World Cup Preview: England v Fiji
England‘s quarter-final destiny will be decided by their final group game against Fiji in Hull on Saturday.
A win would secure a second place finish, and a quarter-final at the DW Stadium in Wigan next Saturday night, while a defeat will send them to Warrington on Sunday week.
The opponents won’t be known until Monday night, when France take on Samoa. The loser of that match will play the winner of the England–Fiji clash, and vice-versa.
Steve McNamara has made three changes to his side, bringing in Michael McIlorum, Sam Burgess and Lee Mossop, in place of James Roby, Tom Burgess and Gareth Widdop.
These two sides have met at a World Cup before. England went home 46-0 winners in 1995 at Wigan, with Jason Robinson scoring a brace of tries. Five years later, it was a youthful Jamie Peacock who grabbed a hat-trick, as England ran away 66-10 winners, with Lote Tuqiri scoring a try in reply for Fiji.
Both sides have recorded a victory over Ireland in this competition so far, England 42-0 last Saturday, and Fiji 32-14 the previous Monday at Rochdale.
England squad: Carl Ablett (Leeds), Tom Briscoe (Hull), George Burgess (Souths), Sam Burgess (Souths), Rob Burrow (Leeds), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Liam Farrell (Wigan), Brett Ferres (Huddersfield), James Graham (Canterbury), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Chris Hill (Warrington), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Lee Mossop (Wigan), Sean O’Loughlin (Wigan), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Kallum Watkins (Leeds), Ben Westwood (Warrington).
Fiji squad: Peni Botiki (Saru), Jayson Bukuya (Cronulla), Petero Civoniceva (Redcliffe), Kane Evans (Canterbury), Aaron Groom (North Sydney), Apisai Koroisau (South Sydney), Daryl Millard (Catalan), Ryan Millard (Burwood), Kevin Naiqama (Newcastle), Waisale Ligani Naiqama (Penrith), Vitale Junior Roqica (Cronulla), Ashton Sims (North Queensland), Korbin Sims (Newcastle), Tariq Sims (North Queensland), James Storer (Collegians), Akuila Uate (Newcastle), Eloni Vunakece (Toulouse), Sisa Ledua Waqa (Melbourne), Semi Radradra Turgasoli Waqavata (Parramatta)
