build phases, Courtney Lawes the next to show his prowess in a terrific turnover, Elliot Daly’s resultant kick powering them into the twenty-two.

From there, pressure mounted eventually resulted in a penalty in front of the posts, smashed over by Farrell for the game’s first points.

England made their next visit to the attacking twenty-two even more fruitful in the fourteenth minute.  Jamie George, the lineout lumbered towards the line and recycling, Farrell found his centre, Manu Tuilagi to his left, the Sale Sharks man twisting beyond two tackles to score in the corner.

Farrell’s conversion struck the post, Fiji scrumhalf, Frank Lomani also denied shortly after from a penalty which pinballed against the woodwork to the men in navy’s angst.

Lomani landed his next attempt, moments later, though, punishing Tom Curry’s infringement, leaving just five points between the two teams after twenty minutes.

Daylight soon streaked in for Steve Borthwick’s side, Joe Marchant marauding across to join his centre partner on the scoresheet, the number thirteen dotting down a rampant attack, started by Ben Earl’s alertness as Farrell swept it on and Marchant pounced.

Two more from Farrell’s boot, plus the sin binning of Fiji winger, Vinaya Habosi, for clattering Marcus Smith, made it a profitbale couple of minutes for the men in white.

Another penalty effort from Lovani squirmed wide but Fiji swiftly demonstrated their flying colours, a lovely line break by fly-half, Vilimoni Botitu, piercing England wide open as number eight, Viliame Mata dummied dazzlingly and scorched in under the sticks, Lomani unerring with the extras to suddenly bring it back to a thrilling, three-point gap.

Three more from Farrell edged England a score clear as Fiji were replenished to their full fifteen.

Further Fijian in-discipline provided England’s skipper the opportunity to elevate his tally into double digits, Farrell’s third successful penalty taking his total, and more importantly his side’s lead, out to eleven points, 21-10, how it stayed until half-time of an entertaining encounter in Marseille.

Opting for the corner, Fiji denied England a third and possibly, pivotal try early in the second half, the Pool A runners-up doggedly staying in touch on the scoreboard.

Taking their turn to apply attacking pressure, Fiji were repelled by stout defence as England tried to manage a lead that was far from stable.

It increased to a healthier fourteen-point margin, however, Farrell firing his fourth penalty of the day over to put points to another flowing foray into Fiji’s danger zone.

With Borthwick’s team much improved from the August nightmare of Twickenham, against Fiji, especially at the breakdown, a long-range monster kick from Farrell fell just short, but undoubtedly it was the finalists from Japan 2019 in the ascendency entering the final quarter.

That narrative lost control when, shortly after being introduced, Fijian substitute, Peni Ravai rampaging over the whitewash after electric play by fellow replacement, Sireli Maqala out wide.

Simione Kuruvoli converted cooly to make it a seven-point gap, then lashing a penalty off the post as England wilted in the face of sustained, ferocious Fijian tempo and attacks.

Wave after wave, it came, their momentum finally crashing them over for their third the afternoon, Botitu scoring it but indebted to winger, Sami Redradra with a raucous, lung-busting scythe through the half, scattering white shirts like debris behind him and offloading to Botitu who thundered in.

Kuruvoli’s second successful conversion drew us level after a breathless spell, all square at 24 apiece and England looking shellshocked, on the ropes having blown their fourteen-point cushion.

Eight minutes from the end, with their composure somewhat shaken, England retook the lead, as Farrell dropped to the pocket and drilled over a brilliant drop goal under intense pressure, advantage restored!

Earl then accelerated away amazingly, drawing another easy penalty bang in front, Farrell milking the shot-clock to perfection before pushing it over to make it a six point, still nervy as anything, lead going into the final few minutes.

Holing out resiliently in the face of an all-out Fiji engine, England make the final four for a second successive Rugby World Cup, to play the winners of France South Africa on Saturday.

Heartachingly, missing out on their first ever semi-final appearance, Fiji can depart with their heads held high, many hearts won by a thrillingly exciting style of rugby which ensured a high-wire, brilliant comeback, highly contributing to a fine quarterfinal performance, today.

