‘Proud’ Fiji defeat England for first time to send World Cup warning

England's Marcus Smith (R) beats Fiji's Lekima Tagitagivalu to score a try during the pre-2023 World Cup warm-up rugby union match between England and Fiji at Twickenham Stadium in southwest London – AFP

TWICKENHAM (AFP): Fiji beat England for the first time with a 30-22 victory at Twickenham on Saturday as the hosts completed a woeful Rugby World Cup warm-up campaign.

The Pacific islanders, 8-3 down at half-time, fully deserved their win as both teams scored three tries. The reverse means England head to the World Cup in France on a run of five defeats in six matches.

Fiji were 12 points ahead early in the second half. Although England closed to within a point, the visitors pulled clear with a try seven minutes from time by replacement Simione Kuruvoli.

England desperately needed a win ahead of a tough Pool D World Cup opener against Argentina in Marseille on 9 September, but instead suffered a defeat that raised fresh questions about their defence.

Fiji, meanwhile, will be buoyant in the run-up to a World Cup they begin against Wales –the team they knocked out in 2007 in France –in Bordeaux on 10 September.

The contest drew 56,854 spectators a far smaller attendance than the more than 80,000 that watched world champions South Africa inflict a record 35-7 defeat upon New Zealand at Twickenham on Friday.