England leads Fiji 14–13 at halftime during a gripping match at Allianz Stadium, showcasing a blend of skill and mistakes from both teams. Fiji opened the scoring with a stunning try from Caleb Muntz, following impressive offloads by Jiuta Wainiqolo and Pita Gus Sowakula, extending their lead to 13–7 after Muntz successfully added a penalty.
England struck back with an early try from Luke Cowan-Dickie, but their momentum was stifled by handling errors and a lack of cohesion. The game’s dynamics shifted late in the half when Fiji’s Selestino Ravutaumada received a yellow card for a reckless mid-air challenge on Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, England’s Fin Smith executed a well-placed cross-field kick to Feyi-Waboso, who scored and then converted to regain the lead.
Both teams are looking to refine their strategies and capitalize on opportunities in the second half. Fiji’s head coach, Mick Byrne, remains optimistic that his team can regroup and harness their physical prowess to challenge England effectively in the second half, building on their experience from previous encounters, including a narrow 30-24 loss in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
As both sides prepare for an intense second half, the match highlights the evolving rivalry between Fiji and England and showcases the potential for exhilarating rugby. Fans can expect a thrilling contest as both teams aim to assert their dominance on the field.
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