England secured a dominant 73-8 victory over Fiji at Hill Dickinson Stadium, marking their first win since the Six Nations opener and ending a five-Test losing streak. The match, played on July 11, saw England score 11 tries, with Henry Pollock's late hat-trick standing out after he came off the bench in the 49th minute.

England established early control through physical dominance in the scrum and maul, limiting Fiji’s offensive opportunities. Fiji’s performance was further hampered by disciplinary issues, notably the red card shown to scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli just before halftime for kicking England prop Ellis Genge. Kuruvoli’s expulsion reduced Fiji to 14 players for the remainder of the match, making their task even more difficult. Additionally, Fiji's Levani Botia was sin-binned in the first half. Although Kalaveti Ravouvou crossed the try line during the first half, the score was disallowed following Kuruvoli’s foul.

England’s backline featured the return of Henry Slade, who made an immediate impact by scoring and setting up one of Pollock’s tries. Three uncapped players also made notable contributions: Benhard Janse van Rensburg, a recent England qualifier, scored on his debut, while 19-year-old Noah Caluori, one of the Premiership’s joint top try-scorers this season, impressed both with playmaking and finishing ability. Caluori assisted Slade’s try and later scored himself with a characteristic dive, demonstrating his potential at the international level.

Pollock, who has 12 Test caps but has largely featured as a substitute, scored three tries after coming on in the second half, including one with his first touch and another in the closing seconds. Despite his standout performance, head coach Steve Borthwick expressed caution about naming Pollock in the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Argentina. Borthwick praised Pollock’s impact off the bench but emphasized the depth and competition among England’s back-row forwards, suggesting the player may continue to serve as an impactful substitute rather than a guaranteed starter.

The comprehensive win provided a much-needed boost for England, whose recent form had come under scrutiny following a heavy 45-21 loss to South Africa earlier in the Nations Championship. However, some observers question the extent to which the result against a Fiji side hampered by a red card and interim coaching staff reflects England’s overall progress. The team's ability to maintain such dominance against stronger opponents and raise their competitive ceiling remains a key topic ahead of upcoming fixtures, including their next Nations Championship match in Santiago del Estero, Argentina.