Rugby World Cup: England primed for action and ready for opening night | Sport | The Guardian Rugby World Cup 2015 Rugby World Cup: England primed for action and ready for opening night Home side will wear red and use the visiting dressing room against Fiji but everything else is as normal A rugby fan gets into the spirit of the occasion outside Twickenham Stadium on the eve of the World Cup’s opening match between England and Fiji. Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images Friday 18 September 2015 03.41 EDT First published on Thursday 17 September 2015 17.00 EDT Share on Messenger Close Not for a decade have England kicked off a Rugby World Cup feeling so inwardly upbeat. Jonny Wilkinson was already in the casualty ward before their opening game in France eight years ago and their display against the United States in Lille was correspondingly grim. They were only slightly better against Argentina in Dunedin during 2011 , a tight 13-9 victory being swiftly overtaken by livelier off-field developments. This time there is a completely different mood.

Aside from the odd shower which has been forecast for the opening ceremony – a 20-minute show entitled ‘Breaking New Ground’ directed by the choreographer Kim Gavin – everything else is set fair. Tom Wood, their combative flanker, is one of many who cannot wait for the clock to tick round to 8pm. “I feel ready and prepared and feel I can speak for the whole team,” he said, adamant the home side can “step up another gear” again compared with their final warm-up outing against Ireland . And why not? As Graham Rowntree, England’s forwards coach, repeatedly stressed, this is the time of his players’ lives: a home World Cup, no nagging injury worries, a country on the edge of its collective seat. There comes a point when self-doubt is replaced by total conviction and Chris Robshaw’s side appear to be there already. Wood stopped short of suggesting England are nailed-on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup but his quiet optimism was striking. “There are some great teams out there and I can’t promise you success but all I can say is we’ve left no stone unturned in terms of our preparation.

I feel prepared and I hope the lessons learned from our Six Nations campaigns will stand us in good stead.” He was harking back, not for the first time, to England’s spectacular failure to land a grand slam in Cardiff in 2013, the last time they approached a game awash with so much hype. “I’d definitely say losing in the Millennium Stadium was a turning point for us. The occasion caught us off guard that day.” England have still not claimed any titles but their resilience in the face of the kind of challenge now facing them is stiffer than it was. Pinterest England ready to face Fiji in Rugby World Cup opener That, at any rate, is Rowntree’s firm belief. England have clearly tired of talking up Fiji’s running threats and wonder if it is not the visitors – clad in white and occupying the home dressing-room – who could be overwhelmed by the scale of the event. “There’s a lot of talk about this word upset,” Rowntree said. “But we’re in good shape. I don’t spend a lot of time drawing parallels with the previous tournament but I am exceptionally happy with where we are at this moment.

The guys are on their own turf, in front of their families and friends, with 15 million people potentially watching on television and 50 million countrywide supporting them. My question to you is: ‘Which team is the pressure on?’” Seven successive wins at Twickenham have also helped to foster a certain belief, even if England’s red jerseys and alternative dressing-room arrangements give this fixture a slightly different twist. Rowntree is having flashbacks to London 2012 – “You can feel it walking around … it reminds me of the Olympics” – and Wood feels similarly. “Stuart [Lancaster] has talked a lot about being on the front foot in terms of English identity – we know what that can do for us and we want to try to harness it. We know what it did for the British athletes at the Olympics and we want some of that. We have to go out and give the crowd something to cheer. Hopefully on the back of that there will be a snowball effect ... they will get behind us and carry us through.” It will be a slow crawl to kick-off either way.

There are only so many coffees in Camberley, dips in the pool, DVD box-sets or afternoon naps anyone can rack up on days like this. Apparently a few short, sharp exercises can trigger a release of testosterone which might be useful later in the evening, but the biggest trick is not to allow the brain to drift too far beyond the need to bury Fiji when the chance arises. At some stage someone will also have to mention bonus points, which could well have a bearing on who qualifies from Pool A, but England’s priority is to start fast and keep the accelerator down. Defensively the Fijians’ lust for adventure will also be tested early. “If they want to run from deep and throw the ball around that is brilliant, but it is very difficult to do in face of a white wall – or a red wall – of pressure,” said Wood. The gifted Leone Nakarawa and Niko Matawalu will take some subduing whatever happens; Fiji are not ranked ninth in the world (above Scotland) by accident.

But by the time the curtain falls on the World Cup’s opening night it will be a turn-up of staggering proportions if England have not run out winners, possibly by a margin of 20 points, as their bench muscle and improved fitness take effect in the final quarter. Tossed into the equation, too, will be some other significant first-night indicators, from the application of World Rugby’s new crackdown on diving and the referee Jaco Peyper’s interpretations at the breakdown to the transport picture around south-west London. Fiji’s coach, John McKee, suggested the game would pretty much “stop a nation” back in the south Pacific; just wait until he sees the rush-hour traffic out of Hammersmith this evening. For those safely plonked in front of a TV screen or lucky enough to be there in person, however, the wait will shortly be over. Can the home side deliver with the rest of the world looking over their shoulders? Or will the sense of expectation prove too much. A small initial step for England will feel like a giant leap if they can rise to such a heady occasion.

Fiji qualify for 2015 Rugby World Cup and will play England in first game of tournament | Daily Mail Online Fiji qualify for 2015 Rugby World Cup and will play England in first game of tournament comments Fiji qualified for next year's World Cup by crushing the Cook Islands 108-6 in Saturday's last qualifying match for the Oceania region. The Fijians will make a seventh World Cup appearance in eight tournaments, and will play host England in the opening match, after sweeping aside their opponents and running in 17 tries. The Cook's - ranked 46 in the world and with only 500 registered players - sustained their ambitious hopes of qualifying for the first time when they led 6-5 after 27 minutes against a Fiji team beset by handling errors. But when Fiji's giant ball-runners began to hold passes and to combine in thrilling attacks, the outsiders were thoroughly overwhelmed.

