England 34 Fiji 12: Flashes of brilliance need to be built on by England

With the panicky hosts looking erratic at Hull after scrambling to a 6-6 half-time scoreline against an impressive Fiji, it was highly conceivable they could end up losing and slipping to third in their qualifying pool.

At the start of this World Cup tournament that would have been deemed disastrous as it would have put Steve McNamara’s side on a collision course with Australia at the semi-final stage.

Given the other option though – holders New Zealand who are looking increasingly dominant – maybe the Kangaroos would actually offer a greater chance of success?

However, it was all immaterial; England returned from the break at KC Stadium with a devastating spell of five tries in 15 minutes to take firm control.

It was as ruthless a period of football as you are likely to see and, in fact, the swagger, power and poise they showed then suggested they could go on and win the whole tournament let alone worry about semi-final opponents. It is a fickle beast this World Cup.

But, of course, you cannot become masters of the planet with a few sporadic spells of brilliance.

England did get scrappy once more in a scoreless final quarter and delivering greater consistency when they face the loser of tonight’s France versus Samoa game in the last eight at Wigan this Saturday is imperative if they are to build to the crescendo they desire.

Sam Burgess got them out of trouble here.

The versatile forward who returned after missing the Ireland win through suspension barged over just 24 seconds after the interval to start the revival and played like a runaway train at prop for over an hour.

Leeds Rhinos’ Ryan Hall then added another two tries, one with a typically sublime finish worthy of his billing as the world’s best winger that also put him out in front as the tournament’s leading scorer with six in just three games.

So much emphasis had been put on Sam Tomkins’s matchwinning ability but – while proving a constant attacking threat – he has yet to score in this World Cup.

It bodes well that England do have so many other potential game-breakers.

He admitted: “Sam (Burgess) did lead from the front.

“He’s a big bloke and we need those people to stand up for us and play well.

“People take inspiration from a player like Sam and if he’s in the middle and doing the hard work he leads by example.

“Hally’s a great talent too. He’s certainly knows how to finish a try. He’s a big bloke as well – people forget he’s about 105 kilos so it’s like having a back-rower who’s as fast as a winger really.

“He’s skilfull and the way he finishes tries there’s not many people who can do that.

“But whoever the quarter-final is it’s going to be tough. If we play like we did for the first 20 minutes of that game we’ll get beat.”

After Burgess got them going, Huddersfield Giants second-row Brett Ferres immediately grabbed his second try in as many games as he benefitted from a clever delayed pass from Rangi Chase, his former Castleford Tigers team-mate, who continued his own improvement at half-back.

Chase then floated a lovely ball out to Hall who tip-toed down the touchline for that wondrous finish – initially ruled out by the touch judge but awarded after England players urged the referee to review it – and then Rob Burrow scampered over after Kevin Sinfield had set the excellent Chris Hill in motion.

Burrow was making his first tournament appearance and the Leeds Rhinos hooker certainly pepped England up around the ruck as Fiji tired.

Sinfield, who shrugged off a heavy knock to again lead England impeccably, added his fourth conversion and the contest was over, though the brilliantly-named Semi Radradra Turagasoli pulled one back for Fiji in the 71st minute, Waisale Ligari Naiqama slotting his second goal.

His side were unfortunate not to be ahead at the break, ex-Wakefield Trinity centre Daryl Millard having a perfectly good try ruled out by the video referee.

Burgess had almost opened the scoring when surging through only for opposite number Ashton Sims to tug his arm as he was going over and force a fumble.

That came shortly after Sims’s brother – Korbin – produced a shocking spear tackle on James Graham. The loose forward was put on report but could well miss the rest of the tournament.

Fiji did take the lead via a very well-crafted try for Eloni Vunakece after Ryan Millard’s piercing pass but Sinfield showed craft of his own to usher Ben Westwood over just before the break, though the Warrington Wolves second-row will be sweating today after later being put on report, too, for leading with a forearm.

England: Tomkins, Briscoe, Watkins, Cudjoe, Hall, Chase, Sinfield, S Burgess, McIlorum, Graham, Ferres, Westwood, O’Loughlin. Substitutes: Burrow, Farrell, Hill, G Burgess.

Fiji: K Naiqama, Koroibete, D Millard, W. Naiqama, Waqavatu, R Millard, Groom, A Sims, Storer, Civoniceva, Bukuya, T. Sims, K. Sims. Substitutes: Vunakece, Botiki, Roqica, Evans.

Referee: B Cummins (Australia).