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• BBC
• Sat Nov 8 2025

With the match still in the balance, British and Irish Lions duo Henry Pollock and Tom Curry both stood with their hands on their hips, impatiently waiting to enter the Test arena.

An entire front row of fellow Lion Jamie George, Fin Baxter and Asher Opoku-Fordjour were also ready for battle.

All five England forwards strode on to the pitch on the 54-minute mark as Steve Borthwick sought to take the game away from stubborn opponents.

The score was 21-18 at that point.

As in last week's win against Australia, England's bench proved the difference, bringing new levels of energy as England raced away from a tiring Fiji to win 38-18.

Replacement wing Henry Arundell, celebrating his 23rd birthday, also had a telling impact on his return to international rugby after being ineligible for two years while playing his club rugby in France.

Starting behind the halfway line, the Bath flyer accelerated past two Fiji defenders and team-mate Marcus Smith, who kicked the ball through, to score a stunning try.

That passage of play summed up the star quality and X-factor on Borthwick's bench - and the stiff competition for places.

"We have a number of players with pace on the edges and on the wing," Borthwick said.

"It is exactly the tough decisions you want as a head coach."

Captain Maro Itoje also scored off the bench as did former England skipper George.

Last week against the Wallabies, 20-year-old replacement Pollock scooped the ball up with one hand to score a memorable try that confirmed England's dominance.

"We've seen in Test matches that the margins are so small," Borthwick added.

"It is about understanding the fitness of the players for going 80 minutes and the impact of the bench.

"That alongside composure and resilience are important components."