Through: Fiji qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup after beating Cook Islands Score: Akapusi Qera dives over for a try during Fiji's massive win over Cook Islands Dejected: The Cook Islands players react after their 108-6 hammering in Lautoka POOL A (playoff winner) (Top two advance to quarter-finals) Fiji will now play in Pool A at the World Cup, alongside England, Wales, Australia and a qualifier and will meet England in the tournament's opening match at Twickenham. A landslide victory seemed on the cards when Fiji scored after only 1 minute, 11 seconds, through fullback Matuisela Talebula who went on to become one of his team's five multiple tryscorers. Center Nemani Nadolo scored three tries and Talebula, Adriu Delai, Nikola Matawalu and Timoci Nagusa all bagged doubles - Delai, Matawalu and Nagusa as replacements. But Cook Islands flyhalf Sam Vaevae slotted two penalties to grab a 6-5 lead and momentarily shake Fiji's confidence.

When passes began to stick Fiji's superiority became immediately obvious and overwhelming and they added four tries in 13 minutes to lead 29-6 at halftime. 'We knew the Cook Islands would come at us in the forwards in the first 20 minutes,' Fiji captain Akapusi Qera said. 'We expected that and we managed to compensate and come out with the win. Delight: Akapusi Qera, the Fiji captain, celebrates after his team's victory On guard: A member of the Fiji Police Force stands to attention with the Webb Ellis Cup before the game Sign: The Webb Ellis trophy has been on tour in Fiji ahead of the qualifier against Cook Islands 'It's a big game for us as a team and as a nation. It's a big thing for a rugby player growing up to qualify for the Rugby World cup and that's what motivated us in the second half.' The second half belonged wholly to Fiji who added 13 more tries. When they clocked 90 points, they had inflicted the Cook Islands' heaviest-ever international defeat and they went on with two late tries to ease past 100 points.

Cook Islands captain, Stade Francais prop Stan Wright said his team tried hard but were simply overwhelmed by a team which was bigger, stronger, faster and more experienced. 'As you can see by the scoreline it was a hard game and we were simply outclassed by a better side,' Wright said. 'The gap between the elite and us showed out there today and we've got quite a bit of ground to cover to get up to their level. 'We're not a big nation and we need more guys putting their hands up to play for the Cook Islands because we lack depth and we need more players.' Rugby World Cup 2015: England beats Fiji - CNN.com 1 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? If Wales is to enjoy success at the World Cup then you can bet George North will be one of the main factors behind it. The winger was the first teenager in the history of international rugby to score 10 tries before his 20th birthday. Now 23, he is lethal when given space and difficult to stop once he gets his groove on, though he has been hampered by multiple concussions in the past year.

Hide Caption 2 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Kieran Read is widely regarded as one of the best forwards in the game and an integral part of the New Zealand side. The 29-year-old was named international rugby player of the year in 2013 and cites Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi as one of his inspirations. The No. 8 is expected to succeed McCaw as All Blacks skipper. Hide Caption 3 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? He might be the new kid on the block but 22-year-old George Ford has earned rave reviews for host England. The fly-half starred in his country's Six Nations campaign and scored 25 points against France last March, giving him the edge for the No. 10 shirt ahead of rival Owen Farrell. Hide Caption 4 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Nobody has scored more points in international rugby than Dan Carter.

The two-time world player of the year has graced the sport with his wide array of skills since making his All Blacks debut back in 2003. However, the goal-kicking fly-half has suffered injuries and disappointment on the game's biggest stage, being sidelined during the group stage in 2011. Like McCaw, this is expected to be his international farewell. Hide Caption 5 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Mamuka Gorgodze will lead the charge for rugby minnow Georgia, which qualified for the tournament with nine victories and one defeat. Georgia has only managed two World Cup wins, including 2007's 30-0 thrashing of Namibia. Gorgodze, who plays for French and European champion Toulon, is nicknamed "Gorgodzilla" due to the forward's sheer size. Hide Caption 6 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? He's the star of the U.S.

Eagles and Samu Manoa is ready to prove it on the biggest stage after missing the 2011 event due to his contract with English club Northampton. The 30-year-old forward, born in California, is well known for his fierce tackles and physical prowess. He recently signed for Toulon. Hide Caption 7 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, one of Argentina's greatest players, made his international debut in 2004. The 33-year-old back-row forward, who also plays for Toulon, was part of the team which reached the semifinals of the 2007 World Cup and the last eight in 2011 -- when he was ruled out ahead of the final group match with a serious knee injury. Hide Caption 8 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Sam Warburton led Wales to the 2011 semifinals but was sent off early in the match against France.

The 26-year-old forward will again be captain of a team missing injured key players such as Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb. Hide Caption 9 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Tevita Kuridrani has the potential to be one of the stars of the tournament for Australia. The Fiji-born center is the cousin of former Wallabies winger Lote Tuqiri. Since making his debut against New Zealand in 2013, the Brumbies back has established himself following a five-week ban for a dangerous tackle against Ireland that year. Hide Caption 10 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Johnny Sexton is arguably the best fly-half in world rugby at the moment. The 30-year-old helped inspire Ireland to successive Six Nations titles in 2014-15 and his performances will be key as his country seeks to get past the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time. Hide Caption 11 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage?

South Africa will have Duane Vermeulen back after neck surgery to spearhead its challenge in his first World Cup. The No. 8 was the team's player of the year in 2014 and is crucial to its success. Vermeulen, known for his powerful approach, will join Toulon after the tournament. Hide Caption 12 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? There are few more exciting players in the world of rugby than Israel Folau. The Australia fullback, who has spoken of his desire to move to the NFL in the future, has pace to burn. At 26, he's at the peak of his powers, and has also represented his country in rugby league. Hide Caption 13 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? South Africa is not short on star quality but this could be Willie le Roux's time to shine upon the big stage. The 26-year-old, who made his debut in 2013, can play at wing, fullback and fly-half, and has the ability to change a game.

