The England rugby team successfully avenged their previous 22-30 loss to Fiji in 2023, overpowering the Flying Fijians with an 38-18 victory at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in London. Following the match, Fijian captain Tevita Ikanivere expressed his disappointment, citing disciplinary errors as a critical factor in the team’s defeat.
Ikanivere conveyed that the desired outcome eluded them, particularly as the discipline on the field deteriorated towards the end of the match. He reflected, “Yes, as you said, not the result we wanted. Quite disappointed, I suppose, (with) the discipline we had towards the end.” The game saw yellow cards issued to players Selestino Ravutaumada and Josua Tuisova at the 35th and 59th minutes, respectively. Despite conceding eight penalties, Fiji’s discipline issues mirrored those of England, who conceded nine but avoided any cards.
Looking ahead, Ikanivere assured that the team would focus on minimizing such issues in preparation for their next match against France this Sunday. “We’ll be better for it next week in France,” he said, maintaining an optimistic outlook on their upcoming challenge.
Statistical highlights from the game revealed that Fiji held the lead for only 17 minutes, while England dominated with 75% of the game in the lead. England capitalized on their scoring opportunities with six tries, four of which were successfully converted. On the other hand, Fiji managed to land three tries accompanied by a penalty goal from fly-half Caleb Muntz in the 30th minute.
The match illustrates not only England’s growing dominance but also the areas that Fiji must refine as they prepare for their encounter with France at Stade Matmut-Atlantique in Bordeaux on Sunday at 8:10 AM. Meanwhile, the French side also suffered a loss, going down 32-17 against South Africa, setting the stage for a competitive matchup.
As Fiji aims to regroup and build on their efforts, fans remain hopeful that the team will demonstrate resilience and skill, capitalizing on their strengths to achieve better results in future matches.
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