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Fiji fell desperately short as their World Cup was ended by a referee well known as a heartbreaker by Australian fans in a thrilling quarter-final in Marseille – leaving the losing skipper to claim refs are guilty of unconscious bias against smaller teams.
Fiji scored two tries in four minutes in the second half to come from 24-10 down to 24-all before falling 30-24 as Owen Farrell scored 20 points. Fiji scored three tries to two.
The Pacific Islanders played for six minutes after regular time had elapsed before ref Mathieu Raynal blew up for an England penalty, secured by Maro Itoje, to secure their passage to the semifinals.
The Frenchman famously penalised Bernard Foley for delaying a kick and gifting the All Blacks a win over the Wallabies last year.
England’s Ollie Lawrence consoles Fiji’s Waisea Nayacalevu after the Rugby World Cup 2023 quarter-final match at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. Picture date: Sunday October 15, 2023. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
The Fijians were distraught – especially skipper Waisea Nayacalevu who could barely believe the decision.
He later said Raynal had allowed Courtney Lawes to get away with disrupting the ball illegally on multiple occasions.
“Yeah, I’ll be honest. I was frustrated with a few calls,” said Nayacalevu. “They had already formed a ruck and then [Maro] Itoje just came in and grabbed onto the ball and there was no penalty there. Three times in the game.”
“Absolutely,” Nayacavelu added when asked specifically about unconscious bias against Pacific Island teams such as Samoa and Fiji. “You guys watched the game, you guys can answer that.”
But their coach Simon Raiwalui delivered an all time classy response when asked about the official.
“There’s obviously decisions where they go 50-50. The referees do a brilliant job, it’s the hardest position and you’re isolated,” Raiwalui said.
“Sure, there’s things that you contest, there’s things that maybe you don’t agree on, but first things first we had opportunities to score, we had opportunities to win the game.
“We’re a huge supporter of every facet of the game and that includes refereeing. They do a wonderful job. They don’t go out there to pick a team and have their favourites. Sometimes there’s mistakes, sometimes the rub of the green doesn’t go your way.
“It is important that we support them and not isolate them. I’m very appreciative of everything they do.”
In Stan Sport post-game former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles and ex-skipper Michael Hooper were frustrated by the final call, hastily made.
“It was a disappointing performance from the referee Raynal,” said Hoiles. “It shows how referees are so influential. Wayne Barnes last night (in Ireland vs New Zealand) allowed the game to be absolutely exciting from start to finish – that was poorly managed through the course of the game and the last penalty – to not even have the courage to communicate to say release or hands off… he just froze in the last 20 minutes. I hope we don’t see him again.”
Hooper added: “As a player all you want is consistency from a referee,. As you look at that last penalty there’s no communication. He was quite communicative around the rucks all day then that one he freezes up. That’s going to be really frustrating and hard for Fiji to take.”
England were the better team for most of the game with their back row in supreme form and Farrell, who was booed by some of his own fans before the game, showing them their folly with a brilliant display of kicking. He booted five penalties, a conversion and a drop goal and his only miss – from the touchline, struck a post.
Raiwalui was right to point out the errors his team made that put them under pressure until their incredible comeback threatened to roll over England.
“I’m a bit speechless at the moment but I couldn’t be prouder of the boys,”said the coach.,
“They’ve worked so hard since week one. They’ve showed they belong on the world stage. The whole group players and staff. It’s a bit of an emotional moment.
“This is a different Fiji team and I think it’s the start of something special. We made a couple of mistakes today and we didn’t take our chances.
“The fans have been brilliant this World Cup there has been unbelievable support and it shows it’s a global game not just the top tier of teams. It just shows the game is in a healthy state.”
England came into the tournament on a low and yet have now won all five of their games. Next up is semifinal against the winner of the France vs South Africa game later Monday (AEDT) and coach Steve Borthwick was in a feisty mood as he predicted his team would be written off by all and sundry no matter who they face.
“I thought the players were magnificent, the whole squad worked hard to get that result,” said Borthwick.
“After the performance you have to give immense credit to Fiji they’ve had a fantastic World Cup and I’m delighted we found a way to win that game.
“For the vast majority we were in control there was a spell midway through the second half where they scored back-to-back tries and they’re the only team in the world who can do that – but I was pleased with how the players handled it thereafter.
Maro Itoje of England in action during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between England and Fiji at Stade Velodrome on October 15, 2023 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
“A lot has been written about these players and what I see is a group who can handle and rise to these occasions.
“We’ve had great week it’s been a brilliant part of the world to prepare but Paris is a bit special so we are looking forward to it.
“We don’t forget there’s a fair number of people who said we won’t make it out of group and a fair number who said we would lose tonight and we’re going to be written off again I’m sure. But this team is determined to be successful.”
England started strongly and grabbed first half tries to Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant as well as 11 points from Farrell to lead 21-10 at the break – as Frank Lomani missed two straight forward penalty attempts while adding one and converting a Viliame Mata try.
After another Farrell penalty edged the lead to two converted tries, Fiji found them in the space of just four minutes with Peni Ravai (64th) and Vilimoni Botitu (68th) to level things at 24-24.
But Farrell restored the lead with a drop goal and late penalty.
“It was what we expected,” Farrell said. “They are a tough, tough team that can turn it on in the blink of an eye.
“I thought we started the game really well and to find a way to win and get through to the semi-finals is a big step forward.”
Fiji, who beat England just before the tournament, finished the tournament with wins over Australia and Georgia and losses to Wales, Portugal and England.