England cruise past Fiji in Nations Championship as Henry Pollock scores hat-trick in record victory

England returned to winning ways in the Nations Championship with a dominant 73-8 victory over Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, ending a run of five consecutive Test defeats against the Pacific Islanders.

A second-half hat-trick from replacement Henry Pollock helped England secure their biggest ever win over Fiji, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Noah Caluori also scoring their first Test tries.

The result saw England bounce back from last weekend’s defeat by South Africa and avoid what would have been their worst losing run in two decades.

Steve Borthwick’s side were helped by Fiji playing more than half the match with 14 men after scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Ellis Genge following a tackle.

England took advantage of the extra space and produced their most convincing attacking display of the summer, with Marcus Smith, Jamie George, Guy Pepper, Seb Atkinson, Slade, Feyi-Waboso and Pollock all crossing the whitewash.

Fiji had famously beaten England at Twickenham in 2023 and pushed them close again in that year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, while they also stayed competitive during their autumn meeting before eventually losing 38-18.

However, this time there was little sign of another upset as Fiji struggled with discipline, set-piece issues and defensive organisation throughout the contest.

England started with attacking intent and were rewarded after just minutes when Marcus Smith opened the scoring. A cross-field kick from Fin Smith appeared destined to go into touch, but it bounced off the corner flag and back into play, allowing Marcus Smith to collect and finish.

The visitors struggled to contain England’s attacking ambition, with the hosts making the most of the space available against a Fiji defence that lacked structure.

Jamie George powered over for England’s second try after a strong driving maul, with Feyi-Waboso, Atkinson and Henry Slade among those contributing to the score.

Guy Pepper then added a third after Fiji lost Levani Botia to the sin bin, before debutant Benhard Janse van Rensburg finished off another attack with a powerful run from close range.

Atkinson extended England’s advantage further after excellent work from Marcus Smith and Jack van Poortvliet, sending England into the interval with a commanding 35-3 lead.

Fiji appeared to have found a late first-half response through Kalaveti Ravouvou, but the score was ruled out after the Television Match Official spotted Kuruvoli’s kick on Genge. Referee Hollie Davidson showed the Fiji scrum-half a red card, leaving his side with 14 players for the remainder of the match.

Despite Fiji scoring first after the break through captain Tevita Ikanivere, England continued to dominate as the game became increasingly open.

Pollock, introduced from the bench in the 48th minute, made an immediate impact. The 21-year-old scored his first try after winning the race to a loose kick ahead before adding a second with a brilliant arcing run past Salesi Rayasi.

The Northampton Saints forward completed his hat-trick in the final minute, powering through a tiring Fiji defence to take his Test tally to six tries in 12 appearances.

Pollock celebrated his final score by copying Jude Bellingham’s trademark goal celebration, although his next challenge will be a tougher one when England travel to face Argentina.

England also had to finish the match without a specialist scrum-half after Alex Mitchell suffered a hamstring injury, ruling him out of next weekend’s fixture. Fin Smith and Marcus Smith shared duties at nine, with Marcus adapting impressively despite not having trained in the position at international level.

The victory gives England momentum ahead of their trip to Argentina, while Borthwick will now consider whether Pollock has done enough to earn a starting role after another eye-catching performance from the bench.

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