England head coach Steve McNamara admitted Saturday's tough test against Fiji was much-needed.
England overcame a slow start and a six-point deficit to secure a quarter-final berth with a 34-12 victory over Fiji.
Sam Burgess is looking forward to 'the battle of the brothers' when England face Fiji at Hull's KC Stadium on Saturday.
Fiji centre Kane Evans is free to play against England on Saturday after being given a caution for a high tackle.
Australia cruised into the quarter-finals of the World Cup as they beat Fiji 34-2 on a bitterly cold night in St Helens.
Jarryd Hayne and Petero Civoniceva will both come up against former team-mates when Australia face Fiji on Saturday.
Akuila Uate's hat-trick of tries helped Fiji cruise to a 32-14 victory over Ireland in the Rugby League World Cup.
Ireland coach Mark Aston could not fault the effort of his players in their 32-14 defeat to Group A rivals Fiji.
Dragons centre Daryl Millard is the only Super League-based player named in Fiji's initial squad for the World Cup.
Lote Tuqiri hopes to make his swansong on the international stage next year with Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup.
It has been announced that Cardiff's Millennium Stadium will host a double-header to launch the 2013 World Cup.
England are a distant third in the revamped world rankings issued on Friday by the Rugby League International Federation.
New Zealand will face a warm-up Test against Samoa in preparation for the Four Nations this winter.
Australia have retained their status as the top-ranked team in world rugby league despite their World Cup final defeat to New Zealand.
Australia captain Darren Lockyer has paid tribute to Fiji for a valiant effort in defeat following their World Cup semi-final clash.
Australia ran in ten tries as they demolished Fiji 52-0 to set up a World Cup final showdown against New Zealand.
Fiji are calling on everything they can as they prepare to tackle Australia in the world cup semi-finals.
Brent Tate replaces David Williams in Australia's side for Sunday's World Cup semi-final against Fiji.
Fiji full-back Jarryd Hayne has been cleared to line up against Australia in Sydney on Sunday.
Australia's Petero Civoniceva will go up against the country of his birth in the semi-finals on Sunday.
©2026 Sky UK
