Pollock hat-trick and record 73-8 rout end England's five-Test losing run against Fiji

Henry Pollock plundered a hat-trick and debutants Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Noah Caluori both touched down as England ended their five-Test losing run by dismantling Fiji 73-8 at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

Steve Borthwick’s side bounced back emphatically from the 45-21 mauling by South Africa that opened their Nations Championship, producing an 11-try performance against an opposition that was reduced to 14 men when Simione Kuruvoli was sent off for kicking Ellis Genge in first-half overtime.

Fiji already trailed 35-3 when Kuruvoli departed. South African-born Van Rensburg had scored just 218 seconds after entering the field as an HIA replacement for Henry Slade — three days after qualifying for England on residency grounds. The red card effectively ended any prospect of a Fijian recovery.

Fly-half Fin Smith was named man of the match after serving as the focal point of an attack that produced a series of eye-catching scores. England’s dominance at scrum and maul laid the foundations, with Marcus Smith opening the account after a fortunate bounce off the corner flag before Jamie George was driven over by his pack. Guy Pepper and Van Rensburg then exposed gaping holes in Fiji’s defence, and Marcus Smith’s footwork created a fifth try for Atkinson before the interval.

The onslaught continued after the break despite Borthwick having emptied his bench. Tevita Ikanivere gave Fiji a rare moment of reward early in the second half, but England quickly reasserted control. Quick hands sent Immanuel Feyi-Waboso diving into the corner, Pollock won a foot race to finish Ben Earl’s grubber, Slade slid over, and 19-year-old Caluori crossed in the 65th minute. Pollock completed his hat-trick in the closing seconds to seal the record scoreline.

Fiji, who memorably upset England at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, were overwhelmed in every department — their feeble defence and weak set-piece exposed throughout. The result was effectively settled inside half an hour.

England now travel to Argentina for the final match of their July tour, where the Pumas in Santiago del Estero will present a considerably sterner examination of how far Borthwick’s squad has genuinely progressed.