Hide Caption 14 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Namibia might be the weakest team in the tournament but it does have inspirational loose forward Jacques Burger as captain. The tough-tackling 32-year-old, who plays for top English club Saracens, will feature at his third World Cup. The African side will need all his experience for its first game against New Zealand. Hide Caption 15 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Vice-captain Vereniki Goneva is one of Fiji's main men. The 31-year-old, who can play on the wing and at center, made his international debut back in 2007 and scored four tries against Namibia at the 2011 World Cup. His experience playing for Leicester could be key in Fiji's opening game against host England at Twickenham. Hide Caption 16 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage?

Wesley Fofana will be a key man as France looks to go one better than its World Cup final defeat by New Zealand four years ago. The Clermont center, who is of Malian descent and is nicknamed "The Cheetah," has the potential to thrill and excite at every twist and turn. Hide Caption 17 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Veteran forward Sergio Parisse will help lead Italy's challenge at the World Cup. The back-rower was born in Argentina to Italian parents before moving back to Europe. Also captain of French club Stade Francais, his power and experience will be key to Italy's chances of progressing from the group stage for the first time. Hide Caption 18 of 20 Photos: Rugby World Cup 2015: Who will shine on the big stage? Tonga winger Fetu'u Vainikolo knows all about playing rugby in England after spending two years with Exeter Chiefs. He started his career in New Zealand before moving to Ireland, and will next play for French club Oyonnax.

At 30, this might be his final chance to shine at a World Cup, having played in 2011 as the Pacific Islanders once again exited in the group stage. Hide Caption Great Opening Ceremony video | News | Rugby World Cup 2015 Opening Ceremony Opening Ceremony The biggest show in world Rugby is coming to England. The glittering Opening Ceremony and pre match extravaganza will be a showpiece curtain raiser before Rugby World Cup 2015 kicks off on Friday 18 September when England take on Fiji. Book your place now with the selection of ticket-inclusive packages we have on offer. The country will be buzzing with excitement as Rugby World Cup 2015 gets underway. Guarantee your place to experience the first magical weekend of the Tournament, including the dazzling Opening Ceremony at Twickenham Stadium before England play their first pool game against the colourful Fijians. The Opening Ceremony will go off with a bang as a capacity crowd witness the official start of the Tournament. Stuart Lancaster’s team will be tuned to perfection with the intention of making Twickenham a fortress and an intimidating place for the Fijians to enter.

Between 1999 and 2004, England went 22 matches unbeaten at Twickenham and Chris Robshaw and his team mates will hope the home advantage is decisive. This will be a huge contest if England is going to progress to the knock out stages of the Tournament - and they will need the support of a capacity crowd at Twickenham to help create a winning start. Power, physicality, great skill levels and determination will be on show. Book one of our ticket-inclusive travel and accommodation packages to guarantee your place for the Opening Ceremony and inaugural game of Rugby World Cup 2015.

Fijian rugby in numbers 80,000 – The estimated number of rugby players in Fiji – the country is considered to have the highest player to population ratio of any rugby playing nation 116 – Fiji’s highest ever winning margin (against Niue in 1983) 11 – Fiji’s current IRB World Ranking 6 – The number of times Fiji have featured at a Rugby World Cup 3 – The number of times Fiji have progressed from the pool stages at a Rugby World Cup Rugby World Cup 2015: Pool A carries risks for England, Wales and Australia | Sport | The Guardian Rugby World Cup 2015 guide Rugby World Cup 2015: Pool A carries risks for England, Wales and Australia Pool A is the most perilous of the World Cup groups and will be full-on from the opening Friday. A gruelling examination awaits its combatants The match between Australia and Wales on 10 October is likely to be pivotal to the outcome of Pool A.

Photograph: Ian Smith/Action Images Friday 4 September 2015 09.52 EDT Last modified on Monday 10 October 2016 21.46 EDT Close A is for … Aaaagh! – the pool of Agonising Exit. The debriefing documents of the fallen – the teams who do not qualify for the last eight – will no doubt contain a searing indictment of the World Cup draw. Those who defend the current how-and-when say the old family should be exposed to as much peril as the emerging nations, but Fiji, the champions of the Pacific Nations Cup, may share the indignation of England, Australia and Wales at finding themselves in an unholy scrap for two qualifying places. Uruguay, amateur and in the finals for the first time since 2003, are presumably happier simply to be here. This pool is flat-out from the opening Friday, when England play Fiji, but grows ever more intense on the successive Saturdays of England-Wales, England-Australia and Australia-Wales. On weekday nights Fiji have a chance to wreck the hopes of all bar one of these.

The reward for winning this pool is the “easy” (utterly relative) route to the final, with a likely quarter-final against Scotland or Samoa and a semi-final against either France or Ireland. The runners-up must go down the trail of South Africa and New Zealand. Third and fourth, of course, join Uruguay on the road home. The question of what is left of the pool winners and runners-up remains to be seen, but whatever the state of their limbs, their spirits will certainly be less troubled than the departed. Never has the RWC offered such an opportunity for a literature of regrets. Key match At least one team will be in contention when Australia face Wales in the last meeting of the grandees (10 October, Twickenham) but imagine if both could still qualify at England’s expense. It will be interesting in all rounds to see how the referees absorb – subconsciously of course – the consequences of each result. Which players are vulnerable at the breakdown? Watch out for… Australia’s David Pocock and Michael Hooper threaten to rewrite the conventions of the breakdown. Wales have to find a two-man combination from Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Dan Lydiate to counter the threat.

The pressure remains, as always, on Chris Robshaw and Tom Wood to deliver for England. • Free on Sunday in the Observer: Get ready for the Rugby World Cup with our free 16-page guide, covering every team, every match and every venue. Read analysis from the voice of rugby, Eddie Butler, and keep a record with our fill-in fixture chart RWC: England 35-11 Fiji Rugby World Cup 2015 RESULT - Nikola Matawalu sees blistering, disallowed try denied as hosts edge opener | Daily Mail Online — Mark Cueto (@Mark_Cueto) September 18, 2015 17:03 Getting sacked in the morning... We've just done the office sweepstake in the office, which I organised. And, being the man in charge, I had to pull the names out for the absentee entries. I've just accidentally allocated my boss Namibia. I may not last long in this job... 16:59 Sportsmail's Joe Ridge at Twickenham Well, it is safe to say Twickenham and the route to it has never been so busy over three hours before kick off.

