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England to play Fiji in RWC warm-up as well as Wales doubleheader
By Ian Cameron
The RFU have confirmed that England will play Fiji as well as a doubleheader against Wales as part of the Rugby World Cup warm-ups in 2023.
Wales will welcome England to Cardiff on August 5 before making the trip to Twickenham seven days later. England will then take on Fiji on Saturday 26 August – their last match before they travel to France.
Jones’ squad will base themselves in Le Touquet in the north of France ahead of Rugby World Cup pool games against Argentina, Japan, Chile and Samoa in Pool D.
The Australian's side will play a further away fixture, the weekend before the Fiji game, with "opposition to be announced in the coming months".
Jones said: “These matches will be crucial as we enter our final preparation stage for the Rugby World Cup. It’s our chance to develop our tactical approach, improve our game fitness and to say thank you to the supporters for the last four years.
“We’re very fortunate to have such a tough opponent in Wales and to play them both home and away, along with the atmosphere we always experience in Cardiff. It will be great preparation for the squad.
“We also know Fiji are a rapidly improving team under Vern Cotter, they have some excellent individuals and are a similar proposition to Samoa who we will face in the World Cup.
“These are the matches where the World Cup is almost in touching distance and the feeling that the support of a full Twickenham Stadium will give the squad real momentum going into the tournament in France.”
This November England have four home matches in the Autumn Nations Series against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
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What ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
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