Fiji’s 17-12 comeback win over Georgia means they are now almost certain to qualify for the World Cup’s quarter-finals for only the third time and face England in the last eight.
The Pacific Islanders beat Steve Borthwick’s side in a tournament warm-up clash in August. Simon Raiwalui’s men have continued their good form in France.
Here’s what Borthwick would have learned from Fiji’s latest success…
Fiji don’t like expectation
Fiji thrive in the position of the underdog. When they were expected to win against Georgia, they nearly fluffed their lines.
Fiji struggled under the weight of expectation in the position as favourites against Georgia
Fiji were awful in the first half as they came under pressure against the Lelos who were fantastic. Given they beat England in their last meeting and their performances in France to date, many will make Fiji favourites to beat Borthwick’s side.
After the Georgia game, you have to question whether they will be able to handle that pressure.
‘You could feel it,’ said Fiji’s Northampton hooker Sam Matavesi, admitting the expectation which was on his team before Georgia had a big impact.
England can target the line-out
Fiji struggled badly at the line-out against Georgia, losing five of their 16 throw-ins. Matavesi struggled to find his jumpers, particularly in the first half.
As a former lock and set-piece guru, if there is one thing Borthwick knows inside out it is how to dissect a line-out. The England boss will know his team can put pressure on the Fijian set-piece.
The likes of Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes must compete on Fiji throws.
‘Our line-out wasn’t good enough, we were losing collisions, but we still won,’ said Matavesi.
‘In the past with Fiji I’ve been in games where we haven’t been able to find a way to come back so to win and still be on course for what we want is a massive credit to this team.’
Levani Botia is a BIG threat
Breakdown menace Levani Botia is Fiji’s star man. Raiwalui can call on dangerous backs in Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova, but it is Botia that England must try and keep quiet.
He is a menace at the breakdown but as effective in wide areas as in contact. He is immensely physical. Botia’s stunning offload when under pressure from four Georgia tacklers created Fiji’s match-winning try.
‘I haven’t been through winning games with Fiji and getting to the quarter-final of the World Cup,’ said the La Rochelle forward.
‘It means a lot for us. We’ve got nothing. We have each other here. We see each other as a family. We play to represent ourselves, our families, our culture and our brothers.
‘I’m proud and so happy I got my chance to play for Fiji at the World Cup.’
Levani Botia is a menace at the breakdown but as effective in wide areas as in contact
Georgia knocked Fiji off their stride
Fiji are an immensely powerful side. They thrive when their dangerous backs can play off their forward carriers. England will have noted that part of the reason Fiji struggled against Georgia was because the Lelos forced them into mistakes by stopping them on the gainline.
Georgia were incredibly physical, putting in a mammoth 197 tackles. It wasn’t just the number of hits but the size of them. Fiji were left shocked and knocked out of their rhythm.
Doing so is no easy task, but England must try to repeat the trick. ‘At half-time we knew we needed to start winning some collisions and start going forward,’ said Matavesi. ‘We were hitting quite close to the ruck and then going wide without really owning it. It was easy to defend but all credit to Georgia. I thought they were outstanding.’
Ford or Farrell must expose Fiji at No 10
Fiji lost first-choice fly-half Caleb Muntz for the whole World Cup on the eve of the tournament after he suffered a serious injury.
Teti Tela is his No 10 replacement, but the truth is he is not a top-class playmaker. Tela’s kicking from hand is poor.
Back up fly-half Teti Tela is not a top-class playmaker and England must put him under pressure
Fiji are also a little bit inconsistent off the tee with Simione Kuruvoli and Frank Lomani their place kicking options.
Whether it’s George Ford or Owen Farrell at No 10 for England, they must ram home their advantage against Tela. If England put him under pressure, it will stop Fiji getting the ball to the likes of Radradra.
‘There are a few things we can improve. We don’t expect it to be an easy game against Portugal and I think that’s a good thing,’ Botia said.
‘We feel it is going to prepare us for the quarter-final. We can’t be in our comfort zone – we need to push up a little bit. We don’t listen to what the people or the media say. That’s their job.
‘Our job is to keep performing to get through to the quarter-finals. It’s not going to be easy.’
Lomani added: ‘England are a better side. We don’t worry about outside noise. ‘We just focus on every game as a final. Even if we play England in a quarter-final, we are just going to play how we play.’
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