If the journey there is anything to go by then you can expect a very loud, very drunken crowd. There is, however, a strange tension in the air. England surely won't fluff their lines, will they? England fans gather at Twickenham well before kick off... and you can expect a drunken crowd! 16:52 Sportsmail's Lee Clayton at Twickenham Twickenham busy already, almost three hours before kick off. The message: arrive early, seems to have been heeded. An England rugby fan with a painted face arrives early at Twickenham Stadium ...as the atmosphere builds in south west London ahead of England's World Cup opener 16:44 Meanwhile in Cardiff... They may not be hosting their first game until tomorrow, but Cardiff is getting into the spirit of things already. Check out this massive rugby ball on the walls of Cardiff Castle! A giant rugby ball on the walls of Cardiff Castle to mark the start of the Rugby World Cup 16:41 Spare a thought for these guys For all the great players at the Rugby World Cup, there will, of course be a few sensational players missing.

Whether through injury, suspension, playing in the wrong country or just not being picked, Sportsmail have come up with a team of 15 absentees who won't be lighting up this World Cup. I reckon they'd have a decent chance too, if they ever played together... 16:22 Sportsmail's Lee Clayton on the way to Twickenham So, first contribution from the Clayton household. My dad, Peter, is very happy with the Daily Mail's rugby supplement... And the tickets for today's opening game. Now for the first pint and the journey to Twickenham. Peter Clayton, father of Sportsmail's Head of Sport Lee Clayton, with his rugby supplement... ...and the tickets to the Rugby World Cup 2015 opener! 16:17 Celebrity's getting involved This World Cup is not just causing excitement among rugby fans - footballers, cricketers and politicians are all getting involved too. We'll be bringing you the best celebrity tweets and comments throughout the afternoon and evening - here are the first batch, and I think it's fair to say that Rio Ferdinand has outshone the Prime Minister with his offering!

A look back It's time for a trip down memory lane, to a time when England were the best team in the world, and Jonny Wilkinson kicked them, gloriously, to the world cup. But how much do you remember of the 2003 World Cup? And what are those stars doing now? Catch up with our ' Where are they now' feature . England celebrate with the Webb Ellis Cup after England win the Rugby World Cup 16:04 So, who is going to win it? I know it's early days, what with the opening ceremony not even having started yet, but the question on everybody's lips is 'who will win this?'. Can anyone take the trophy off the reigning champions New Zealand? Or are hosts England the best bet? What about Australia? Or even Ireland as an outside hope? How the All Blacks' dominance compares with other leading international sports teams 15:57 Sportsmail's Chris Foy at Twickenham The centre of Twickenham is filling up with supporters going to the big game, but as yet the buzz of anticipation is decidedly low-key.

Pubs nearest the station are already doing a roaring trade - with bouncers on the doors to control the hordes - but the streets slightly further from the stadium are far from mobbed, for now. Most home fans are wearing home - white - England shirts. If anyone is wearing the red change shirt that the players will appear in tonight, they are out of sight. In fact, the most striking red outfits on show were two Canadian Mountie costumes, being worn by a couple. Perhaps they are lost, or simply en route to Cardiff, where their team face Ireland tomorrow. Several shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants are adorned with rugby-themes flags and bunting, and a number of premises have chosen to be welcoming to England's Pacific-island rivals, by displaying Fiji flags. An England fan waits outside a pub in Twickenham which is showing its colours 15:49 Sportsmail's Joe Ridge at Twickenham The World Cup is finally here. Finally being the operative word in that sentence because, let's not beat around the bush here, the sporting world has been gearing up towards this for months.

With no major football tournament, no Olympics, and with the increasing frequency of Ashes series' devaluing this year's a tad, this has always been the pot of gold at the end of this summer's rainbow. On the subject of rainbows, the weather could be a major factor today with wet ground surely suiting England's superior kicking game - though they will argue they are as good if not better with the ball in hand than the Fijians after a sizzling attacking display in the Six Nations which brought 18 tries in just five games. However England decide to play it though, their front five will be key as they really should dominant their Fijian counterparts, making up for the relative parity in the loose. England by 10. The weather could play its part at Twickenham, where it is currently looking fairly grey 15:47 What's in store? With several hours to go until kick-off, we'll be bringing you all the build-up from south west London, before the opening ceremony itself and then the big match. In the mean-time feel free to get in touch, by using the comments below or tweeting us with your thoughts on the tournament, England's chances, and any other ideas you have.

Next stop, Twickenham... — Escape To Suomi (@EscapeToSuomi) September 18, 2015 England fans pose outside Twickenham ahead of the opening game of the Rugby World Cup 15:12 Sportsmail's Sir Clive Woodward So finally the day has arrived and RWC2015 will be getting underway in just a few hours. Rather like London 2012 it seemed to be there on the horizon for years and years and then suddenly it was on us and over in a trice. The World Cup lasts six weeks so make sure you savour every moment and hopefully the minute by minute coverage provided by Sportsmail will help you in that. Right, let's talk England vs Fiji. One factor that seems to have gone under the radar a little in the England's Pool is the pressing need to secure bonus points for scoring four tries or more and, the flip side, the need to be aware of denying your opponents a losing bonus point which teams can earn by losing by less than seven points. It adds another layer and already intriguing Pool which features four of the top nine side in the world - England, Australia, Wales and Fiji - as well as minnows Uruguay.

