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England player ratings vs Fiji | Quilter Nations Series 2025
By Josh Raisey at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
England player ratings: England made it two from two in the Quilter Nations Series, with a 38-18 victory over Fiji at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
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Steve Borthwick’s side were made to work for it again, though, with the bench coming to the fore yet again.
Here’s how the players rated:
15. Marcus Smith – 7
Handed a start at full-back with Freddie Steward injured and looked assured in the role. With both George Ford and Fin Smith playing so well at fly-half, this is probably the best way Marcus Smith will earn a start against the All Blacks and he made a good account of himself. Showed he is much more than just a playmaker, running a few lines that were millimetres away from a break, but did not necessarily look to be singing from the same hymn sheet as his fellow backs. That was a problem across the back line, however. Kept testing the Fijian defence though, and was rewarded with an assist for Henry Arundell’s try with a long kick downfield.
14. Tommy Freeman – 7
Shifted back to the wing with Tom Roebuck’s injury, and enjoyed himself in the open space he was given rather than crashing the ball through the middle last week. Then again, he certainly did not hug the touchline all match, he found himself distributing with several players outside him, putting his quick handling on display. England lost their way a bit in the first half, and Freeman’s tackle in the air was symptomatic of the panic which was setting in. England’s third, where they began to pull away, came from a nice link up with Ben Earl.
13. Ollie Lawrence – 7.5
Making his first appearance for England since rupturing his Achilles on the same turf against Italy in the Six Nations, and was reprising his partnership with Fraser Dingwall that was starting to blossom earlier in the year. Often found himself receiving the ball under a lot of pressure, which was a sign that England’s back line wasn’t running as smoothly as it would have liked. Some nice touches in attack though, and was the catalyst for England’s third try with a run where he showed his footwork and power.
12. Fraser Dingwall – 6.5
Given the unenviable task of marking Josua Tuisova, but handled the task well. Looked more comfortable alongside Fin Smith, often operating as a first-receiver with Fin Smith, and even Alex Mitchell, wrapping round. Cannot be faulted for trying to put speed on the ball when taking the ball to the line, but it didn’t always come off.
11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso – 7
Starved of the ball against the Wallabies, but was gifted possession far more this week and unsurprisingly came away with a try. A daft escort line gave Fiji the penalty from which they scored their opening try from, and guilty of taking Salesi Rayasi out in the air seconds into the second half. Needless and costly. Came away from being taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, and that only seemed to fire up with Exeter Chief, and he was scoring minutes later when on the end of a Fin Smith cross-field kick. Discipline did affect his score.
10. Fin Smith – 7
England’s playmaker this week, and did not put in a display which demanded the No.10 shirt against the All Blacks next week. Went quiet when England were struggling in the first half, and couldn’t help wrestle back the momentum, but stepped his game up a notch, delivering the cross-field kick for England’s second try. Looked more comfortable in the second half, though he paid the price for dithering with the ball at one point. Showed his defensive acumen again with Tuisova rampaging down his channel. Place kicking was not perfect, but his missed kicks were from awkward angles.
9. Alex Mitchell – 6.5
Had a half-break down the blindside in Fiji’s 22, but popped it to no one when expecting Freeman to be on his shoulder. Embodied how things weren’t quite clicking for England. Left with too much to defend on the blindside as Fiji scored their third try. Solid, without setting the game alight.
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1. Ellis Genge – 7
Captaining England in Maro Itoje’s stead, and led from the front, bringing all that fire and venom he showed against the British and Irish Lions, particularly in defence, where he led the tackle count, 13, before leaving the field on 53 minutes. With that said, he burrowed over for a try to extend England’s lead in the second half. Didn’t get any advantage in the scrum.
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie – 7
A bright try-scoring cameo from the bench last week saw the Sale Sharks star handed a start, and he was on the scoreboard again inside the first 10 minutes, barrelling over the line from close range. Busy defensive effort, with 10 tackles, but was penalised for a neck roll to stultify a glimmer of momentum England had early in the second half. Perfect lineout display cannot be faulted.
3. Joe Heyes – 6
Gained no ascendency in the scrum, where he may have wanted to profit, but another industrious defensive display, putting in double-digits in tackles during his 50 minutes.
4. Alex Coles – 7
Filling some formidable shoes in the second-row this week and did a lot of hard work in the tight, especially his efforts in England’s driving mauls. Gifted Fiji three points to extend their lead with a needless ruck infringement when England needed calm heads. Ripped the ball from Jiuta Wainiqolo’s clutches in one eye-catching moment. Made the most tackles of all forwards on the field with 14 tackles.
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5. Ollie Chessum – 7
Kept bursting out the line to meet Fijian carriers in the tight and ploughed into ruck after ruck. England’s go-to option in the lineout in his 70 minutes on the field too.
6. Guy Pepper – 6.5
Put an abrupt end to a promising Fijian attack with a crunching shot on Salesi Rayasi on 20 minutes, albeit he did knock-on in the tackle, and his contribution was largely reserved to the defensive side of the game during his 53-minute spell.
7. Ben Earl – 8
At openside this week after No.8 against the Wallabies, but, after plenty of talk about moving in the centres, the Saracens looked like a midfielder in every way but in name out there, frequently receiving the ball outside Fin Smith. Topped England’s tackle charts again, 15, with carries in all areas.
8. Chandler Cunningham-South – 8.5
Starting for England at No.8 for the first time in his 19th appearance and brought a different style at the back of the scrum, more akin to the ‘Tom Willis role’ in contrast to Earl last week. Horses for courses, maybe, but showed he is more than capable at operating at No.8 with some robust carries in tight spaces, while appearing in the wider channels too. Ripped the ball from Tuisova’s clutches, which is no mean feat, in an equally strong defensive display. Dependable lineout option, which is a string to his bow that he did not possess at the beginning of his England career. England’s best player during his 50 minutes on the field.
Replacements
16. Jamie George – 7.5
Tidy in the lineout when he came on, and scored a try following a driving maul.
17. Fin Baxter – 7
Busy in defence, as always, but no moments of note from the bench.
18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour – 7
Replacing Lion Will Stuart this week, and exhibited the depth England have at tighthead, but couldn’t make a dent on Fiji’s scrum either.
19. Maro Itoje – 7.5
Found himself in the unfamiliar position of a substitute this week, which is certainly not his strong suit, and was given 10 minutes at the end when England had a 13-point lead. Did win a penalty five metres from Fiji’s line, and scored moments later.
20. Tom Curry – 6.5
Carried in a lot of space at one point, but passed straight to a Fijian when a bit more composure was needed. Added to the energy from the bench again.
21. Henry Pollock – 6
Spearheaded the charge from the ‘Bomb Squad’ yet again with a lot of energy, but still couldn’t avoid conceding an offside penalty at one stage.
22. Ben Spencer – 6.5
Handed more minutes this week, with 20 minutes at the end when England held a 26-18 lead. Didn’t put a foot wrong.
23. Henry Arundell – 8
Back in England colours for the first time in two years, and provided more selection headaches for Borthwick when he hared after a Marcus Smith grubber to add to his try haul for England – that’s eight in 11 matches. Unrivalled pace. Looked threatening down the left flank, with a nice take in the air in the build-up to Itoje’s try.