For Steve Borthwick and co, much in the way of game management to improve, but a semi-final berth awaits, an achievement in itself considering their pre-tournament turmoil, including a warm-up loss to this same opposition at Twickenham.

 Now, the question is, just how far will they go? 

Argentina produce a spirited second-half performance to book a spot in the World Cup Semi-Finals after beating Wales 29-17 this afternoon in Marseille.

10-0 down on the brink of half-time, Argentina chipped away at Wales lead through the boot of Emiliano Boffelli, before scoring tries through Ausgustin Creevy and Nicolas Sanchez to send Wales packing. Argentina book their spot in a World Cup Semi-Final, where they will face either Ireland or New Zealand 

Fighting for a spot in the Semi-Finals, this game got off to a cagey start as both teams put boot to ball to try and cath their opponent off guard. Argentina were undoubtedly winning the kicking battle, their chase far superior, but they were unable to create any chances after multiple phases. Wales, as has been common in this tournament, were happy to bed-in and make consecutive tackles. 

Wales broke the deadlock in the 14^th minute with a brilliant strike move off the base of their own scrum. With the scrum on the left side of the pitch on the halfway line, Wales put the ball through the hands of their backs and drove up the pitch, Josh Adams in particular making a strong carry. Liam Williams, nearing the touchline, cut back inside, and recycled the ball after he was brought to ground. From the next phase, Dan Biggar played an excellent inside pop pass to George North, who ran an excellent support line to break through the Argentinian defensive line. Tackled around the legs, as North landed on the ground he popped the ball back up to his scrum half Gareth Davies who broke the line again. Davies had Biggar to his left, and he drew the defender before offloading to Biggar. The fly-half crossed over for an easy score to give Wales the lead in this game. 

In the build-up to the try, Referee Jaco Peyper pulled up with a calf strain and he was unable to keep up with play. This led to a swapping of referees as Peyper could no longer continue. Englishman Karl Dickson took over control of the whistle and would referee the remaining 65 minutes of this game.

A penalty from Dan Biggar would bring his personal tally, and Wales tally, to 10 points as they held Argentina to nil. A missed penalty from the Welsh fly-half in the 28^th minute meant that the lead remained at 10 rather than 13 with little more than ten minutes until half-time. 

After a period of sustained pressure from Argentina, as they were finally growing into this game, Argentina would convert a penalty through Emiliano Boffelli from right in front of the posts to cut the deficit to just seven points in the 38^th minute. Wales’ Josh Adams then gave away a stupid penalty when the clock was in the red with a late shoulder hit on Santiago Carreras after he had knocked the ball on. A mini-brawl ensued, but Karl Dickson brought it back to Adams’ offence and awarded Los Pumas a penalty. With 44 minutes on the clock, Boffelli brought an end to the first half with a penalty kick that cut Wales’ lead to just four points.

It was an opening 40 minutes that Wales dominated, yet only had a four-point advantage to show for it due to a momentary lack of judgement. Argentina were lucky to only be four points down at half time, as they looked very poor in the first half, but ended strongly.

Argentina came out for the second half and looked to get going straight away. Within minutes they looked much more organized and disciplined than they had done in the first half. Four minutes into the second half, Argentina were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, 10 metre out from the Welsh try line. Argentina were smart and decided to take an easy 3 points to cut the Welsh lead to just a singular point. After leading 10-0 until the 38^th minute, within 6 minutes Argentina were all-but level.

Los Pumas relied on the boot of Emiliano Boffeli again in the 48^th minute as they won a penalty inside their own half, 55 metres away from the posts. Boffelli lined up the kick and slotted it from distance to put Argentina in the driving seat for the first time in this game. In the space of ten minutes, Argentina had chipped away at the 10-point deficit and had now taken the lead. 

Wales responded well to the pressure from Argentina as they looked to wrestle back control of this game. They would do just that, as substitute scrum-half Tomos Williams produced a sniping run from the base of the ruck deep inside the Argentinian 22’. Spotting a gap on the edge of the ruck, Williams sensed the opportunity and put on the afterburners to cross over for a score. A conversion from Dan Biggar would bring Wales’ lead up to five points, as they once again led on the score sheet.