If a team could guarantee winning all four matches they would mathematically nearly be certain of going through, assuming they claimed a bonus point win over Uruguay and in one way that's not a bad basic mind-set to adopt. But this is the most competitive pool in World Cup history and it could be much more complicated than that. I believe all the main contenders need to be aware of the developing story. England could beat Wales but lose to Australia, Wales could lose to England and then beat Australia. Or the other way around. And that's before you factor in the possibility of an upset win from Fiji somewhere along the line. There is every likelihood that it will be very tight at the top of the pool and bonus points could come into play. In fact I would suggest it is more likely than not. There is no exact template to how to win a world Cup or get all the way to the final, you just have to do what needs doing. Just four years ago France lost not one but two pool games but got out of their pool because they picked up three bonus points and still managed to finish in second place. They then marched to the Final where they should probably have beaten New Zealand So England need to be aware of this.

The priority tonight is to beat Fiji no question but they must be mindful that if at all possible a bonus point would be useful. I don't think there is any great mental gymnastics needed because as I have already outlined the best way for England to put distance between themselves and Fiji is to utilise their very dangerous back division. Yes, England have to win the battle up front first but having done that and got the scoreboard ticking they can put the game out of sight by opening up and if that results in a bonus point that would be an excellent outcome.

Sir Clive Woodward is the only man who has coached England to Rugby World Cup glory 15:07 Rugby World Cup 2015: England forced to wear red kit for opening tie against Fiji - Telegraph England Rugby World Cup 2015: England forced to wear red kit for opening tie against Fiji Exclusive: Even though England are host nation, World Cup regulations state every stadium must be treated as neutral venue Red is the colour: England will wear their away red kit against Fiji Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Gavin Mairs , Rugby News Correspondent 10:00PM BST 03 Sep 2015 • Forget defence, Burgess is great attacking weapon for England Fiji, who are the one other side in international rugby whose jersey is also white, won the right to wear their home kit after winning the toss at meeting of the team managers’ of all the competing nations. As the Pacific Island side have been nominated as the ‘home’ side for the Sept 18 fixture, they will also benefit from being housed in England’s normal changing room, forcing Stuart Lancaster’s side into the smaller away changing room.

England's home and 'away' kits for RWC England are understood to be relaxed about the decision, with both sides more concerned that they will be given enough time to warm up for the tournament opener given the time demands of the World Cup opening ceremony that will precede the match. England head coach Stuart Lancaster oversaw an expensive facelift of England’s 40sq ft home changing room at Twickenham as part of a £70million redevelopment of the stadium however Fiji will not benefit from the extra facilities. Telegraph Sport understands that state-of-the-art facilities such as the hydrotherapy bath, direct access to the gym and a big screen on a central pillar will all be decommissioned for the tournament to ensure that neither changing room has any significant advantage over the other. The tournament requirements for ‘neutral’ rooms means that all the team branding that Lancaster has overseen in the last two years to create a stimulating environment for his players –the England head coach’s principal philosophies of ‘Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship’ have been imprinted on a circular ceiling wood panel – will be blanked out.

England will return to their traditional changing room for the pool-defining matches against Wales and Australia, who interestingly chose to be housed in the away changing room even though they won ‘home’ advantage in the coin toss. To ensure that they are prepared for all eventualities, England will use the away changing room for their final World Cup warm-up match against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, but will wear their traditional white kit. England however will occupy their normal bench, on the right-hand side of the tunnel, which they will also use against Fiji as it is closest to the away changing room. Asked how England should embrace the advantage of playing at Twickenham, England lock Geoff Parling said: “The familiarity of playing at Twickenham – although we are in the away changing room this weekend and against Fiji so that is a bit different.” England have attracted criticism from supporters for wearing a variety of away kits during the autumn Test series as part of their commercial deal with kit manufacturers. The 2015 Rugby World Cup begins in Away jerseys have included anthracite grey, purple and black - which was their colour for the opening game of the last World Cup in New Zealand.

However Lancaster has since over-ridden that policy by insisting that England should always wear white when they are the home team and there is no clash with the opposition. England wore their controversial black kit against Argentina in the pool match of the 2011 World Cup although that was at the request of broadcasters as the Pumas’ white and blue-hooped jersey was said to be too close to England’s white under floodlights. Wales will also wear their away kit by choice against Fiji for their match on Oct 1, while South Africa will also be in a change kit for the match against Scotland on Oct 3. The process of allocation of changing room and team kit for each fixture was determined by a coin toss undertaken last year by the team managers and overseen by tournament officials, as has been the case at previous World Cups. Following the coin toss, which took place at the team managers’ meeting in November 2014, Team A had two months to confirm its choice for each area to tournament organisers.

As per tournament rules, if the primary kit of the two teams in a respective match did not clash, ‘Team A’ were allowed to choose to wear its alternate kit if this then did not force ‘Team B’ to also wear its alternate kit. All team kits are then tested to ensure that there are no colour clashes that will impact on match officiating and spectator experience. For the quarter-finals, the pool winner of each respective match will automatically be designated Team A and will make its choice as above. Coin tosses are conducted for each of the semi-finals, the bronze final and the final. Meanwhile, England Rugby 2015, the company organising the tournament, have insisted it will not be able to change its policy that bans babies from attending matches unless they have their own tickets. ER 2015 admitted on Thursday they have received a number of enquiries from parents asking it was possible to bring newly-born babies with them to matches.

Jonny May and England wore red against Samoa in 2014 Photo: REUTERS Tetteh Turkson, a barrister living in Brixton, who purchased tickets for himself and his wife for the matches between Ireland and Italy at the Olympic Stadium and Ireland against Romania at Wembley, said however he had been told that his two-month old Ciaran son would not be allowed entry without another ticket. “I was told that they don’t allow babies,” Turkson told Telegraph Sport. “I am absolutely furious. “The tickets were applied for before he was even conceived so it would have been ridiculous to have ordered a child ticket as well.” An ER 2015 spokesman said: “We have to comply with the safety regimes of the venues we are using – and our policy has to be consistent across all 13 RWC venues.

