If you had told me Fiji would win 90 per cent of their lineout ball and all of their own scrums against England, I would have been on my way to the TAB to back them faster than Nikola Matawalu.
What’s more, they stole an English lineout and scored their only try form a tighthead scrum.
The English fans will rightly point to the fact that Fiji gave away four scrum penalties and a crucial penalty try from a lineout maul, but rather than being an Achilles heel for the Fijians, their forwards’ performance should have been a bulging calf from which they sprung in to attack.
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However, each time the Fijian pack delivered some of the best quality set piece ball a Fijian side has ever had, their backline seemed to be in a contest to see who could kick it away the quickest.
The clearest example of this was from a second half Fijian scrum. Masi Matadigo scooted from the base and found Gabiriele Lovobalavu who made it easily over the advantage line. With England back peddling and play taken out of the Fijian 22-metre, Nemani Nadolo shanked a kick out on the full just as every spectator was wriggling out of their seat to see what the big man could do.
In total Fiji kicked the ball 22 times, twice more than the English side.
What’s more, of those 22 kicks, at least eight of them found man of the match Mike Brown on the full, allowing him to quickly launch in to counter attack or return the ball with interest.
While I can appreciate the tactic of using Ben Volavola’s left foot grubbers to sit the rushing English defence down and allowing the freight train that is Nemani Nadolo to strike the fear of God in to the man collecting, this strategy had to result in the strategic goal of gaining space to then use the ball later in the game.
What didn’t eventuate was this change in tactics, and instead it was England who gained ball-in-hand confidence later in the game.
While some will predictably say it was England’s ability to control the set pieces that won them the game, it was actually their ability to outplay Fiji with ball-in-hand that allowed the victory, winning the attacking stats as follows:
That being said, the English attack was not brilliant, lacked organisation at times and relied heavily on Mike Brown who accounted for four of England’s five line breaks. The other bright light was none other than Sam Burgess, who managed two offloads in his impressive performance off the bench.
Fiji’s kicking again let them down in their ability to convert considerable pressure into points, with three missed penalties and one missed conversion, they left 11 points out on the paddock that could have had the English sweating.
Even when Fiji did score points, a polished England restart game was able to regain possession three times, denying Fiji crucial momentum at the precise times they most sort it. John McKee was noticeably frustrated by this in the coach’s box and knew how vital these moments were in the game.
So what does this mean for Australia, against both opponents?
Fiji will win enough of their ball to place pressure on the Australian defence – if they keep it in-hand. Their breakdown work was solid, although their line speed will need to improve to bring this into the game against an Australian team that will pose many more threats in attack.
You can guarantee that the message will come through the wireless to run at the Wallabies, so Australia will need to be ready for anything, but I feel if they can handle this, that a tiring Fiji will struggle to hold Australia in the last 20 minutes.
As for England, they have some work to do.
Full credit to them for working through this game. The huge hype and a passionate Fijian side were always going to make this match difficult, but they showed more maturity than some had anticipated as they took the five points.
However, Sir Clive may have to rethink his comments around the English scrum, and without this source of confidence and a lineout that still looks wobbly outside of their maul, there is enough set piece weakness for the Wallabies to get excited about. And there is not enough excitement in the English attack to worry Nathan Grey.
What will have every fan fist pumping the air like Lleyton Hewitt is that the tournament has begun, and we have nearly seven glorious weeks of this to come.
Upfromdown
Guest
He seemed very nervous. It is obviously a huge jump from Sydney club rugby to the RWC opener in a matter of a few months. With a some games at the RWC and a busy Super rugby season with the Crusaders next year under his belt he has the skills to progress greatly.
Shineblocker
Guest
England were average, and it was very disheartening that Fiji didn't capitalize on it. Fiji should look to the Japan win over the Boks as inspiration. Japan's skill and guile ball in hand game for the full 80 really stifled the Boks. The best rugby game I had watched in a long time ...
Blinky Bill of Bellingen NSW
Guest
Personally I'd like to see him at 15. Good in the air, defense seems solid, got a boot, and can chime in anywhere to create havoc.
m0b1us
Guest
As an England supported I completely agree. Penalty was fine for that.
