We are fast approaching kick-off for England’s final match of the 2023 Summer Nations Series, with the opportunity to boost Rugby World Cup momentum on the line for both sides. Steve Borthwick’s men take on Fiji, who are coming into the match hot off winning the 2023 Pacific Nations Cup.
Here is RUCK’s head to head, between England and their Pacific Island opponents before they take centre stage at Twickenham. Kick off is at 3:15pm, with the action shown live on Amazon Prime, which is free to new subscribers if you sign up now to the 30 day free trial.
PAST MEETINGS
England and Fiji have met on seven previous occasions, with England getting the victory over the South Sea Islanders every time. However, this unbeaten record could well be broken today, as Fiji look to be performing at the top of their game coming into this clash at the stadium known as ‘HQ’.
The last meeting between the two sides took place in the 2016 Autumn Nations Series. After taking over from the dismissed Stuart Lancaster to the post of England Head Coach, Eddie Jones took the reigns for England to record a 58-15 win over Fiji. England scored nine tries in this landslide victory, with Joe Launchbury, Jonathan Joseph and Semesa Rokoduguni all scoring twice in the process.
This victory extended England’s winning run of form to eleven matches, however Fiji face an England side in less impressive form than that of seven years ago. Prior to this 2016 match-up, England and Fiji met in the opening fixture of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Before England suffered defeats to Wales and Australia, to become the first host nation to crash out of a World Cup in the pool stage, England recorded a routine 35-11 win over the Flying Fijians.
CURRENT FORM:
As mentioned, this meeting between England and Fiji has the possibility to be unlike any previous encounter. There should be no writing off the Pacific Islanders, who have just recorded a stunning clean sweep of Samoa, Tonga and Japan to win the 2023 Pacific Nations Cup. This triumph has taken Fiji up to a World Rugby ranking of ninth, which sees them become the highest rated ‘tier two’ nation in the world.
Also, Fiji have now leapfrogged Wales in the World Rugby rankings, which is an interesting factor after Warren Gatland’s men recorded a 20-9 victory over England earlier this Summer. Fiji’s most recent fixture saw them take on 2023 Rugby World Cup hosts France, and Simon Raiwalui’s side put in an impressive performance. Les Bleus were able to come away victorious with a 34-17 score-line, which is a better result than England’s record 53-10 home defeat to France in the 2023 Six Nations.
Admittedly, Fiji took on a weaker France side than England did in the Six Nations, but it still a testing result which makes today’s fixture all the more enticing. England’s current form has seen them struggle to hit top gear since Steve Borthwick took over the role of Head Coach.
A disappointing 2023 Six Nations campaign saw England finish fourth, recording victories over wooden spoon regulars Italy and a contractually dysfunctional Wales. Following the Six Nations, Borthwick’s side headed to Cardiff to kick-start their Summer Nations Series, yet came out on the wrong side of a 20-9 defeat to Gatland’s Wales. The return fixture against Wales at Twickenham saw an ill-disciplined England at one stage drop to 12 men, with captain Owen Farrell facing a ban that will keep him out of action until matchday three of the Rugby World Cup.
England managed to record a late comeback win, with George Ford’s penalty clinching a 19-17 turnaround. However, this winning form has since been short-lived, with a trip to Dublin resulting in a 29-10 loss to Andy Farrell’s Ireland. England are without a select few key men for today’s match, with Billy Vunipola joining Farrell on the suspension list, whilst Anthony Watson, Kyle Sinckler, Elliot Daly and Jack van Poortvliet populate the injury clinic.