While England avenged its 22-30 defeat by Fiji in 2023 yesterday, FIJI Water Flying Fijians captain Tevita Ikanivere has admitted disciplinary blunders cost them greatly.
Fiji was beaten 18-38 at the Allianz Stadium at Twickenham in London, England yesterday.
Ikanivere said it was not the desired result and attributed the performance to the calls being made on the field.
“Yes, as you said, not the result we wanted. Quite disappointed, I suppose, (with) the discipline we had towards the end,” Ikanivere mentioned.
“Not only the yellow cards but our decision making. I think they let us down and I think we learned from that.”
Selestino Ravutaumada and Josua Tuisova copped yellow cards in the 35th and 59th minutes respectively.
Fiji also conceded eight penalties but England conceded nine with no yellow or red cards being shown to them.
With this in mind, he added the team would work on minimising it before their next Test against France this Sunday.
“We’ll be better for it next week in France.”
According to the digital rugby media platform RugbyPass, Fiji only led for 17 minutes in the game while England led for 60 and with that, the visitors managed to acquire 21% of the game in the lead while England garnered 75%.
England scored six tries with four conversions and Fiji scored three tries with no conversions, with a penalty goal by fly-half Caleb Muntz in the 30th minute.
The team will head to Bordeaux, France this week to face the home team on Sunday, 8.10am at the Stade Matmut-Atlantique.
France was also beaten yesterday, going down 17-32 to South Africa in Stade de France.