“For safety reasons, every human being in a venue needs a ticket so that venue capacities are not exceeded.” England vs Fiji, Rugby World Cup - as it happened - Telegraph Watch: the World Cup lowdown in 100 seconds England vs Fiji, Rugby World Cup - as it happened Follow full live commentary of the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Fiji at Twickenham at 20.00 BST on Friday 18 September 2015 TEAMS By Luke Brown and Alan Tyers 11:24PM BST 18 Sep 2015 Latest 23:24 England on their way Not a totally commanding win, but they got the four tries that give them an extra bonus point, and there were some strong individual efforts. You would think that England need to be a lot tighter against the bigger teams, but they were under a lot of pressure and scrutiny tonight and they came through. Thanks for following it with us, hope you can join us for some of the rest of the tournament. 22:50 Ben Rumbsy on the Opening Ceremony Tournament organisers’ efforts to ensure everyone was inside Twickenham to watch the opening ceremony paid off – just about.

One of their biggest fears came to pass when a Twickenham-bound train broke down at Richmond shortly before Friday night rush hour, causing delays of 25 minutes to those behind it. 23:00 Mick Cleary's match report Phew! How nerves were shredded, how anxiety levels rose, a nation watching through its fingers. After the inflated hype, the sobering descent to earth. If the Opening Ceremony was slick and perfectly choreographed, the production that followed looked as if it were still in rehearsal. England stuttered rather than strode peacock-proud into the 2015 Rugby World Cup, struggling to shake off a spirited Fiji challenge, coming too close for any degree of comfort to losing this showpiece opener. It was only in the latter stages that they managed to pull clear, Mike Brown’s second try sealing the deal, England clinching a bonus point through Billy Vunipola with the last play of the game.

22:55 Intro of the day "Former Australian captain John Eales was trapped in a lift at Twickenham while trying to get to the World Cup opening ceremony." Frankly, the first paragraph of this story is so good that I almost would rather you didn't read the rest of it, but here you go . Here are five things that Gavin Mairs learnt England will punish opponents ill-discipline England's victory was founded in their ability to exploit Fiji’s ill-discipline, with the opening penalty try having its roots is a reckless tackle by Dominiko Waqaniburotu who lifted Jonny May above horizontal. Ford kicked to corner and then England’s packs rolled all the way to the line, with Nikola Matawalu, their key player, then sent to the sin bin for pulling down the maul. England turned the screw with Fiji down to 14 down men, when Tom Wood’s brilliant read to steal giving England the front-foot ball that culminated in a try for Mike Brown. A silly offside also allowed Ford to settle things down for England after Nadolo’s try.

22:17 Jonny Wilkinson "A lot of players were hanging around behind the scrum, cagey, almost saying 'well go on then'. But the guys that came on just went for it. Job done, move on. But the turnover stuff is key. Sort that out and the rest will follow. First game of the World Cup, the pressure, the weight, the expectation." 22:16 Chris Robshaw Knew it was going to be tough and knew it would come down to the last few minutes. We were a little bit cagey. Maybe the occasion. We have got maximum points and we would have taken that. A good start for us, we will recover well and rest up. We have been training and talking about it for 11 weeks, and it's been on people's agendas for two years so it is good to finally get going 22:10 Wilko Wilkinson on Brown: "He is strong, he is solid. When it is kicked back there you do not have to worry about him.

Full backs are important - and when he scores two tries like that, he becomes influential." 22:05 REACTION Jonny May: "Everything was going to plan, but some loose play and ill discipline and we lost control of it. But some good character to come back and then score four tries. We can take a deep breath now and we are into the tournament." #ENG average at best tonight and shouldn't worry Wales, but Mike Brown head and shoulders. Back with a bang. #RWC2015 21:59 FULL TIME: ENGLAND 35 FIJI 11 England pretty good in the first half, helped by a penalty try and a FIji sin-bin. England pretty ropey after half-time but superior fitness began to tell. 21:53 80 mins England doing everything in their power to get this bonus point. Brown scythes through and it looks like he has done it but he is brilliantly, desperately, tap-tackled. But England keep the move alive, May cuts in front the left wing and leaps through the air. Still England come! And Vunipola drives low for the line. Has he got it?

it does not look great from that angle. But it is given! England get the try after lengthy TMO debate. The conversion is good. England 35 Fiji 11 (Billy Vunipola 80) 21:49 77 mins Twickenham in good voice, England on the Fiji 22. Can they get the fourth try? Brown looks the boy most likely. He is charging at the Fiji back line like a man possessed. He's stopped, just about, Fiji make heavy weather of things at the breakdown but they have done enough in defence and there is some scrummage respite. 21:43 72 mins England have the try that ensures the win - and ensures that Twickenham can relax and enjoy. May offloads, Farrell with the little pass, and Brown heaves himself over the try-line for a score. "Not a great game for England but they will win and move on," says Sir Clive W. "But it is vital now they get the fourth try" (that will give them a bonus point).

England 28 Fiji 11 (Brown 72) plus a very good conversion 21:42 70 mins Ten points is the lead, Fiji are getting tired. I hvae no doubt that England will win, but they would need to play better defensively at the breakdown against other sides if they want to progress. 21:38 67 mins Sadly for Fiji, as soon as they get back in touch, they give away a penalty. Offside when Peceli Yato hacks at the ball. Silly from the sub. Ford kicks it. England 21 Fiji 11 (Ford pen 67) 21:34 62 mins Nadolo makes up for it though with a busting run, smashing Englishmen hither and yon as he charges through the line of red shirts. This kick's right in front of the posts... they need this.... only 1 from 5 so far. 61 mins Fiji have another kick at goal and this one really should have gone over. Nadolo misses it. 21:29 59 mins Fiji looking tired now. It's all England. Camped in their territory.

