FIJI v ENGLAND

10.11.2012

Venue: Twickenham

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Preview
The difference between these two teams is the amount of preparation time available. For England it has been weeks, for Fiji days. Only at Rugby World Cup finals can teams like Fiji pull all there players together for some lengthy team bonding and training.

Fiji is still at a rebuilding stage after the disaster that was their 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.

I’d expect England, even without some top players, to be too good in the end against Fiji.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: England 6th, Fiji 12th

IRB Ranking Points
England 83.09, Fiji 70.60

Prediction: England by 30 points

TEAMS

England
15 Alexander Goode, 14 Charles Sharples, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Tobias Flood, 9 Daniel Care, 8 Thomas Waldrom,
7 Christopher Robshaw, Capt. 6 Thomas Johnson, 5 Geoffrey Parling,
4 Thomas Palmer, 3 Daniel Cole, 2 Thomas Youngs*, 1 Joseph Marler.
Replacements
16 David Paice, 17 Mako Vunipola*, 18 Joseph Launchbury*, 19 Thomas Wood, 20 Benjamin Youngs, 21 Owen Farrell, 22 Michael Brown.
Head Coach:
* New caps

Fiji
15 Simeli Koniferedi, 14 Samu Wara*, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Sireli Naqelevuki, 11 Watisoni Votu, 10 Metuisela Talebula, 9 Nicola Matawalu,
8 Akapusi Qera, 7 Malaki Ravulo, 6 Api Naikatani, 5 Apisolame Ratuniyarawa*, 4 Leone Nakawara, 3 Deacon Manu, Capt. 2 Viliame Veikoso, 1 Ratu Makutu.
Replacements
16 Seremaia Naureure, 17 Setafano Samoca, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Sekonaia Kalou, 20 Iliesa Ratuva, 21 Kelemedi Bola, 22 Joshua Matavesi, 23 Ravai Fatiaki.
Head Coach: Inkike Male
* New caps