Steve Borthwick praised the strength of England’s bench after their hard-fought 38-18 victory over Fiji at Twickenham.
The hosts were given a stern test of their credentials by the Pacific Islanders as they chased a ninth successive win in front of an expectant English crowd.
Borthwick made seven changes to the side that beat Australia last weekend, and England looked disjointed in defence, with Fiji taking the lead midway through the first half.
Fiji’s physicality continued to cause problems for England after the break, and Borthwick looked to his bench for answers, bringing Maro Itoje, Jamie George, and Henry Arundell onto the field.
All three players got themselves on the scoresheet as England finally took advantage of Fiji’s tiring rearguard, and Borthwick said his side’s depth allowed them to play the fine margins in their favour.
“You see now in Test matches, the margins are so small, each one is going into the final quarter of the game within just a score or two,” Borthwick said at his post-match press conference.
“You saw the games earlier on this afternoon, while I haven't watched them, I've read reports and updates that both those games were fairly tight in the final quarter of the game.
“So understanding the fitness, the players to be able to go 80 minutes, the impact of the bench and the composure and resilience, I think those are important components to ensure you finish the game as you want to.”
Arundell, making his first England appearance since the 2023 World Cup, made an instant impact off the bench, surging through to convert Marcus Smith’s kick-chase.
The 23-year-old’s return to the England set-up, having missed out on selection after signing for Racing-92 in France, has been hotly anticipated, and Borthwick admitted he had given him plenty to ponder as he deliberates over who to start on the wing against New Zealand next weekend.
“I think we've got a number of players now with pace on edges, we've got a real competitive position in his wing, which is true,” Borthwick continued.
“Hopefully, Tom Roebuck could be back fit this week. Hopefully, with an available selection, we'll find out early on in the week.
“There's a real mix; it's the exact kind of tough decisions you want as a head coach.”
