Could Fiji add to England’s five-game losing run when the nations collide at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in the second round of the Nations Championship on Saturday?
To Win
Fiji | Draw | England
Handicap
Fiji | England
Match context
While many, Nick Mallett included, felt the final 45-21 scoreline of England’s defeat to the Springboks in Johannesburg last week flattered the back-to-back world champions, the reality is the tourists never looked like coming close to victory. Steve Borthwick’s men were sucker punched early and trailed 17-0 after just 11-minutes — truthfully, they never had a chance of coming back from that deficit.
That result extended their losing run to five Test matches and means the side simply cannot afford to lose to the Pacific Islanders in Liverpool this weekend, or their coach will surely be on his last legs. The Rugby Football Union’s recent decision to back the former international lock through to the next World Cup continues to be difficult to justify, with his stats-driven, apparently robotic style of coaching clearly not having the desired effect on his players.
While they will come up against one of the traditionally most ill-disciplined rugby nations in Fiji here, England’s own trouble with the refs is becoming increasingly apparent too, with the respective yellow cards shown to Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper in the 69th and 71st-minute at Emirates Airline Park bringing the team’s total to 10 in 2026. That’s a shocking stat by any measure and must be addressed ahead of the Argentina Test in Santiago del Estero in round three.
Since taking over at the helm at the backend of 2022, Borthwick has presided over six defeats in eight matches against the Boks, All Blacks and Wallabies, and there doesn’t seem to be any tangible improvement despite the side recently winning 12-Tests in succession. Currently ranked sixth, there will be plenty expected when they tackle the ninth-ranked Fijians.
Mick Byrne’s men opened their Nations Championship campaign in defeat after going down 24-39 to Wales in Cardiff. Aside from their lacklustre defending (they completed just 75% of their tackle attempts), their penalty count of 13 to Wales’ six was another glaring red flag. Given the England-Bok game generated the same stats (in the victors’ favour naturally), fans will be hoping for far more accuracy from both sides when they arrive at the home of the Toffees.
Players to watch
Salesi Rayasi (Fiji)
The New Zealand-born Bordeaux fullback is probably his country’s most gifted player right now, but even he couldn’t help topple the Dragons in the first round in what was ultimately an error-strewn showing all-round. He has another chance to show what he can do in the Test arena here, and the European champion will be looking to get his hands on the ball as often as possible to have a crack against the sometimes-suspect England defensive system.
Ellis Genge (England)
Aside from his banger of a try towards the end of the first-half, the Baby Rhino was about as anonymous as most of his England teammates in Joburg and will be seeking a much-improved performance here. As one of the leaders in the side, Genge will be expected to come up with some kind of response after the underwhelming showing against the Boks and the scrum could be one of the departments in which he and his fellow forwards really look to dominate at the Hill Dickinson.
Tactical overview
Switching on from the first whistle will be key for England after their slow start against South Africa, but Fiji are unlikely to offer anything close to the accuracy and intensity the Boks showed in the opening quarter on Saturday. In that respect, England should get more let offs from the Pacific Islanders.
This game also provides Borthwick’s men with the ideal chance to improve on their own accuracy and efficiency, and finishing the 80-minutes without any cards should be non-negotiable. If England aren’t careful, Fiji could drag them into a messy free-for-all, but sticking to their set piece structures will be the antidote for the Red Roses, who should have the game half won if they can execute in this regard.
Fiji will have to play out of their skins if they hope to replicate their 2023 heroics when they claimed their first and only win over the Brits (30-22) on the occasion of Courtney Lawes’ 100th Test in London, But there’s little to suggest they have it in them given what they produced against Wales.
Prediction
England should clear the handicap in victory here, but closer attention will be paid to the manner of the win rather than the scoreline itself.