Wallaby thrasher
Guest
lleyton Hewitt? Didn't he,like the Australian cricketers leave the British Isles defeated with his tail between his legs? For 'Japan' read 'Fiji'. For 'South Africa' read 'Australia'
0riole
Guest
If and only if they play the same 15. They have a tough draw with Poms, WBs and Wales in under 2 weeks. I'm guessing they may see the match against Wales as a better chance, remember Halfpenny and Webb are out. They may focus more on that game and less on the one Wednesday, it would, imho, give them the best shot of making it out of the pool stage.
PeterK
Roar Guru
The citing of lifting tackles is well and truly ott and a joke. The fijian player who was penalised by Peyep after he reviewed it in slo mo and only penalised has been cited. The citing commissioner thinks it met the red level threshold. The player was put down gently with care.
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
Lets not blame Volavola, he is one of the few fijian flyhalf that likes to 'run' the ball..it must have been a directive for McClueless to kick the ball and play in the England territory ..that guy played 8 games for the Tahs, how many times did he kick the ball away?
Bryan
Guest
On a side issue, how awesome is watching nandolo kicking off the tee? Poetry in motion
Brent
Guest
Maybe the reason they kicking more is because the Blue Bulls Coach Frans Ludeke joined the Fijian Team to prepare for the WC. I could be wrong, but he would be bringing blue bulls kicking expertise if anything...
Tigranes
Guest
Sailosi I was disappointed with Tonga - they looked unfit, they dropped too much ball, had no real game plan. Georgia picked them off in defence with relative ease, and the Georgian flanker that scored had to have been the slowest tryscorer over the weekend. Before the world cup, it was thought they could roll the Pumas, but that isn't likely to happen, and Tonga have gone backwards since 2011. Samoa won, but their gameplan was to pass it to the big unit they had on the wing, so it worked against the USA, but I can see them struggling against Scotland and Japan. Again, their fitness wasn't great either...what do these guys do just before the world cup started, eat heaps?...I know Nadolo ate two chickens when he went to Nandos!
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I would be very surprised if Fiji kicked that much again, that said the Wallabies line speed in defence needs to be very good.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Yep nervous Wallabies supporter here.
Sailosi
Guest
AndyS, it's because we are sophisticated teams now, didn't you know. No longer do we want to be known as the fly by night islanders. I'm sick of the crap coming from the coaches of the Pacific teams. The Tongan game plan against Georgia was a disgrace. It's a shame now that the three most turgid and least enterprising teams at the World Cup are Pacific teams. I smashed the tv and the old man walked out after last nights game. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
AndyS
Guest
I have to say I was surprised at how much the Fijians kicked. The same also applied to Samoa, although they at least got their result. Maybe a little rugby homogenisation, with so many plying their trade elsewhere.
jutsie
Guest
fiji's backline played like they were 7 kurtley beales. every single player in the backline's first instinct seemed to be the miracle chip kick
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes that's a shame. Ten years ago you would never have see that much kicking. Back then it would be the exception. They're having their natural game thrashed out of them for the sake of conforming to a rigid style of the game...I mean they have to do what their bosses tell them. I'd hate to think they played England at their own game because they felt obliged somehow. Their best chance is to completely revert to their natural skills.
Sailosi
Guest
As a Wallaby supporter, I'd be more nervous now. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Lostintokyo
Guest
When I first saw the draw, I thought Fiji would express themselves against the pommies, perhaps cause an upset and win, and then tire after a short turn around against the Wallabies. You beauty, I thought. Instead Fiji will enter the game on Thursday morning with a lot to prove and a will to improve. It is a banana skin game. But if they can beat the Wallabis after only five days rest and the multitude of other disadvantages they face then they will deserve victory and the Wallabies deserve defeat.
Johnny Utah
Guest
Nadolo is wasted on the wing, he looks dangerous with ball in hand and has the ability due to his size to pop a ball in traffic. Bit of a left field suggestion but surely he would offer the Fijians more at #10 than Volavola