Argentina were not disheartened by this concession, instead they spent the next ten minutes camped in the Welsh half, and then inside their 22’. With Wales giving away numerous penalties for offsides, Argentina kicked the ball to the corner to try and go for the lead. They made a crucial substitution before the lineout, the iconic Agustín Creevy taking the pitch in place of Julian Montoya. Though Argentina did not score directly from the lineout, Creevy would find himself at the base of the ruck just metres out from the Welsh try line. Supported by Tomas Lavanini, Creevy powered over the try line to draw the scores level with a conversion to come. It was a difficult kick, but Boffelli made light work of it to give Argentina a two-point lead with slightly more than ten minutes remaining.

Matias Moroni, coming on for Santiago Chocobares early on in this game, made a try-saving tackle in the 74^th minute on the electric Louis Rees Zammit, ploughing the winger into touch before he could dive for the try line.

With just minutes remaining, Wales had a scrum on the halfwy point and looked to build some momentum. From the following strike move, Sam Costelow tried to link up a pass with Tomos Williams. Veteran Argentinian Fly-Half Nicolas Sanchez read the play perfectly and intercepted the pass to race in for an excellent finish underneath the posts, as he outpaced Rio Dyer to the try line. Another Boffelli conversion would bring Argentina’s lead to 9 points.

In the dying seconds of the game, Argentina won another penalty, which Sanchez converted to bring an end to this game.

After being 10-0 down with 37 minutes played, Argentina produced a spirited performance in the second half to end up 12-point winners in the end. Wales’ discipline was poor, as they allowed Argentina to chip away at their lead, and it is Los Pumas who progress to a World Cup Semi-Final against either Ireland or New Zealand.

South Africa have powered past Tonga with a 49-18 win in their Rugby Pool B fixture at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Sunday. 

The Springboks are still strong contenders in this tournament, even after their loss last weekend to Ireland at the Stade de France.

Should they finish second in Pool B, it's likely they'll face France in the quarter-finals.

The win tonight will do no harm to their confidence as Tonga put in a typically spirited and abrasive performance but could not do enough to pull off a massive upset.

Tonga took a surprise lead, with William Havili knocking over a short kick after some early South African errors.

However, it wasn’t long before South Africa were awarded a penalty and Tonga's players turned their backs in a lapse of concentration, expecting the Springboks to kick to touch and scrum-half Reinach opportunistically tapped and went, sprinting unopposed into the corner. Handre Pollard makes the conversion.

Tonga dominated the opening exchanges but could not capitalise. South Africa then scored out of nowhere, with the ball deflecting of Koch’s shoulder and Canan Moodie sprinted over, picked it up and ran under the posts for a try converted by Pollard.

Deon Fourie was the next to score for the Springboks, steering the lineout maul towards the line and burrowing over. Pollard maintained his accuracy from the kicking tee to put his side 21-3 up.

Tonga would hit back before the break, however, with Ben Tameifuna powering his way over from short distance to keep his side in the game at half-time.

Tonga continued to battle in the second half, but South Africa went up through the gears. A brilliant, slick move, starting off with a line-out allowed replacement Jesse Kriel to punch is way over the line for the bonus point try.

Tonga responded with a much-deserved try from Fine Inisi who crosses in style in the corner following several good phases to make the score 28-13.

Further tries from Willie Le Roux and Jesse Kriel gave the Springboks a healthy cushion but Tonga did not wilt in the second half, hitting back with a try from replacement out-half Patrick Pellegrini.

A try from Kwagga Smith was the last play of the game and capped off a relatively hard-fought win for the Springboks.

Having underwhelmed in the win over Uruguay last week, France needed a big response in Marseille and Fabian Galthie’s fully loaded side delivered just that with a mesmerising 14-try 96-0 victory.

The French flair was on full display at a vibrant Stade Velodrome where the tournament hosts put in a compelling performance that forced their competitors for the Webb Ellis Cup to take notice. 

France’s pack gave Antoine Dupont a penalty advantage and the star scrum-half produced a wonderful cross field kick to pick out Damian Penaud, who for the sixth successive international appearance, scored. 

France scored their second try inside 10 minutes as Mathieu Jalibert’s kick in behind was pounced on by Louis Bielle-Biarrey and the tyro winger handed returning centre Jonathan Danty an easy try.

