Borthwick hails players for holding their nerve after second-half 'thunderbolts'

TWO “thunderbolts” in four minutes, and England flashed from safe semi- final passage to fighting for their World Cup lives.

England               30 

Fiji Nick                 24
Purewal Rugby

Peni Ravai and Vilimoni Botitu both crashed over, to prove that lightning really can strike twice, as Fiji wiped out a 24-10 deficit at Stade Velodrome.

Steve Borthwick is ultra proud of his England team for always finding a way to win at this World Cup, whatever the circumstances and whatever it takes.

Clawing an 18-17 victory over Samoa in a pool stage match with quarter-final qualification secured is one thing — but fending off a Fiji onslaught in a knockout match was something else entirely.

Borthwick hailed his men for handling those bolts from the blue, driving back upfield and securing scores to win 30-24. “For large parts we controlled the game, then had a couple of thunderbolts in quick succession,” said the head coach.

“Not that long ago an England team is probably not going to come back and win that game, and this team did. There is a smartness about the team. There is a composure about the team.”