Wigglesworth blown up for a handling offence in front of the posts. 21:28 58 mins Sven era England football friendly style quadruple substitution as Launchbury, Billy and Mako Vunipola and Wigglesworth come on for Youngs, Parling, Marler and Morgan. 21:25 54 mins A stop-start half so far, neither side able to put much rugby together, the ref the busiest man on the pitch since the interval. It's 9.25pm and we've only played 54 minutes of this game. #RWC2015 21:20 51 mins Driving maul for England and a crossfield kick. Watson attacking this time in a reversal of the score in the first half, but he cannot get there. Lands and looks a bit dazed. No matter, England come back for a penalty. England had been naughty themselves though, with this haul around the neck, but the Fiji offence happened first. 21:14 46 mins Blatant foul from Barritt as he drags back a breaking opponent. Kick for Nadolo some 45 yards out, quite central.

Hard lines, he has pulled it wide. Football doesn't like human error, but it won't like all the potential delays of a video ref either! 21:11 43 mins Scrum outside the Fiji 22 takes forever and a day. Eventually Fiji clear but the kick is straight into touch. 21:08 41 mins Fiji had a good spell at the end of the first half. But it's England who begin the second on the front foot. Some bang solid defence from the Fiji line though. 80,015 in attendance. Total ticket revenue: 1 million million million dollars! #rwc2015 20:53 HALF TIME: ENGLAND 18 Fiji 8 An encouraging start. England were dominant early on, and were aided in their efforts when Fiji gave them a penalty try and then had a man foolishly sinbinned. His absence allowed a numbers overload that saw England score a second try. Handling was tough for both teams with the wet weather and it probably hurt Fiji's game/style more than the English.

20:52 40 mins May a bit lucky to get that pen, he rolled on top of the ball and the ref saw it in his favour, could easily have been a pen the other way. With the half's timer run down, Ford might as well have a go, albeit from a touch angle and distance. It is not to be on this occasion, and England must settle for a ten-point lead at half-time. 20:49 39 mins England are pinned back on their own try line, some good pressure from Fiji but England manage to get it clear. Decent defense, and now England are making progress thanks to some clever running by May. 20:47 36 mins Fiji not going quietly though. Here is Nadolo with a sweetly struck long penalty. England 18 Fiji 8 (Nadolo pen 36) The teams have made 11 handling errors between them, Fiji with six. 20:44 33 mins Bit of a worry for England that their scrum was dominated there, but any hopes of Fiji getting on a roll are soon extinguished as George Ford slots a penalty after an Nayacalevu offside.

England 18 Fiji 5 (Ford pen 33) 20:39 29 mins But this one IS a try! Fiji with some strong work at the scrum on England's five metre line, there's been a foul and the ref is playing advantage. But Fiji's Volavola now with a great crossfield kick, the up and under and big Nadolo is the man you want under that... he's plucked that out of the air like a very tall man reaching for a tin of pickles on a high shelf in Tescos, and he comes crashing down to earth with five points in his hands. Watson the luckless man trying to contest the high ball. England 15 Fiji 5 (Nadolo try 29) Sadly, though, the conversion is not to be. TV replay needed again here, or rather it's not really needed but they take their time to use it Big fan of technology/reviews but it has to move faster than the Chilcot report. 20:35 27 mins Oh this is a sickener from Fiji!

From a common or garden scrum on the halfway line, their scrum half Matawalu picks it up and he sets off on an absolutely electric run down the field. It looks like he has leapt over the line but May and Brown have done very well to get back and just do enough to knock the ball out of his hand as he tries to put it down. The ref gives it initially and they are about to take the conversion when the TV ref intervenes. 20:32 25 mins Dan Cole has had a bit of a knock. England will coast home from here, so this match also becomes about tournament management. Fiji have been disappointing. Their handling has not been great and the discipline average. 20:09 8 mins England put the ball high.. .and Watson has the beating of Nadolo! But the Fiji defence is excellent, and England are reduced to handling on the floor. Penalty given and Fiji clear their lines. 20:08 6 mins And now it is Fiji's turn to win a penalty. Ben Volavola with a much harder chance though, just over by the left touchline... and he has hit the post!

20:06 4 mins But that ball is really greasy and slippery in the wet. England's first efforts to run the ball end in George Ford dropping it. Fiji have a solid scrum 20:04 2 mins England with an impressive shove at the scrum, England have been awarded an early penalty. George Ford could not have placed it more squarely in front of the posts... it's 30 yards out... and he has whacked it over! 20:02 1 mins Fiji kick off. Tell you what, those adverts are a buzzkill. Nervy start for Volavola as he knocks on a pretty regulation gather about 35 yards from his own line. England scrum England: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, Geoff Parling, Courtney Lawes, Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Joe Marler.

Fiji: Metuisela Talebula, Waisea Nayacalevu, Vereniki Goneva, Gabrieli Lovobalavu, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Nikola Matawalu, Campese Ma'afu, Sunia Koto Vuli, Manasa Saulo, Api Ratuniyarawa, Leone Nakarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Akapusi Qera, Sakiusa Masi Matadigo. 19:46 Teams England: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Brad Barritt, Jonny May, George Ford, Ben Morgan, Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, Geoff Parling, Courtney Lawes, Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Joe Marler.

Fiji: Metuisela Talebula, Waisea Nayacalevu, Vereniki Goneva, Gabrieli Lovobalavu, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Nikola Matawalu, Campese Ma'afu, Sunia Koto Vuli, Manasa Saulo, Api Ratuniyarawa, Leone Nakarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Akapusi Qera, Sakiusa Masi Matadigo. 19:45 England v Fiji: incoming Hi everyone. Tyers here. So what did you reckon to the opening ceremony? And how do you like England's chances in the tournament? And could Fiji prove a banana skin? 19:20 Gazza's expert insight Come on ENGLAND a tough match tonight,it'll be very close,i'll TRY and watch it,xx loved your tweets xxx 19:15 Meet & great Robin Millard of the PA is getting his hands dirty by speaking to some of the punters outside Twickenham, and some of these updates are (perhaps inadvertently) incredible.

