Preview: Red Roses vs Fiji
Things to know ahead of the Red Roses’ World Cup opener against Fiji at Eden Park.
The Red Roses take on Fiji in Auckland this weekend in their opening World Cup Test, as they aim to build on their impressive string of victories.
Get the latest Red Roses updates
| When? | Saturday 8 October |
| Where? | Eden Park, Auckland, NZ |
| Kick off? | 04:45 BST |
Sarah Hunter will captain the side at No 8, while Emily Scarratt is named vice-captain. Ellie Kildunne retains her spot at full back, while Claudia MacDonald starts on the wing, as Loughborough Lightning’s Sadia Kabeya claims the open-side flanker position.
Named among the finishers, Abby Dow could be set to make her first appearance since suffering a broken leg against Wales in the 2022 TikTok Women’s Six Nations in April.
You can watch the match live on ITV, follow updates on England Rugby's Instagram and Twitter, and check out the reaction on EnglandRugby.com.
TEAMS
Red Roses
15. Ellie Kildunne
14. Lydia Thompson
13. Emily Scarratt
12. Helena Rowland
11. Claudia MacDonald
10. Zoe Harrison
9. Leanne Infante
1. Vickii Cornborough
2. Amy Cokayne
3. Sarah Bern
4. Zoe Aldcroft
5. Abbie Ward
6. Alex Matthews
7. Sadia Kabeya
8. Sarah Hunter
Finishers
16. Connie Powell
17. Hannah Botterman
18. Maud Muir
19. Cath O'Donnell
20. Poppy Cleall
21. Lucy Packer
22. Holly Aitchison
23. Abby Dow
Fiji
15. Roela Radiniyavuni
14. Alowesi Nakoci
13. Rajieli Laqeretabua
12. Sesenieli Donu
11. Vitalina Naikore
10. Merewalesi Rokouono
9. Lavena Cavuru
1. Iris Verebalavu
2. Vika Maturugu
3. Siteri Rasolea
4. Asinate Serevi
5. Sereima Leweniqila (C)
6. Sulita Waisega
7. Ema Adivitaloga
8. Karalaini Naisewa
Replacements
16. Bitila Tawake
17. Bulou Vasuturaga
18. Mereoni Vonosere
19. Merevesi Ofakimalino
20. Raijieli Daveua
21. Akosita Ravato
22. Ana Maria Roqica
23. Melaia Matanatabu
VIEWS FROM CAMP
Simon Middleton: “We’ve received a brilliant welcome in New Zealand and the welcome ceremony on Monday was a spectacular occasion. There was incredible energy and enthusiasm in the room and it was an event we will all remember.
“We’ve selected an experienced match day 23 who we feel are in a good position to get our campaign off to a strong start. We know we could have selected any of the wider squad and there are nine players this week with a key supporting role.
“It’s a privilege to come up against a team in their first-ever World Cup match. We know they have talented players and we’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s great to hear over 30,000 tickets have been sold for the opening day too.
“I’m really pleased with the group effort in training and we can’t wait to get started at an iconic venue in Eden Park on Saturday.”
Connie Powell: "There are two things that spring to mind straight away, which is their passion and physicality. I think that's two things they really bring and at the opening ceremony you could see in all of their faces.
"I think they'll bring back a lot of passion and a lot of physicality, but we're more than ready for it as a team."
Sarah Hunter: “Our focus is Fiji, we won’t get ahead of ourselves and start thinking about quarters, semis and finals because our intention is very much Fiji, then it’ll move to France and then South Africa. As soon as you start thinking beyond that, that is when you become complacent, that’s when things slip up and go wrong.”
RECENT RESULTS
14.09.22: England 73-7 Wales
03.09.22: England 52-14 USA
30.04.22: France 12-24 England
24.04.22: England 69-0 Ireland
09.04.22: Wales 5-58 England
STATS & FACTS
This will be the first-ever meeting between England and Fiji on the international stage.
The Red Roses have won 25 matches in a row, an all-time record for any England senior team, with those wins having come by an average margin of 39 points.
England scored 45 tries during this year’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations, more than any other side.
England are the only team to have reached the last four in every single edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
Red Roses defeat Fiji in World Cup opener
The Red Roses started their 2021 Rugby World Cup campaign with a bonus-point 84-19 win over Fiji at Eden Park.
In their Pool C opener in Auckland, England ran in 14 tries in their first ever meeting with Fiji to extend their record-breaking run of Test wins to 26 in a row.
In overcast, mild but dry conditions in New Zealand, England took the lead inside five minutes when Claudia MacDonald hit an excellent line down the blindside off the back of a driving maul to stroll in.
