Attack coach Wigglesworth (ENG) - 'We are not there to just turn up against South Africa'

Comments from England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth after beating Fiji 30-24 in the quarter-final on Sunday, 15 October.

Richard Wigglesworth, attack coach

On being in the semi-finals:

"Delighted, it's going to be an exciting week for us."

On the result and performance against Fiji:

"In large parts really good. There was some stuff we would have liked to do better."

On if he was convinced England would find a way to win:

"When you have experience on the field that knows how to win tight games and knows how to win World Cup knockout games."

On the France v South Africa match:

"How special is it to beat France, in the form they are in, in their own back yard in front of their own fans? That was a special performance from an incredible team."

On how much of a step up in quality South Africa will be:

"We are talking about one of the best rugby teams ever, aiming to go back-to-back, who have evolved, and have had a solid coaching team for six years. They have a core group of players and they have added quality to it. They are an impressive outfit."

On being the only unbeaten team left in the competition:

"I don't think it counts for much, South Africa proved that last time - they broke the mould by losing to New Zealand [in the pool stage] last time. They lost to Ireland this time and again found their best rugby in the biggest moment."

On the progress of the England team:

"We were starting from a completely different base than they [South Africa] were, but we need to work out a way of playing this week, playing smart enough this week to get ourselves in this contest to try and win a semi-final. We the challenge because South Africa are not only winning those tight games. they are playing better and better."

On if England need to stay in the semi-final as long as possible:

"That is the wrong way to look at it, we have to take our moments and try and get as many of them as we can. But what an exciting challenge - when no one thought we would be here."

On Manu Tuilagi:

"I am delighted for Manu, all of his hard work. All he has been through, fighting to get back fit and he is important to us because of how he plays but his influence around the other people. He is a great team man; it is a massive advantage for us to have him on the field and playing really well."

On Marcus Smith:

"We tell everyone how brave he is and he puts his head in places where he can take them shots. Unfortunately, the shot that was high just caught him wrong but he has a fat lip."

On the coaching process:

"It's a little bit different than usual as usually you will be analysing one team, last week but we had to analyse two. We will put a bit more meat on the bones of that this morning, we have already met and we will be meeting again and sent away with a list of stuff to look at and get right so we can give the players as much clarity we can on areas that we want to go after. It's about simplifying as much as we can so they can put their game out on the field. It will be pretty thorough, but enjoyable."

On the emotional side of the build-up:

"A semi-final will be emotional anyway - we will make sure that we are fresh going into Saturday night both physically and mentally."

On South Africa's gameplan:

"They have evolved a lot ... how they move the ball or how they exit ... have got more variety ... they have multiple threats now."

On similarities between South Africa and Fiji:

"Similarities yes, big in the tackle, even stronger in terms of breakdown and consistency of it. Fiji would pick and choose breakdowns with [Levani] Botia, South Africa those threats are all across the field. But [Manie] Libbok and their outside backs, they [have] incredible ball movement, talented runners, they get the ball into space early and let those guys do the damage."

On the six-day turnaround:

"We will adapt, we won't be on the field as much as you would be on a seven-day turnaround. How we learn off the field, how we manage our energy getting to second-last week of the tournament will be really important."

On going under the radar in the tournament:

"Why does everyone turn up to sport? Because you don't know the result beforehand. It would be boring if you knew the result, wouldn't it? We are not there for a holiday; we are not there just to turn up."

On the attacking midfield of Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi and Joe Marchant:

"It was good at times; we created a few opportunities that we didn't take. It was working quite well for us ... we looked reasonably sharp early on. We just need to make sure there is a balance. What that looks like this week might be different from last week in terms of what the opposition pose and what we want to do with the ball."

On the criticism aimed at Owen Farrell:

"He definitely doesn't have to prove anything. The tallest trees catch the most wind and he seems to catch a fair bit ... just because he's not sat in front of social media or media lapping all of that up. He is incredibly serious about his career, he's an incredibly proud Englishman ... and he was brilliant for us as we knew he would be. That was the maddening part of any noise, we knew what was coming."

On hooker Jamie George, who played 80 minutes:

"He is really impressive guy; he has a great effect on the team. Excellent at set-piece, as good a thrower as I have ever seen but really smart with it. He is a really smart rugby player, always understands the plan, understands his own game, understands the people around him ... and he has been doing a really good job for us.

"If you could plan a career of a hooker coming through, Jamie has probably had that. He has had mentorship from Schalk Brits and John Smit without being thrust into 80 minutes every week - and he has been the same in his England career. He started as back-up and then has developed into England's starting hooker for a long time."

On if the 2019 final will have a bearing on this semi-final:

"It would be hard for me to comment on because I wasn't there. I have lost finals at a different levels and you always feel like a missed opportunity. Whether some players use that as motivation ... hopefully that is what they bring. I wouldn't want to pre-empt what feelings four years ago has on this game."

On if he feels England are getting mixed support from back home:

"The minority are always the loudest, aren't they? But the majority are what you heard at the stadium, the people who are turning up and loving this team and supporting it."