Chris, a 31-year-old accountant, was dressed head to toe in an English crusader's outfit, along with three friends. "It's just about getting involved, getting behind the team. "I got the tickets more than a year ago, snapped them up. Every England game then every possible route to the final. "I can't wait for this. I've sent my girlfriend away for six weeks." George, sporting a red England away jersey, a rugby player's cauliflower ear and a £160 ticket for the match, said he thought not enough had been made of the tournament in the host nation. "I don't think there's been enough hype. There's been one advert on the TV every now and then," said the fan, who attended the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and has tickets for the final this time. "If England do well, there will be more hype. In 2003 when England won it, we started watching it get bigger and bigger. "Ultimately it's us, the rugby supporters, that will make it a success." Oh, Chris. We're sure your girlfriend loves you very much. We're certain of it, in fact.

19:05 The opening ceremony The opening ceremony has begun with a snazzy VT featuring a cameo from Prince Harry hoeing a school garden. No I don’t know why either. Find out why (possibly) by clicking through to our alternative commentary Opening Ceremony liveblog , with the very funny Alan Tyers. 19:00 The green eyed monster Sitting at home in your dingy lodgings, wishing you were at Twickenham rather than watching John Inverdale incessantly chatter his way through all of this never ending build-up? Then look! Enjoy this video of a load of lucky so-and-sos with the hottest ticket in town. You're welcome. 18:50 Mystic Maverick the super-pooch The 2010 FIFA World Cup had Paul the Octopus- a cryptic cephalopod with a bizarre talent for predicting the winning team in football matches, and an even more bizarrely boring name- and now the 2015 Rugby World Cup has a dog called Maverick, complete with a completely unnecessary little canine scrum cap. You don’t even play in the front row, Maverick!

Anyway, Maverick the pooch has spoken (metaphorically) and has declared that England will beat Fiji tonight, so make sure you get down to that bookmakers pronto, people. If he’s correct: he lives. If he’s wrong: he is kicked forcibly in the head, which I suppose explains the scrum cap, at least. How they compare... Feast your eyes on the natty infographic below, and tell me what you see: That's right, England are better than Fiji. England are ranked higher in the world than Fiji. England's odds of winning the thing are better than Fiji's. England have gone further than Fiji have ever gone at a World Cup. And, perhaps crucially, England have never lost to Fiji. What could possibly go wrong?! 18:10 Hello, WORLD It’s here. After years of waiting, months of build-up, and at least five days of anything even remotely relevant being excitedly reported by the press (‘George Ford says he’ll eat a bowl of Special K and a banana before the Fiji match: EXCLUSIVE!”), we’re finally ready to go.

England vs Fiji in the first game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and it's coming at ‘ya like an angry Jonah Lomu with his skates on. And here is the team news. Savour it people. I’m guessing that at least 80% of you couldn’t give a flying Fijian fig that John McKee has selected Sakiusa Masi Matadigo rather than Tuapati Talemaitoga in his starting XV—and that’s all part of the enthusiastic big tournament spirit we all get caught up in—but Stuart Lancaster will have studied his opponents very, very carefully. England have to win. The world is watching. (Let's just hope the world isn't watching the Twitter feeds of our public transport companies, too:) @SW_Trains it's OK, it's not like the rest of the world are judging you today. Oh, hang on. Welcome Hello, welcome to our live blog of this evening's match . Alan will be here at about 6.30pm to bring you all of the build-up, but before it starts , have a read of our preview below...

Tom Wood insists England must inspire the type of patriotic pride that swept the nation during London 2012 to fuel their quest for World Cup glory. The eighth instalment of the global showpiece begins when Fiji visit Twickenham on Friday night and the hosts must also meet Wales, Australia and Uruguay in a Pool A that will see at least one tier-one heavyweight return home. Head coach Stuart Lancaster has stressed the need for his team to embrace their English identity with the help of their supporters and Wood has backed his sentiment by demanding his team-mates deliver performances that captivate imaginations. Stuart Lancaster speaking at his final press conference before the tournament starts Photo: Livepic "Stuart has talked a lot about being on the front foot with English identity and our national pride. We know what that can do for us," blindside flanker Wood said. "We want to try to harness that. We know what it did for the British athletes at the Olympics and we want some of that. "We know it is a two-way thing. We have to go out there and give the crowd something to cheer - we have to show real intent, endeavour and execute well. "Hopefully on the back of that there will be a snowball effect.

They will get behind us and carry us through." Stuart Lancaster, flanked by members of his World Cup squad Photo: PA Instrumental to England's success over the next seven weeks will be the way they handle the pressure and expectation of being hosts and second favourites behind champions New Zealand to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. The performance and temperament against Fiji will be an important signpost, particularly if the match is finely-poised heading into the final quarter, and Wood knows the level of intensity must be pitched just right. "It's a difficult balancing act. You want to be in the zone, focus on your game and have tunnel vision, but at the same time we want to take full advantage of playing at home and the crowd," Wood said. "We want to soak up the atmosphere. We don't want to look back and feel it passed us by. We want to really use that as best we can while keeping our eyes on the prize. "It's going to be a great occasion. The emotion can get the better of you.

You can find yourself forcing things and getting carried away or you can be inspired to deliver the performance of your life." 10 beauty tips from The England Rugby Team Photo: REX Wood insists that should England fail to make an impact, it will not be through lack of effort. "I know we're not entitled to win it. There are some great teams out there and I can't promise you success," Wood said. "All I can say is that we've left no stone unturned in terms of our preparation. We have absolutely given everything to the cause, put ourselves through absolute torture in the gym and on the field. "We've been committed to making each other better and I feel ready. I feel prepared and I hope that those lessons were learned from finishing second in the Six Nations campaigns will stand us in good stead. "We'll manage the hype and expectation and all that comes with that on home soil, but I'm humble enough to know that there's no entitlement and no guarantee. "The bounce of the ball can be a cruel thing, a refereeing decision can go against you, so we just have to do our best to give ourselves the best possible chance in each and every game."

Question: Who did England play in the opening game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup?
Answer: FIJI