Fiji arrive at Twickenham on Saturday eager to avenge their narrow 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to England. The Pacific Island nation, ranked ninth in the world, are the lowest-ranked opponents England will face this month, but their recent form suggests they are no pushovers.
In Marseille two years ago, Fiji led England 24-24 with ten minutes to play before Owen Farrell's drop goal and a late penalty saw England scrape a six-point win. That match came weeks after Fiji had beaten England for the first time at Twickenham in a warm-up game, contributing to a shaky start for England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Fiji's rugby programme has grown stronger, with the launch of Super Rugby side Fijian Drua in 2017 widening the talent pool. Mark Evans, chief executive of Fijian Drua, said: 'Across its various teams it has probably never been as consistently strong as it is at the moment.' The team have not lost to a side ranked below them since 2022, apart from Portugal at the World Cup.
Head coach Mick Byrne has called for a physical approach. 'We just want to be physical. Take it to them. Just get on the front foot and go after the game,' he told the Fiji Times. Key players to watch include wing Jiuta Wainiqolo, described by Evans as 'if not the best wing in the world, damn close', and inside-centre Josua Tuisova.
Fiji's supporters will rise early or stay up late for the 5:40am local time kick-off. The match is seen as a chance for redemption, with the Fiji Times running the headline 'Redemption' on Tuesday.
