Fiji vs England - 11/7/26

[Grizwald]

You can only play what's in front of you and all that but Fiji just look lethargic and uninterested which is really disappointing. Should have just let them play in Fiji as its doing no favours for their oppo globe trotting either-credit to England they didnt look like a team who played over 5000 miles away last week

 

[Scotty]

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.

The playing in Fiji in fiji point as I have nothing to add.

I think our defence shut them down quite alot and made it hard for them. Our basics seemed poor at times but we contained them well and that was a very dangerous backline.

 

[wombles]

It will be Fiji playing these tests in the UK that will place them in a position to base all home tests in Fiji for the future, so in that regard we cannot complain too much.

England…..still too clunky in attack & I still cannot really discern as style as yet. It was definitely a step forward today, but much remains to be done. As I mentioned earlier England have a squad of players that have the ability to reach exceptionally high levels, i just don’t believe that Borthwick nor Wigglesworth are the 2 coaches to realise this.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

We’ve seen England play a more attacking style before and then the week after it’s 100% change.

Before anyone gets excited, let’s see if England now stick to this style and tactics or if it’s just a flash in the pan.

 

[Saintjay]

I don't think you can take much from that. Fiji were really poor. Mainly just a confidence boost to the players and nothing much else

 

[Welsh Exile]

I don't think you can take much from that. Fiji were really poor. Mainly just a confidence boost to the players and nothing much else

I think your only hope now is for Wales to smash Argentina and then Argentina smash you the following week.

 

[Wasps92]

Shame it will keep that charlatan in a job.

 

[Scotty]

Shame it will keep that charlatan in a job.

I'm so sorry england won

 

[Reiser99]

I don't think you can take much from that. Fiji were really poor. Mainly just a confidence boost to the players and nothing much else

This pretty much. Fiji were so poor that I don't think we learnt much. My three areas of concern were defence, breakdown, and kicking. I feel like there was only a slight improvement in kicking.

 

[Jimbo]

Maybe just maybe England are a lot better than Fiji, whilst SA, France and Ireland are just a lot better than England.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Whatever you think of Pollock’s place in the pecking order you can’t deny he’s got something. His acceleration, speed and awareness are quite incredible.

 

[Reiser99]

On another note. It felt good to have a competent ref that nobody complained about.

 

[Reiser99]

Whatever you think of Pollock’s place in the pecking order you can’t deny he’s got something. His acceleration, speed and awareness are quite incredible.

His acceleration works best against tired legs. Not saying he wouldn't play well starting, but for the moment he's more impactful as a sub.

 

[Noonz]

 

[higgik]

His acceleration works best against tired legs. Not saying he wouldn't play well starting, but for the moment he's more impactful as a sub.

Yes, perhaps playing earlier at 12 would have become a starter, even his awareness would have suited him.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

With Flatman's comments about the football boot wearing back3 falling over too much... I'm watching he football match at the moment, and they do seem to spend a lot of time falling over. Maybe there's something in it after all.

 

[Geordie]

So haven't seen a minute of this game and seen a few headlines. Pollock x 3 .

Apparently this Fiji team are awful.

So a meaningless game

 

[Geordie]

His acceleration works best against tired legs. Not saying he wouldn't play well starting, but for the moment he's more impactful as a sub.

Haven't seen any of this game yet but I'm not sure if agree with that...

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Pollock should be a starter to get the best of him. This nonsense about tired legs is just nonsense, he’s shown that he can keep that pace etc up for 80 minutes.

The question is, is he a better player than pepper (if he’s our 7) and does he offer that physicality that we need so much of (as we are coving players like George etc who offer nothing).

As for Fiji, we smashed them but most of the game they had 14 players and they played really poorly.

Not much learnt but a better style/ tactics in part. Let’s see if we back it up next week.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Pepper to 6, Chessum to the row, Coles to the bench

Pepper isn't playing like a 7 and his work in the tight has come on a lot

 

[Geordie]

Pepper to 6, Chessum to the row, Coles to the bench

Pepper isn't playing like a 7 and his work in the tight has come on a lot

Are you suggesting

4. Martin
5. Chessum
6 Pepper
7 Pollock
8 Earl

I could go along with that.

Ps is it worth watching the match or just catching the highlights?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Are you suggesting

4. Martin
5. Chessum
6 Pepper
7 Pollock
8 Earl

I could go along with that.

Ps is it worth watching the match or just catching the highlights?

Could be one of the fastest back rows in the world, which in theory should mean no excuses at all for not being the first to rucks.

In practice...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Are you suggesting

4. Martin
5. Chessum
6 Pepper
7 Pollock
8 Earl

I could go along with that.

Ps is it worth watching the match or just catching the highlights?

Yeah - in theory it's a little lightweight in the backrow, and probably should've been used vs Fiji if it was gonna be trialled, but I still wanna see how it goes

Probably just highlights, I struggled to pay attention to it tbh - it was a complete mismatch from the off and the red card just made it a pointless training exercise

 

[Reiser99]

Isn't that the back row that Ireland dominated?

 

[AlRums]

So haven't seen a minute of this game and seen a few headlines. Pollock x 3 .

Apparently this Fiji team are awful.

So a meaningless game

Yep, Fiji were awful.

There is no question that England could, should and did win.

The margin belied the fact that half the match was against a 14 man Fijian who were dreadful from the start.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Isn't that the back row that Ireland dominated?

For a few minutes only I think. Curry started at 6.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No Martin in the row, as well

 

[Scotty]

Are you suggesting

4. Martin
5. Chessum
6 Pepper
7 Pollock
8 Earl

I could go along with that.

Ps is it worth watching the match or just catching the highlights?

Id actually like that because Pollock wouldn't be the primary hard carrier as Earl Martin and Chessum would be playing that role and allow him to roam and hit the lines he wants to getting the best out of him. And he's good over the ball too.

 

[Reiser99]

My issue is that's all about attack which is the least of our issues. Defence and the breakdown are bigger issues and better teams will continue to exploit that. No point having Pollock out wide if we have slow ruck ball.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Pollock is the form breakdown threat in the squad though - play him at 7 and tell him to compete for everything

What's the alternative? Go back to Curry at 7? He looks slow and possibly(/probably) injured - realistically being used like a 6 too, tbf. Got through a ton of work vs SA but how many breakdown interventions? Would be surprised if he had one proper attempted jackal under his belt that game
Continue with Pepper at 7? Not really been much of a breakdown threat, playing more like a hard hitting 6
Earl at 7 and CCS at 8?

**** maybe the issue isn't the personnel is Curry and Pepper are getting literally nothing at the breakdown