Fiji piled more misery into England and made history by claiming a first-ever victory over the Roses in a World Cup warm-up at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Pacific islanders fully deserved their 30-22 win in a match where both teams scored three tries.
HISTORYđź‘Š#FIJIWaterFlyingFijians#duavataveilomanirakavi pic.twitter.com/XDAj2CBg7n
— Fiji Rugby Union (@fijirugby) August 26, 2023
Fiji were 12 points ahead early in the second half and although England closed to within a point, the visitors pulled clear with a try seven minutes from time by replacement Simione Kuruvoli.
England desperately needed a win ahead of a tough Pool D World Cup opener against Argentina in Marseille on September 9.
Fiji, meanwhile will be in buoyant mood in the run-up to a World Cup they begin against Wales — the team they knocked out of the 2007 edition in France — in Bordeaux on September 10.
FIJIAN FOLKLORE🇫🇯💣
Fiji beat England for the first time in the fixture’s history!
Final score: England 22-30 Fiji pic.twitter.com/olrGfGEMCk
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) August 26, 2023
8 – @fijirugby have beaten England for the first time ever in what was the 8th meeting between the two sides, with England becoming the 8th Tier 1 nation that the Flying Fijians have defeated – it was England’s first ever loss against a Tier 2 nation in men’s Test rugby. Upset. pic.twitter.com/ewJbLgZAnS
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) August 26, 2023
This reverse means that England will head to the World Cup in France on a run of five defeats in six matches.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
