Watch out, England: Fiji ‘are going to cause some upsets’ at Rugby World Cup

Fiji gave England a timely warning ahead of their Rugby World Cup opener with a 48-17 rout of Canada in a warm-up match at the Stoop on Sunday.

It was the Pacific Nations champions’ last match before they face tournament hosts England at nearby Twickenham in the opening fixture of the World Cup on September 18.

Fiji have been drawn in a tough pool that also includes Wales and Australia.

Only the top two teams will go through to the quarter-finals and much of the pre-tournament focus has been on which one of the “big three” of England, Australia and Wales will miss out.

But Fiji, who knocked Wales out of the 2007 World Cup, have last eight ambitions of their own according to coach John McKee.

“We know what a good side England are and we need to be at our absolute best to topple them, but we have the belief that we can do well,” McKee said.

“It’s a big task, but the great thing about sport is that challenges bring out the best in people and I believe that with the team we’ve got we are going to cause some upsets in this competition.

“We don’t see them as upsets, but other people may do. We’ve got the England game, but this pool isn’t all about facing England, it’s about all four games.

“There will be a lot of twists and turns. Teams are going to beat each other, win games and lose games, so it could be very tight at the end. We want to get out of the pool phase.”

Fiji captain Akapusi Qera, speaking after a match watched by England coach Stuart Lancaster, said: “We’re not here to make up the numbers. We’re here to stamp our mark as well. We’ll be ready for England.”

Nikola Matawalu, the Fiji scrum-half, who scored two tries against Canada and is due to join Premiership club Bath, suffered a groin injury but is expected to be fit for the England match.

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