Bomb Squad do it again, Maro Itoje's influence missed and who starts against New Zealand? England v Fiji Quilter Nations Series storylines
Updated 08/11/2025 at 21:24 GMT
What did England's display against Fiji tell us? Steve Borthwick had a look at a few new combinations and will likely have long conversations with his staff ahead of welcoming New Zealand to Allianz Stadium next week. Henry Arundell burned his way into the conversation with a wonderful cameo, but will it be enough to get him a starting spot? Watch England v New Zealand next Saturday on TNT Sports.
Highlights: England recover to down flamboyant Fijians in cracker
Video credit: TNT Sports
Itoje influence missed?
Under Maro Itoje's leadership - with the lock installed as skipper last January - England have only lost one game, to Ireland in the first game of this year's Six Nations.
The 31-year-old also presided over a glorious, victorious British & Irish Lions tour as captain, as he demonstrated his growing ability to lead at the very highest level of the sport.
With those skills in mind and as someone with such a consistent starting record for England, it is - therefore - perhaps no surprise his team struggled at times in their 38-18 Quilter Nations Series win over Fiji on Saturday night without his quiet presence calling the shots, especially in defensive set-pieces where his side looked unusually vulnerable.
They also seemed strangely susceptible after scoring, as twice they conceded tries within four minutes of doing so. Would that have happened with Itoje at the helm? Impossible to say, but there was a hearty roar when he came on with minutes left, and as if to underline his importance as a forward, not just a leader, he ploughed over from close range to put the game totally safe.
Getting him fully fit for next week's showdown with the All Blacks will be Steve Borthwick's big hope.
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Earl insists Fiji win was 'one of the hardest games' of career
Video credit: TNT Sports
Bomb Squad do it again
The impact was perhaps not quite as stunning as against Australia, but it was still noticeable how England pushed the accelerator down when throwing on Tom Curry, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Fin Baxter, Jamie George and, yes, Henry Pollock on 53 minutes.
George dotted down for a try not long after coming on, but it was the finishers' work around the pitch that made a difference too, launching themselves into tackles, cajoling their team-mates and flying up in the defensive line to counter the powerful Fiji threat.
And though he might have come on solo a little while later, it was Henry Arundell who ignited the crowd the most, torching the turf in a display of raw gas to get England's fifth, clinching try.
It might have been no surprise to fans of the Gallagher PREM who have seen him do that for Bath on a regular basis so far this term since returning from Racing 92, but it was nonetheless some sight to witness that searing pace, and no little guile, to outwit the Fijian defence and latch onto Marcus Smith's kick through for his try.
With each week that passes, these players continue to make their case for starting spots.
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What is autumn about?
Is the autumn about starting your best team and winning games, or experimenting and building squad depth? With seven changes from their win over Australia - some, admittedly, injury-enforced - it felt like England went more towards the latter on Saturday evening.
And it was something of a mixed bag from the side Borthwick put out onto the field, with the visitors bringing a combination of power and poise that drove them back into the game after England's early score had suggested it could be a one-sided contest.
After Fiji's Selestino Ravutaumada saw yellow for a clumsy collision with an airborn Manny Feyi-Waboso, England snuck into a half-time lead, but it was rarely comfortable, even in the second half as a try from Ellis Genge was swiftly cancelled out by Tevita Ikanivere.
But, having experimented and also won, it was arguably a win-win for Borthwick and his men, as they look ahead to bigger tests - the 2027 World Cup being one - coming slowly over the horizon.
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Genge 'hammers over the line' after brilliant break from Lawrence
Video credit: TNT Sports
Who starts against the All Blacks?
This was something ex-England scrum-half Danny Care called "the million-dollar question" in the week.
Does Borthwick revert to most of the team who started against Australia? Who advanced their case against Fiji? How much depends on the medical report, that Borthwick so often cites in his post-match press duties?
It seems likely that George Ford will come back in at No. 10, but the make-up of the centres will be one interesting area to monitor, with Fraser Dingwall playing two hard matches in a row already, and the likes of Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence and potentially even Henry Slade to feature in the conversation.
Itoje will surely come back into the second row, while on the wing, Arundell made a big splash in his short cameo to suggest he could come into the mix if Tom Roebuck does not make it back from his injury.
The All Blacks have beaten Ireland and Scotland in their QNS campaign so far, but have not always looked impregnable - the Allianz awaits next Saturday.
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Highlights: Scots miss out on history as McKenzie drags All Blacks over the line
Video credit: TNT Sports
Watch and stream every game of the Quilter Nations Series live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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