England’s World Cup prep has descended into farce after loss to Fiji

HISTORIC: Fiji players celebrate the final whistle following the Summer Nations Series match at Twickenham. Pic: David Davies/PA Wire

England 22-30 Fiji

We are running out of synonyms for crisis. Turmoil, disaster, catastrophe, disarray, calamity … put them all together and they barely do justice to England’s predicament. They had never failed to beat Fiji by less than double figures before this but as the clock ticked down in the final few minutes the Pacific Islanders could bask in the glory of their history-making feats. The blue Fijian flags fluttered in a sun-soaked corner of Twickenham, their supporters dancing with delight. England’s white flags had long since been waved.