Fiji have already beaten Australia and now have England in their sights… Mail Sport picks out three Fijians for Steve Borthwick’s men to fear ahead of Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final
Fiji face England in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup and have been impressive throughout their campaign so far, booking their place in the last 16 with a huge win over Australia and another against Georgia.
Simon Raiwalui’s side have also already beaten Steve Borthwick’s side this summer, securing their first ever victory against England in August, scoring three tries past the 2003 World Cup winners at Twickenham on the eve of the tournament .
It was an epic victory and, buoyed by this triumph, Fiji continued their good form, playing superb rugby to defeat Eddie Jones’ Australia 22-15 in the group stage.
Despite losing to Portugal in their last group stage exit, Fiji will be a very tough opponent for Borthwick’s side on Sunday.
And ahead of the quarter-final clash, Mail Sport’s Nik Simon has picked out three Fijian players England will need to be wary of.
Fiji face England in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup on Sunday in Marseille.
This is shaping up to be a huge clash, with Fiji having already beaten England in August in preparations for the World Cup.
Steve Borthwick’s side haven’t had the best World Cup campaign so far but will face a tough test from the Fijians who beat Australia to book their place in the last 16 final.
Levani Botia – The Jackal (Flanker)
It’s impossible to overstate how incredibly brilliant this flanker is. In La Rochelle, he is revered as a cult figure among the fervent supporters of the double European champions.
They chant his name during every match as the humble hero, nicknamed “Demolition Man”, wreaks havoc on opponents during the breakdown.
This is his domain. Having played centrally in the past, Botia is also a good runner and ball handler, but his main attribute is his ability to poach possession in the rucks. Nobody does it better. England is preparing for big problems.
Viliame ‘Bill’ Mata – The Unloader (No 8)
One of the stereotypical images of Fijian rugby at its best involves a lanky attacker rushing into contact, but then somehow managing to release the ball to a supporting teammate.
Levani Botia (left) is one of several players England will need to be wary of on Sunday. The flanker is one of the best jacklers in the game and can be a threat on breakdowns.
Viliame ‘Bill’ Mata (middle) will be a huge threat with the ball in hand, with the No.8 one of the best offloaders in the business.
Josua Tuisova (right) will be another player England will need to guard against, with the center a powerful ball carrier in midfield.
Leone Nakarawa was once the go-to guy for this particular trick and now Mata, Edinburgh’s imposing number 8, has taken over, despite being just one representative in a team full of stylish offloaders.
Josua Tuisova – ‘The Bus’ (Center)
Fiji’s 17th 8-pounder power carrier in midfield is a formidable weapon of mass destruction.
He’s short, stocky and strong, as well as explosive, meaning he can break tackles and also make monster shots of his own. It is also a major asset in the event of a breakdown, as its frame makes it difficult to move.