'It’s a bit disappointing... Why he would say those types of things?'

Fiji captain Tevita Ikanivere insists his players have shrugged off a demand to “deliver a return on investment” by their union’s chairman John Sanday.

The Islanders clash with England at what is expected to be a sold out Hill Dickinson Stadium, producing a valuable cash injection for a team who are staging all their ‘home’ fixtures in the UK this month for financial and logistical reasons.

They opened the first phase of the Nations Championship with a 39-24 defeat by Wales in Cardiff, resulting in a stinging rebuke from Sanday.

The Fiji Rugby Union chairman said: “The players have been well-looked after and paid well, where is the return on investment? This is the urgent question. I personally don’t accept sub-par performance.

“Those that are very well paid, from the management to the players, need to look at themselves in the mirror and be honest.”

Nations Championship

Northern Hemisphere

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

Wales

1

1

0

0

5

2

Scotland

1

1

0

0

5

3

Ireland

1

1

0

0

5

4

France

1

0

1

0

2

5

Italy

1

0

1

0

0

6

England

1

0

1

0

0

Southern Hemisphere

P

W

L

D

PF

PA

PD

BP T

BP-7

BP

Total

1

South Africa

1

1

0

0

5

2

New Zealand

1

1

0

0

5

3

Japan

1

1

0

0

4

4

Australia

1

0

1

0

2

5

Argentina

1

0

1

0

1

6

Fiji

1

0

1

0

0

Ikanivere insists his underdogs are unfazed by the comments as they look to repeat their 2023 upset of England – the nation’s only victory in 10 instalments of the fixture.

The Honda Heat hooker told the Press Association: “It’s a bit disappointing coming from the chairman of our own board. Why he would say those types of things? But that’s his point of view.

“That’s his problem, he can deal with it. Whatever he thinks. He’s the chairman. I think he’s got a good head on his shoulders.

“If it was a way to motivate us, then it’s OK. I don’t care about it. My job is to play rugby and his job is to get returns. Two different things.

“He’s running a business and I’m playing for my nation and we’re all working towards the same goal.

“I don’t mind what anybody says. What I care about is the welfare of my boys and my men. That’s all I’m worried about.

“We just want to do our best. That’s all we can do and that’s all we’re going to give. Wales outplayed us last week and that’s all the motivation we need.”