England’s laboured launch as Fiji put up fight

England 35 Fiji 11: The trains weren’t running, the bars were overflowing, the stewards were next to useless and yet, at around 7pm yesterday evening, something rather strange happened in south-west London.

Loudly, proudly, but without arrogance, rugby announced itself - for six weeks at least - as the world’s premier sport.

It will not be perfect – and the ensuring game between England and Fiji demonstrated that, as did the ridiculous over-use of the TMO – but this World Cup is a wonderful opportunity for the sport.