Namibia captain Johan Deysel’s impressive jackal turnover inside his own 22 momentarily halted the French avalanche but moments later the home side scored their third try with an incredible score.

Dupont raced down the right and picked out Jalibert, whose no look offload found Penaud and the winger offloaded back across the pitch to Charles Ollivon, with the former captain running in quite possibly the best try of the tournament so far.

Penaud secured his brace and France’s bonus point after just 22 minutes as Peato Mauvaka picked out his wing with another no look offload off a lineout to allow the Bordeaux Begles flyer to race away untouched.

Danty scored his second try after a well worked lineout move saw Dupont pick out the bulldozing centre from close-range. 

Namibia broke forward in a rare foray and were metres away from scoring but La Rochelle powerhouse Danty got himself over the ball and the immovable object secured the jackal penalty.

Former Wasps second row Thibaud Flament crossed for number six while the visitors broke forward again but missed a golden opportunity to get on the scoresheet as they overthrew a lineout 5m out. 

Gael Fickou broke through the defence before Penaud danced his way forward to provide the brilliant Dupont with an easy run in.

Dupont found himself in the Namibia 22 and despite being under immense pressure and hit late he produced another moment of magic as his pinpoint cross field kick, this time tee up his other winger Bielle-Biarrey on the stroke of half time.

Danco Burger appeared to have score a try for Namibia at the start of the second stanza but Deysel was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle in the build up which cancelled the crossover and the centre’s reckless collision was upgraded to a red 

At the other end replacement Baptiste Couilloud scored and Penaud later completed his hat-trick.

Bielle-Biarrey scored his second as he raced from inside his own half and sprinted from left to right to complete a breathtaking try.

It was Ollivon’s turn to score his second as he dummied to fly in from 30m out, substitute full back Melvyn Jaminet followed and a penalty try rounded off the scoring as Jason Benade collapsed a maul illegally that was destined for the line. 

South Africa have defeated Scotland 18-3 in a hard-fought battle in the clash at Stade de Marseille this afternoon.

Despite not many points on the board for either side in the opening quarter, it was an entertaining and abrasive start to the game.

Scotland were under the pump in the opening 10-minutes and we saw a snapshot of South Africa’s immense physicality.

To their credit, Scotland stood up to them in defence and it was a gladiatorial battle with neither side taking a backwards step. The Springboks probed and stretched the Scottish defence and won three penalties, two of which Libbok managed to slot which gave his side a 6-0 lead.

Scotland’s attack started to click into gear, but they struggled to take advantage.

Their best attacking chance of the half came when Finn Russell took a wonderful pass on the wrap-around and released Darcy Graham on his outside.

The diminutive winger dummied past one challenge, but then opted not to pass when he had to release Duhan van der Merwe.

Scotland then coughed up possession, and suddenly South Africa have a lineout deep inside Scotland's half and the chance was gone.

Scotland were physically matching South Africa but the game got a bit scrappy and they couldn’t get a meaningful spell of possession.

Finn Russell kicked a penalty just before half-time to send his side only 3 points behind at the break.

South Africa had all the possession, but Scotland were difficult to break down. They bent and creaked but did well not to concede a try.

They struggled to maintain the tempo as the South African bomb squad came on against tired Scottish legs.

In classic style, it was sheer power that did the trick for the Springboks.

They went through the phases, bashing Scotland backwards, and eventually Pieter-Steph du Toit barged over from close range, being carried over by a few teammates.

Manie Libbok’s conversion was well wide.

He made up for it minutes later, with the fly-half spotting the space in behind Duhan van der Merwe, and drops a pinpoint no-look cross-field kick into the arms of Kurt-Lee Arendse.

The winger didn’t have to break stride as he raced away to score in the corner.

Faf de Klerk takes over kicking duties and nails the conversion from out wide which gave his side a comfortable cushion.

Scotland’s set-piece struggled, and they did not offer a platform at all to the back line and even when they did, it was scrappy ball. Against the blitz defence they were fighting an uphill battle and they will leave this game disappointed with what could have been.

