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Only when Lancaster virtually emptied his bench around the hour mark was there a notable change, with Billy and Mako Vunipola making immediate and direct progress, the team finally building multiple phases that finally had the islanders running out of steam and leaving holes.

Two-try hero Mike Brown may be certain of his place in England’s next World Cup match but coach Stuart Lancaster could do with a few changes for the clash with Wales.

“It’s an emotional experience, the opening ceremony of the World Cup and beforehand we talked about going out, playing as well as we can and coming away with a win – that was the most important part”.

The World Cup used bonus points since 2003 and they are also used in the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship and Super Rugby competitions as well as in the European Cup and England and France’s domestic leagues.

England are heavy favourites to beat Fiji in Friday’s opening game of the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham, so simply putting money on the hosts to win may not be the best betting option. We got a good lead but didn’t put the nail in the coffin. “We played into...

Twenty legends of rugby representing the twenty nations at this World Cup – including Australia’s Michael Lynagh – lined up on either side of the giant rugby ball that was the central focus on the field.

“We do still have the Ireland game on 5 September but the call has to be made before then”, Lancaster said.