Fiji vs England - 11/7/26

[Welsh Exile]

Here’s a question, albeit granted that Fiji have not been at their best (though you could say how much is that down to England stifling them)

Does this look like a group of players not playing for Borthwick or that want him out?

Could just be that players are playing for themselves and their teammates of course.

 

[BrokenWing]

I assume Mitchell is off due to the boot to the chops during the Pollock try

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

BJVR with a mediocre pass and a worse clear out and now a knock on. Natural replacement for Lawrence finally found

 

[Scotty]

Has Slade gone to FB rather than Freeman?

 

[higgik]

Marcus at 9???
As a reserve might be his place.
23 shirt covering 9, 10 and 15.
Would mean a different player at 22.

 

[AlRums]

Missed Pollock coming in from the side

 

[Scotty]

Does Pollock have a rat tail?

God I hope not he'll be even more insufferable...not even sure why I think that...and i oddly like him because it...i hope he does

 

[Grizwald]

Has Slade gone to FB rather than Freeman?

Yep

 

[Scotty]

Marcus at 9???
As a reserve might be his place.
23 shirt covering 9, 10 and 15.
Would mean a different player at 22.

I wonder if Calouri will start to play some games at FB as he gets more established as he'd be great cover if he lives up to his potential...IF.

 

[Scotty]

Yep

That seems so odd, now I've seen Slade at 15 and he's actually pretty good but put pf the 2 id have freeman.

 

[higgik]

I wonder if Calouri will start to play some games at FB as he gets more established as he'd be great cover if he lives up to his potential...IF.

Yes, him in 22 shirt, Marcus in 23 shirt

 

[Scotty]

Yes, him in 22 shirt, Marcus in 23 shirt

Now can we get a 9/12 to play 21 please haha

 

[Scotty]

Good kick by FSmith for the pen but dead centre of the pitch give it to sladey it's his speciality getting it on the 5m

 

[Saintjay]

Marcus Smith ruck speed putting JVP to shame.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

This is going to look nice in the record books, but I don’t think it proves much one way or the other.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Yep

I've definitely seen Freeman back there, but Slade seems to be picking the lines you'd want from a FB in attack (where you'd also expect to see an OC)

 

[Scotty]

Marcus Smith ruck speed putting JVP to shame.

Jvp's passing was good today wasn't it? Maybe I'm not wrong but I don't remember anything bad

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Marcus Smith ruck speed putting JVP to shame.

Jvp's passing was good today wasn't it? Maybe I'm not wrong but I don't remember anything bad

Smith at 9 today just shows how poor JVP has been.

I actually think smith would have a real future at 9.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean he has a build more suited to it than 15

 

[Saintjay]

Jvp's passing was good today wasn't it? Maybe I'm not wrong but I don't remember anything bad

Not bad, but I think there's an obvious difference in time for getting to the ruck, speed of decision and ball gone.

Could be that Fiji are knackered and contesting less. But quick ball is killing them.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Honestly after today's game I would renewal Borthwick's contract

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Commentary have got to have received an RFU bung, the Borthwick glazing is insane

 

[higgik]

Pollock at centre???

 

[Reiser99]

Honestly after today's game I would renewal Borthwick's contract

Fortunately that sentence is grammatically incorrect, so we can ignore it.

 

[Scotty]

Drop goal go again and get 80

 

[AlRums]

That Pollock move copied from Scotland v France

 

[Saintjay]

Someone in the RFU is writing on a note pad Steve Borthwick achieved the highest score against Fiji.

 

[Scotty]

Tbf vs 15 and 14 we were the much better team. We played a very good game, don't get me wrong we have alot of work and made alot of mistakes but letting in 1(2) tries vs fiji is good against that back line.

Solid win, doesnt fix the problems but I'm not complaining

 

[AlRums]

This is going to look nice in the record books, but I don’t think it proves much one way or the other.

Ignoring the red card, that was an incredibly poor performance from Fiji.

England certainly much improved, but still a long way to go.

 

[OllyM97]

Fiji were absolutely atrocious, and they were down to 14 for a half - but it was definitely an improvement from England. We do generally do the business against teams like that (with the odd recent aberration, admittedly). I still think it’s an absolute farce, and makes a mockery of the competition, that Fiji don’t play their home games in Fiji. A good win but a lot of work still to do.