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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Luke McLaughlin

Fast-rising Fiji carry a nation’s pride in redemption match with England

Fiji’s Jiuta Wainiqolo runs the ball towards the try line against Scotland in July
Fiji’s Jiuta Wainiqolo runs the ball towards the try line in the 29-14 victory against Scotland in July. Photograph: Josua Buredua/AFP/Getty Images

True, they are the lowest-ranked team England will play this month, but it would be highly dangerous to underestimate Fiji. Coming between an opening victory against Australia and a box‑office encounter with the All Blacks, it might be easy to regard the Twickenham game on Saturday as a relatively straightforward assignment. Easy, but foolish.

You don’t have to go back far – two years or so, to an autumn afternoon in Marseille and England’s 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final – to remember how potent Fiji can be.

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