Bonus-point win for England in RWC opener

The substitutes certainly did their chances of facing Wales at Twickenham next Saturday no harm after providing some much needed impetus against a physically imposing Fiji side.

“It was a tough first game for us”, added Lancaster, whose side are in the so-called “pool of death” with Australia and Wales.

“We were stopped a little bit in terms of our breakdown accuracy and set piece”.

England next face Wales at Twickenham on 27 September (NZT) while Fiji head to Cardiff to play Australia on Thursday.

England’s Billy Vunipola claims he didn’t know his try secured a bonus point.

Next up are Gatland’s Wales and the Kiwi, famed for trying to unsettle opponents with some carefully-selected words, had England playing down the importance of comments he made after the World Cup squads were announced.

Nerves from the big occasion, a slippery ball, some vast physicality from Fiji and a referee they struggled with would all offer England excuses for their flat spells on Friday but their bonus-point win meant that it was all largely irrelevant.

“There were a few forced errors which we won’t be too happy about but these things happen and we’ll learn from them but there are plenty of positives and to get a bonus point in the first game is massive”.

“We need to make sure that defensively we are able to stop the big threats”, Catt said.

“I think it will be very exciting as there are a number of teams that can win it. You have got New Zealand in there along with Ireland, the Springboks and maybe even England can win it, so I am really looking forward to it”.

“We played into their hands at times”.

“Wales are a very good team, they have won so many trophies in however many years, but we won’t be falling for any of Warren’s mind games”.

The prince then made a short speech, sounding adorably nervous, about his love for the game and past moments of glory in the World Cup series.

“But we’re pleased to go into the next game with a full house (five points)”. “They are the forwards’ bread and butter and we’ve got some work to do to improve in that area”.

“We’ve never said we were going to pick the same team week in, week out”, warned Lancaster.

“It was a dream come true for me, as a boy I always wanted to play in the World Cup and represent my country, so it was a pretty emotional time”.