Head coach Steve Borthwick names his England team to play Fiji in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Owen Farrell will captain a starting XV with two changes to the side that defeated Samoa last weekend, as Elliot Daly returns to the wing and Marcus Smith starts at full back.
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WHEN IS ENGLAND V FIJI?
The 2023 Rugby World Cup Quarter-Final between England and Fiji will be played at 4pm on Sunday, October 15th.
TV CHANNEL
In the United Kingdom the England v Fiji game will be broadcast on ITV1 with pre-game coverage beginning at 3pm.
Television viewers in Ireland can tune into RTÉ 2 from 3.30pm to catch all the action.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS LAST FIVE MATCHES
England and Fiji have been battling in Test rugby since 1999. Since then they’ve faced off five times.
Their first meeting was at the 1999 Rugby World Cup where England won 45-24.
England won the next three fixtures before losing their game 22-30 against Fiji during the Rugby World Cup warm-up.
2023: Fiji won 22-30
2016: England won 58-15
2015: England won 35-11
2012: England won 54-12
1999: England won 45-24
REFEREE & OFFICIATING TEAM?
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY FIJI:
15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 28 caps)
14. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 76 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 23 caps)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 62 caps)
10. Owen Farrell – captain (Saracens, 109 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 9 caps)
1. Ellis Genge – vice-captain (Bristol Bears, 55 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 82 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 104 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 73 caps)
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes – vice-captain (Northampton Saints, 103 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 47 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 22 caps)
Replacements
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 6 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 86 caps)
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 66 caps)
19. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
20. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 73 caps)
21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 93 caps)
22. George Ford – vice-captain (Sale Sharks, 89 caps)
23. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)
Social reaction:
One fan wrote: “Daly…ah yes the one thing we needed: more pointless kicking from the backline Big fan of dropping our best player of the tournament so we can keep shoehorning in Farrell.”
A second said: “So the leaks by the England coaching team were accurate – Ford sacrificed on the altar of Farrell (has he got incriminating photos or something). Hope Borthwick knows what he’s doing, he caught us out at Tigers a few times, but I just feel some of these are the wrong calls.”
Another commented: “Desperate to see them win. But it becomes harder to see a selection plan. Players playing well get ignored/dropped and those bringing mediocrity and kicking are seen as worthy. Good grief I am tired of it.”
“Poor management and selection of the squad from the start, 3 Flyhalfs and shoe horning all three in, dropping the world class 15 and 2 wings playing while under performing at each chance! Smacks of desperation,” said a fourth.
England’s route to the 2023 Rugby World Cup final revealed
Let’s venture into the realm of imagination and explore the potential trajectory that awaits Borthwick’s formidable team.
Quarter-final: England v Fiji
After a historic defeat to the Pacific Islanders last month, England is poised to seek redemption in the quarter-finals. Steve Borthwick’s squad aims to erase the memory of their lackluster performance, and with their recent form, they stand a strong chance of advancing to the semi-finals.