Who in England’s back line is going to get you seven points out of nothing in a World Cup semi-final, cantering under the posts with a big smile on their face and their heart rate still at 105 beats per minute? Who is England’s Jordan? Who is their ruthless assassin? You used to have to mark Bryan Habana – or at least think about him – when you had the ball.
As a collective, England’s back line is toiling a little. Lee Blackett is settling in as attack coach and new combinations are gelling, which might be why they are so readily going to the maul and box-kicking with first-phase ball.
There were a few moments against Fiji when they could have been more clinical. They attempted to go wide from a scrum in the first half, but did not hold Fiji narrow enough after Alex Mitchell burst away from a scrum on the left. They did not conserve the space, and ran out of it close to the right touchline.
About five minutes into the second half, with Fiji ragged, Fin Smith could have fed Fraser Dingwall a little sooner. Selestino Ravutaumada shot up on to Marcus Smith and Fiji forced a breakdown penalty.
England are talented, pacy and athletic. I sat watching the warm-up and marvelled at their athleticism. Perhaps they are a touch too wedded to shape, which plays into this whole theme.
They have had a good 2025 so far, and nine consecutive victories is commendable, but the game against New Zealand is this year’s World Cup final and full-back is a fascinating selection call.
People might raise eyebrows if Elliot Daly comes straight back in, but I can see it happening. And it would be for that reason: cunning.
Daly has played enough games to have developed that cunning. The 2019 World Cup semi-final is a long time ago now, but the way he slid to the outside in the opening moments set everything in motion ahead of Manu Tuilagi’s try. He scanned the defence, he saw the hole, he deviated just slightly on the move that had been called.
