Rugby: Winless weekend for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga as they suffer triple setback

The Pacific rugby powerhouses of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga endured a disappointing weekend, collectively suffering a triple setback in their World Rugby test matches.

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We really did not do what we planned to do from the week.

Fiji faced a brutal demolition against England, losing 73-8 in a match where the Red Roses scored 11 tries, setting a new record in their historical encounters. Fiji managed only a single try in response.

Manu Samoa also struggled, falling 33-12 to Georgia in their second Nations Cup match. The 'Ikale Tahi of Tonga went down 32-19 to Spain in Edmonton, Canada.

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No excuses. We just need to adopt. England was the best team today. They play really well, and they deserve the win.

Adding to Fiji's woes, their head coach Senirusi Seruvakula admitted disappointment, stating the team failed to execute their plans. Their challenge was compounded when halfback Simione Kuruvoli received a red card in the first half, leading to a disallowed try and further hindering their performance against a top-tier opponent. Seruvakula acknowledged England's superior performance and smart play, particularly their fast-paced, edge-to-edge style and effective use of their player advantage.

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That red card really punish us, especially in playing in this tier one level.

Captain Tevita Ikanivere highlighted England's dominance in the set-pieces, particularly the scrum, as a key factor in the loss. He noted that Fiji conceded too many penalties before scrums and struggled with the intense pressure and tactical battles between props at this elite level.

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Our set pieces, we just didn't finish them off. Maybe defensively, we gave away too many penalties before the scrum even came together.