{"id":1158,"date":"2023-09-28T23:20:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-29T03:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/rugby-world-cup-2023-how-england-qualified-for-the-quarter-finals\/28\/09\/2023\/"},"modified":"2023-09-28T23:20:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T03:20:14","slug":"rugby-world-cup-2023-how-england-qualified-for-the-quarter-finals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/sport\/rugby-world-cup-2023-how-england-qualified-for-the-quarter-finals\/28\/09\/2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Rugby World Cup 2023: How England qualified for the quarter-finals"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/span><\/span>
England trained on Thursday before reaching the World Cup quarter-finals without having to step on the field of play<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/thead>\n\n\n\n
Venue:<\/strong> Stade Pierre Mauroy<\/span> Date:<\/strong> Saturday, 7 October <\/span>Kick-off:<\/strong> 16.45 BST<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coverage:<\/strong> Commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, plus text updates on the BBC Sport website and app<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Going into the World Cup, things looked bleak for England.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A fourth-place finish at the Six Nations, a leaky defence, a spate of red cards and warm-up defeats by Wales, Ireland and Fiji ensured expectations were at rock bottom.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Yet just over three weeks later, Steve Borthwick’s side have secured their passage to the quarter-finals with a game to spare – and as pool winners.<\/span><\/p>\n

Victories over Argentina, Japan and Chile put England in control of Pool D before their knockout place was secured without them even having to set foot on the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

Japan’s win over Samoa<\/span><\/a> meant England – some of whose players were spotted at Disneyland with their families during a few days off earlier this week – cannot be caught at the summit of their pool. This is how they made it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ford kicks England off despite Curry red<\/h3>\n
\"George<\/span><\/span>
George Ford kicked all 27 of England’s points in their win over Argentina<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When you are a team scratching around for form, you often have to rely on individual brilliance to inspire the collective.<\/span><\/p>\n

Step forward George Ford in England’s opening game against Argentina, their only tier-one opposition in the pool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fly-half Ford kicked three drop-goals to give his side a 12-3 half-time lead. England controlled the second half and Ford added 15 points from penalties as Borthwick’s side started with <\/span>a morale-boosting 27-10 win.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

It could have all gone horribly wrong after Tom Curry was controversially sent off via bunker review for a third-minute clash of heads, in what has proven the first of several divisive talking points inspired by the new system.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it was an old-fashioned, hard-fought win which has encapsulated the no-nonsense way in which England have navigated their pool.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bonus points secured as Brave Blossoms beaten<\/h3>\n
\"Courtney<\/span><\/span>
Courtney Lawes captained England in their opening two World Cup matches, including the win over Japan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Any hopes that England might kick on with sparkling rugby having beaten their main pool challengers in the opening game, were dashed by the nature of <\/span>their win over Japan in week two<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The score of 34-12 was comfortable, but it – and the bonus point for scoring four tries – was only secured with the last play of the game.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lewis Ludlam scored the only try of a first half littered with England errors, before Rikiya Matsuda’s boot had Japan within a point at 13-12 early in the second.<\/span><\/p>\n

A fortuitous try from captain Courtney Lawes, after the ball had bounced off the head of Joe Marler, gave breathing space and the lead was extended in the latter stages.<\/span><\/p>\n

But England needed a spark from somewhere. Step forward Henry Arundell.<\/span><\/p>\n

Five-star Arundell too hot for Chile<\/h3>\n
\"Henry<\/span><\/span>
Henry Arundell became the third England man to score five tries in a Rugby World Cup match<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Against debutants Chile, it was never going to be about whether England would secure victory but how they would do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to Arundell in his first World Cup appearance, it was with style and ease. The 20-year-old scored five of England’s 11 tries, in the process putting himself <\/span>top of the tournament scoring charts.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Also impressive was Marcus Smith at full-back, who scored the best try of the match by racing on to his own kick.<\/span><\/p>\n

Owen Farrell returned to the team after a four-match ban and combined well with Smith and Ford, ensuring Borthwick has a welcome headache when it comes to fitting all the creative talent available into his starting XV.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 71-0 win<\/span><\/a> meant England would qualify for the last eight if Japan beat Samoa the following Thursday night – which the Asian nation did, 28-22.<\/span><\/p>\n

What comes next?<\/h3>\n

England could now face Samoa in their final pool match on 7 October with a rotated side – which would follow the victory over Chile in which several first-teamers were rested, then a week off.<\/span><\/p>\n

That would mean the team’s big hitters could have three weeks off before their quarter-final against the runner-up in Pool C – which looks likely to be Fiji.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fiji defeated England 30-22 at Twickenham in their final World Cup warm-up and have beaten Australia at this tournament, so England must step up another level should they face the Pacific islanders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Victory would set up a semi-final against the Pool A winners or the runners-up in Pool B – which as it stands would be France and South Africa respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever happens, it is about to get much tougher for England.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Listen<\/span><\/span>\"Listen<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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England trained on Thursday before reaching the World Cup quarter-finals without having to step on the field of play Venue: Stade Pierre