Henry Pollock scored a hat-trick as England ended a five-match losing streak with an emphatic 73-8 victory over a 14-man Fiji in the Nations Championship at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The win, England's first since February, came after Fiji scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli was sent off just before half-time for kicking Ellis Genge, with his side already trailing 35-3.
England dominate from the start
England raced into an early lead, with Marcus Smith touching down after a cross-kick bounced back off the corner flag. Jamie George scored from a driving maul to make it 14-3, and further tries from Guy Pepper, Benhard van Rensburg, and Henry Pollock followed before the break. Van Rensburg, making his debut at age 29, crashed over for a try that delighted his family, who had travelled from South Africa.
Second-half onslaught
In the second half, England added six more tries. Immanuel Fey-Waboso and Pollock scored within three minutes, while Noah Caluori, also on debut, delivered a selfless inside ball for Henry Slade to score before crossing himself with a swallow-dive. Pollock completed his hat-trick with two further tries in the final quarter, burning off defenders with characteristic pace. Marcus Smith finished with a personal haul of 23 points, including a try and nine conversions.
Fiji's struggles
Fiji were disjointed and ill-disciplined, conceding numerous penalties and handling errors. Their only points came from a Caleb Muntz penalty in the first half. The heat in Liverpool was intense enough to trigger World Rugby's heat safety protocols, with hydration breaks and a 20-minute half-time. Despite the one-sided scoreline, England's performance was not flawless, with several handling errors and missed opportunities.
Borthwick gets respite
The victory gives head coach Steve Borthwick some breathing room after a difficult season. England now head to Argentina for the final leg of their summer tour. Borthwick acknowledged the need to improve consistency, saying, "The best sides are operating at a relentless tempo that England have yet to match consistently." The win, while comprehensive, was against a Fiji side that lacked basic Test-match fundamentals, and tougher tests lie ahead.
