Paul Rees: England put on a show to take the heat off Steve Borthwick – for now

A recurring theme for England this year has been that indiscipline costs and it was the case again yesterday.

Except it was Fiji who gave away penalties and received cards, minds scrambled by the pulverising they took from the outset at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool yesterday.

Fiji had managed to concede six tries to Wales the week before and weaknesses they showed then up front and at the breakdown were ruthlessly exploited by England who, after a run of five successive defeats, went back to basics and played without frills until the final quarter.

When Levani Botia was sent to the sin-bin after 27 minutes for another offence at the breakdown, England were 14-3 ahead.

Contest over

By the time the back rower returned, two more tries had yielded a bonus point and the contest was over before scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli, who scored the decisive try when Fiji defeated England at Twickenham in 2023, received a straight red card on the stroke of half-time for kicking Ellis Genge on the floor when he was not being held by the prop.

It was a dumb act that summed up Fiji who indicated what was to come in the opening minute when, after winning a lineout, flanker Lekima Tagitagivalu knocked on with no one near him.

It was hotter in Liverpool than it was in Suva but instead of suiting the islanders, the heat seemed to sap them and such was their disjointed nature it was as if they had met up the night before the game.

The Nations Championship has given Fiji the chance to dine at the top table but they seem confused by the menu.

They took the kick-off yesterday and had the chance to put a side that had lost its last five matches to put the heat on its head coach to put them under pressure.

Instead of kicking to compete, Ollie Chessum had time to neck a bottle of water and Jack van Poortvliet enjoyed an unhurried kick to touch on halfway, looking to find touch rather than offer Fiji the chance to strike in broken play.

That was England’s theme, play in Fiji’s territory, and they added finishing power to it, whether through cross-kicks, driving mauls or pick-and-gos.

Take that: Marcus Smith and Henry Pollock, above, celebrate scoring for England
PICTURES: Getty Images

Poor

Fiji’s poor handling meant there was a surfeit of scrums and the islanders conceded seven penalties and a free-kick at the set-piece to compound their problems.

What was most impressive was England’s smothering defence which gave Fiji little joy through the middle.

They were quick off the line and aggressive, knocking back ball-carriers and preventing the off-loads the Fijians thrive on.

An example was when lock Tevita Ratuva was double tackled after nine minutes but tried to move the ball on rather than go to ground.

The ball went forward and England had a scrum, the rock on which they pounded Fiji in the opening half.

Instead of trying to solve problems, the Fijians compounded them by carrying on regardless and making the same mistakes, denying their dangerous back three a sniff of possession.

There were shades of this year’s England about them and the upshot was a match that was one-sided even before Fiji were reduced to 14 players.

It allowed Steve Borthwick to ease in two uncapped backs: Benhard van Rensburg scored with his first touch of the ball in Test rugby while Noah Caluori’s initial contribution was to provide Henry Slade with a try-scoring pass before he made it over the line himself.

Man in charge: Steve Borthwick

Set the tone

Marcus Smith, who opened the scoring by staying alert after Fin Smith’s cross-kick for Tommy Freeman hit the corner flag while full-back Salesi Rayasi gawped at the ball in a snapshot of what was to come, ended up at scrum-half after Alex Mitchell was injured 10 minutes after coming on and added to the flow.

Van Poortvliet enjoyed a lively 48 minutes, kicking accurately and moving the ball quickly when he needed to and his half-back partner Fin Smith set the tone with England breaking free when the match was won.

Henry Pollock came off the bench to score a hat-trick of tries through pace and speed of thought and he claimed the last of his side’s 11 tries in a record victory over Fiji.

England needed both the victory and the manner of the performance and victory in Argentina next week, where they have won their last six Tests, would set them up for the autumn leg when Australia, Japan and New Zealand all visit Twickenham.

Having failed to get a point in South Africa, it is likely to come down to the encounter with New Zealand who have started with two victories that showed there needs to be more to come.

Not that England will be looking that far ahead as they face another long-haul flight in what has been a brutal schedule for them this month.

Lively: Jack van Poortvliet

Door shut

It would have been even worse had Fiji had a ground fit for the tournament, something they have pledged to put right by 2030.

But given that Japan had to play Ireland in New South Wales yesterday to prevent their opponents from spending too many hours in the sky, so Fiji would probably have to play one of their home matches in Australia or New Zealand.

It is the difference between being invited guests and members, but at least they are in.

A repeat of the last two weeks at Murrayfield on Saturday will result in another heavy defeat even if Scotland are the team most likely to engage them in an open contest.

England kept the door shut in a single-minded display and while Fiji were shockingly poor, it was a result of their game being taken away from them.

In one sense there was nothing new for England who in the last few years have been effective when a game has gone according to script.

It is when they need to react on the hoof and adapt that they struggle, but the heat is off for now.

It will, though, take time to build up a bank of goodwill but it does make a difference when you keep 15 players on the field for the full 80.