A lineout driving maul was the source of the next try, Amy Cokayne starting and finishing a powerful forward effort from six metres out, before Abbie Ward grabbed England’s third on 27 minutes when some tight pick and drives saw the lock go over – Emily Scarratt slotted her first conversion of the day from the tee.
Fiji got their first ever points at a Rugby World Cup after a break from inside their own half saw the ball spun to wing Alowesi Nakoci, who raced in to a delighted home crowd.
In the face of a hard-hitting and physical Fijian defence, England got their bonus-point score after Sadia Kabeya hit a superb line on the halfway line, and as she was tackled five metres out she freed her arms to feed Helena Rowland to walk in – Scarratt added two more points with the conversion.
That was not the last of the scoring in the first half after some excellent individual play by Sesenieli Donu, who broke England’s defence and handed off challenges to cross the line. With Lavena Cavuru converting both of Fiji’s tries, the score sat 24-14 at the break.
England's fifth came just two minutes into the second half, Amy Cokayne again starting and finishing a lineout maul to mark her 27th try in 65 Tests.
World Rugby player of the year Zoe Aldcroft was next on the scoresheet as the lock finished off some smart handling play with a dummy that saw a gap appear for her to dot down under the sticks, with Scarratt converting.
Lydia Thompson was next to cross after a break from MacDonald, who was brought down a couple of metres short of the line. Fellow wing Thompson picked up off the back of the resultant ruck to dive over. Just a few minutes later Thompson grabbed her second, this time beating three defenders down the right wing to cross.
The 54th minute saw the introduction of wing Abby Dow, playing her first game in five-and-a-half months in a remarkable turnaround from breaking her leg in a TikTok Women’s Six Nations game against Wales in April. She produced a typical brilliant finish just a few minutes later, sidestepping two defenders in barely any space and then sprinting in down the right.
MacDonald’s second came just before Dow’s score after from some smart handling by Ward and Scarratt to finish on the left wing, before Leanne Infante’s interception off the back of a Fiji lineout close to their own line secured England’s 11th try.
Exeter wing MacDonald grabbed her hat-trick off the back of a dominating driving maul. The ball was spun back to Zoe Harrison whose crossfield kick found the number 11 unmarked and she had the simplest of tasks to finish.
England’s driving maul was again too much for Fiji’s pack as Connie Powell crossed for her third try in six caps, before MacDonald’s fourth was arguably the try of the day. Picking the ball up inside her own half, she slalomed through a number of defenders to go over and Zoe Harrison’s conversion took England to 84 points.
Fiji got a consolation score with the final play after some smart play from their scrum half Cavuru close to the line, but it would not detract from an impressive afternoon for the Red Roses.
With three games played at Eden Park on the opening day of the tournament, England were the second match of three matches that sold out all the seats available.
England extend their World Record Test wins in a row to 26, having not been defeated since July 2019 when they lost to New Zealand in San Diego, and will look to continue their record of reaching the semi-final in each Rugby World Cup.
Simon Middleton’s side face France, who beat South Africa in their opener, in their second pool game on Saturday, 15 October (KO 0800 BST) followed by South Africa on Saturday, 22 October (KO 0545 BST).
TEAMS
Red Roses
15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Lydia Thompson, 13. Emily Scarratt, 12. Helena Rowland, 11. Claudia MacDonald, 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Leanne Infante, 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Sarah Bern, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Abbie Ward , 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Sadia Kabeya, 8. Sarah Hunter.
Finishers
16. Connie Powell, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Maud Muir, 19. Cath O'Donnell, 20. Poppy Cleall, 21. Lucy Packer, 22. Holly Aitchison, 23. Abby Dow.
Fiji
15. Roela Radiniyavuni, 14. Alowesi Nakoci, 13. Rajieli Laqeretabua, 12. Sesenieli Donu, 11. Vitalina Naikore, 10. Merewalesi Rokouono, 9. Lavena Cavuru, 1. Iris Verebalavu, 2. Vika Maturugu, 3. Siteri Rasolea, 4. Asinate Serevi, 5. Sereima Leweniqila (C), 6. Sulita Waisega, 7. Ema Adivitaloga, 8. Karalaini Naisewa.
Replacements
16. Bitila Tawake, 17. Bulou Vasuturaga, 18. Mereoni Vonosere, 19. Merevesi Ofakimalino, 20. Raijieli Daveua, 21. Akosita Ravato, 22. Ana Maria Roqica, 23. Melaia Matanatabu.
Rugby World Cup fixtures and results
Red Roses 84-19 Fiji
Red Roses v France: Saturday 15 October - KO 0800 BST
Red Roses v South Africa: Sunday 23 October - KO 0545 BST
