IT took a last minute Billy Vunipola try to secure a bonus point victory as England stuttered in their World Cup opener.

Mike Brown scored twice in an inspired performance as the boot and a penalty try made up the rest of the points in a 35-11 win.

After a jumpy start by England, they would have been happy to slow things down with a scrum in midfield.

In Joe Marler's first act of the tournament, his front row pulsed the Fijians to earn his country a penalty 30m out and bang in front of the posts with three minutes on the clock.

George Ford duly slotted the three points and England eased themselves into the game.

Ben Youngs, whose first pass was to his half-back partner's bootlaces, was wayward with his pass and a promising attack broke down for England.

From the resulting possession, Brad Barritt was penalised for not rolling away and Fiji were unfortunate not to equalise as Ben Volavola's effort cannoned off the left-hand upright.

With England's handling flailing, they decided to go aerial and both Jonny May and Anthony Watson responded.

First May re-gathered Ford's restart only to be nailed by Akapusi Qera before Anthony Watson filled his heels with rocket fuel to get above Nodolo to fetch another Ford up-and-under.

The giant winger wasn't to be outdone, though, and struck back with a barnstorming run from a lineout as Ben Morgan were left grasping thin air.

Jonny May had a busy first half, and it was his intervention which led to the World Cup's first try.

He counter-attacked and drove the ball into the Fijian back row only for Dominiko Waqaniburotu to upend him.

TMO Shaun Veldsman decided it warranted a penalty and Ford popped the ball into touch just inside the Fijian 22m.

Tom Youngs hit his man and the maul steamed towards the Fijian try line only for Nikolai Matawalu to dive in and prevent the try.

The scrum half went to the bin, Jaco Peyper went under the posts and England went 10-0 up.

The Islanders weathered the storm for nine and a half minutes, but when a lineout 5m from their own line went astray they found themselves in trouble.

Usually the ball over the top in that position is a banker, but Tom Wood read it perfectly and snaffled possession.

England shipped it wide and delicate hands from Jonathan Joseph under pressure put Mike Brown away for the try.

As Fiji returned to full compliment, they sparked life into the game and a sustained period of pressure in the England half led to a scrum on the right-hand touchline.

Matawalu sniped and ran at May, turning him inside out, before stepping on the gas and looked to have scored an early contender for try of the tournament.

Enter Mr Veldsman once again who, rightly so, disallowed the try after spotting the scrum half had knocked on.

The reprieve would not last long for England as they were pushed off the 5m scrum and Volavola found the giant Nadolo with a cross-field kick for Fiji's first try.

Ford and Nadolo exchanged penalties in the last ten minutes of the half and the Bath man missed a chance to extend England's lead with the last kick of the game as his long range effort drifted wide.

The second half started as the first did and it wasn't until the 52nd minute when Stuart Lancaster made wholesale changes that livened up a flat England start.

Billy Vunipola made inroads into an otherwise stern Fijian defence and Richard Wigglesworth brought a level of control Youngs simply couldn't find in the first 50 minutes.

But after weathering an attack in their own 22, it was Fiji who found inspiration and a succession of penalties allowed them to work their way up the field.

Nadolo, who looked like a cartoon character lining up his kicks, missed two stright-forward kicks before Volavola stepped up to strike three points on the hour to bring his team within a converted try.

It was a strange phase of the game as Les Marseillais drowned out Swing Low, but Mike Brown re-ignited the fire with a trademark bust from the back which led to an Owen Farrell penalty, now on for Ford.

Burgess had come on for Barritt and made an immediate impact carrying defenders over the gainline with his first carry.

Kieran Brookes replaced Dan Cole with 69 minutes gone and his first act was to marmalise the Fijian scrum to earn his team a penalty.

England launched an attack with 10 minutes to go and Wigglesworth sniped into the Fiji 22.

The ball was spun wide to Jonathan Joseph, whose ankles must be made of baby oil, as he slipped the tackle to find Farrell.

The replacement offloaded nicely to Brown who went over for his second and Farrell converted.

Mike Brown fielded the resulting restart and brought Twickenham to its feet as he surged into the Fiji half and offloaded to Burgess.

England set up camp in the Fiji half in search for the bonus point try, and a period of park football-like rugby ensued as a desperate scramble took place for that all-important fifth point.

With the clock red, Jonny May hurled his way to the line only to fall short before Billy Vunipola - who made a big impact when he came on - picked and scooted his way over the line.

After a three-minute delay, TMO Shaun Veldsman awarded the try and England collectively were able to breathe a sigh of relief.