Attritional but riveting action saw fourteen-man England make a winning World Cup start, gritty spirit, and fantastic George Ford kicking, ultimately battering a below-par Pumas side in Pool D’s opener in Marseille, tonight.

Despite being reduced to fourteen men inside three minutes, an inspired physical resilience and a blunt, all-at-seas Argentina ensured Steve Borthwick’s side started with a win.

In the last four meetings between these sides, England had won three but adding to the sense of pre-tournament dizziness and disarray was a surprising one-point loss to the Pumas last November, a thrilling match decided 29-30 in Argentina’s favour at Twickenham.

The ill-discipline that blighted their warmup matches into misery reared its head early on, an unwelcome presence for England as experienced flanker, Tom Curry was left dangling as a yellow card-red card deliberation went to the TMO bunker, a review in process for a late, high tackle, leaving coach Borthwick with more to sweat over, only three minutes in.

With five minutes gone, the deadly boot of Emiliano Boffelli put the first points over.

Argentina then went down to fourteen themselves, fly half Santiago Correras clattering his opposite number, George Ford, late and recklessly.  Correras saw yellow and Ford fired England level from the tee.

Immediately though, came the dreaded TMO bunker outcome, Curry’s yellow upgraded to red, referee, Mathieu Raynal, citing the lack of mitigation for such a dangerous tackle and having a clear eyeline as England found themselves a man down, yet again, for the fourth time in 2023.

Amidst all that, Boffelli had hit a long-range penalty wide with England probing in response, Ben Earl stepping up his workload admirably from number eight.

Restored to their full complement, Puma’s prop, Thomas Gallo crossed the whitewash for his side, but it was ruled out for an earlier knock on, momentum then squandered by captain Courtney Lawes’ brilliant defensive read, leading from the front for his country.

Buoyed by that, Borthwick’s men sustained possession and Ford thumped over a fantastic drop goal from just inside his own half to put the side a man, permanently, down, ahead for the first time.

Elliot Daly then had a monster kick drift wide, England baring their teeth fiercely in the face of Argentine adversity. 

Ford swiftly added to his drop goal tally, this an absolute rip-roarer that sailed between the posts, the confidence flowing as Jonny May then almost scrambled in the corner, scuppered by Daly’s pass at the last.

More unlikely momentum swung further England’s way, Ford popping a close-range third, yes third, drop goal of the half over for a monumental nine DG points in ten minutes and England ahead by more than a try, with the Pumas rattled as anything under the Marseille lights. 

Both Borthwick and counterpart, Argentine coach Michael Cheika both had imperative half time team talks, everyone intrigued to see whose was more effective.

As Ford took his tally to fifteen and England’s lead to twelve, it appeared Borthwick had inspired his troops although the Argentines weren’t helping themselves, seven unforced errors as lax handling ruined any hopes of building towards the scores that they needed to rescue any opening night points.

That ambition looked in tatters with twenty-five minutes remaining, Ford making it three from three from the tee, any Puma problem, gleefully swooped upon by an ecstatic England.

Yet another Ford penalty made it twenty-one unanswered points as the Pumas were pummelled by emotion, lack of game management and England with tails firmly up in the face of utter peril, that Curry’s red card placed them in.

With Argentina spilling the ball like a hot potato, England took further advantage of ill-discipline, Ford again accurate for an emphatic 24-3 lead going into the closing stages. 

It will be of scant consolation to Cheika and co that replacement, Rodrigo Bruni, burrowed over late on, Boffelli’s conversion taking them to double digits. 

By far though, much too little, much too late.

Bloodied and bruised they were but, England ended smiling and with four points to take the initiative of Pool D.  By contrast, their grit and attrition will frustrate a Pumas side who were their own worst enemies at times, putting them on the back foot for group qualification.

With a lack of try-action, the late surge aside, both teams will be keen to show a more creative, fun, flair side to their game if they are to achieve the necessary results for progression.

Argentina enters their thirteen-day rest period for the tournament, not back in action until Friday week, September 22^nd against Samoa in St Etienne (4:45pm KO). 

England have an eight-day turnaround before another crunch clash next Sunday evening, playing Japan at the Stade de Nice in what could prove a fatal faceoff (8pm KO).