Jamie George: England’s World Cup experience key for Fiji quarter-final in Marseille

England were first beaten by Fiji in a warm-up match at Twickenham six weeks ago, losing 30-22; Jamie George: “We have a great group of senior players who are very open and honest with the younger players who might find it intimidating”

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England hooker Jamie George believes there will be a “very different” team to face Fiji in their last eight encounters than the one that narrowly won against Samoa.

Jamie George says England will draw on all their big-game experience to beat Fiji in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Marseille.

England have made the last 16 of the tournament in all but one edition – at home in 2015 – and reached the final four years ago when they lost 32-12 to South Africa in Japan.

On this 23rd day, there are currently 15 survivors in Steve Borthwick’s team who are continuing preparations for the confrontation at the Stade Vélodrome.

Owen Farrell and his England teammates look on after defeat to South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final

Fiji, meanwhile, are playing in the knockout stage for only the third time and the first since 2007, calling into question their ability to hold on when the pressure is on.

“We can’t hide the fact that it’s probably one of the most important games we’re going to play,” Saracens hooker George said.

“We have a lot of players who have been there and done that on big stages. We have players who have experience of a World Cup final and the latter stages of a World Cup and some players who play their fourth World Cup.

“We have a great group of senior players who are very open and honest with the younger players for whom it might be intimidating.

George believes England’s experienced players will need to step up and guide the youngsters through a “daunting” quarter-final against Fiji.

“But that’s what we’re here for. We want to play on the biggest stage, the quarter-finals of a World Cup is exactly where we want to be. Next week we want to be in the semi-finals And so on.

“It’s an exciting time and the more experienced players need to draw on their experiences and make sure everyone is in the right frame of mind heading into the weekend.”

If they manage to beat tournament favorites and underdogs Fiji to reach the semi-finals, England’s players would undoubtedly make themselves more unpopular than they already are. On Tuesday, Billy Vunipola described England as “the least favorite first team”.

George added. “Outside England, I think people probably don’t like us too much. And we’re OK with that.

“It’s not like we go to meetings and talk about us against the world. I think the main goal is to make sure that our fans are very proud of the work that we do. Other than that, We don’t care too much.”

Vunipola ‘quietly confident’ in rematch against Fiji

Earlier in the week, Vunipola said Aerial sports he is “quietly confident” England can gain revenge against Fiji six weeks after suffering their first ever defeat against them, losing 30-22 in a warm-up match at Twickenham.

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England’s Billy Vunipola says his side are quietly confident they can take revenge on Fiji.

Although Fiji suffered a shock defeat to Portugal to conclude the group stage, they pushed Wales close in their opening match and beat Australia 22-15 to finish second in the group vs.

England, meanwhile, have won all four of their World Cup matches since that humbling home defeat to the Pool D leaders, although they closed out the group stage with an angry 18-17 win over the Samoa.

“With complete confidence,” Vunipola said. “I don’t think the same Fiji that played against Georgia and Portugal will be the same ones that we face this weekend. We will prepare for the team that we played against six weeks ago, the team who played against Wales. and (beat) Australia, with all the threats they pose.

“Everyone knows if we lose we have to go home on Monday, so there’s definitely a little benefit to training.”

He added: “Now, at the end of the competition, we have to be ready. Especially for a big, physical team like Fiji.

“Six weeks ago they delivered and it wasn’t like they beat us on neutral ground, it was at home. We know what they bring and we will be ready for Sunday.”

Follow England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Fiji on Sky Sports’ digital platforms from 3.30pm on Sunday.