Steve Borthwick has named Luke Cowan-Dickie in his starting lineup, with Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Tom Curry on the bench, as his England team prepares to play Fiji at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 8th November (kick-off 5.40pm, live on TNT Sports).
Cowan-Dickie marked his 50th England appearance with a try in last week’s win over Australia, and the Sharks hooker is rewarded with a start in the second of four games in the 2025 Quilter Nations Series.
Curry is once again named as a replacement after making his return from injury against the Wallabies, while Opoku-Fordjour features in a matchday squad for the first time this Autumn as he looks to add to his four caps.
With Maro Itoje named among the replacements this week, Genge will lead the team from the start of the match, although both are named as co-captains.They are supported by vice-captains Jamie George, Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Chessum.
There are seven changes to the starting XV that beat Australia 25-7 last weekend with Genge, Marcus Smith, Ollie Lawrence, Fin Smith, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Alex Coles, and Chandler Cunningham-South all coming into the lineup.
“It was a pleasing start to the series against Australia last weekend, and we know we’ll need to take another step forward against Fiji,” said Borthwick.
“The focus for us this week is on improving on last weekend’s performance and continuing to develop our game.
“Fiji are a dangerous team with power and quality right across the pitch. They play with physicality and skill, so we’ll need to bring intensity, accuracy and discipline in everything that we do.
“Playing in front of our supporters again at Allianz Stadium means a huge amount to the players, and the team are determined to deliver a performance they can be proud of.”
England’s clash with Fiji is followed by home fixtures against New Zealand and Argentina at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
ENGLAND v FIJI
Saturday 8 November 2025, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Kick-off: 5.40pm.
15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 44 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 21 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 35 caps)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 5 caps) – vice-captain
11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 10 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 12 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 24 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 72 caps) – co-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps)
4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 29 caps) – vice-captain
6. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
7. Ben Earl (Saracens, 43 caps)
8. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 18 caps)
Replacements:
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 103 caps) – vice-captain
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 15 caps)
18. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, 4 caps)
19. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 94 caps) – co-captain
20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 62 caps)
21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
22. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
23. Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
