Head coach Raiwalui, captain Nayacalevu talk after team announcement

Simon Raiwalui, head coach

On the general mood and confidence levels going in to the game:

"The boys have trained well this week, had a good session this morning, so they have prepared well. We are looking forward to the match. It's been a while since we've been in a quarter-final so we want to make the most of it."

On what he meant by saying England are a good tournament team:

"There was a lot in the press and the general public about the way they were playing before the actual World Cup but they play a brand of rugby to win the game, so tactically very good, [with a] powerful and creative set-piece so we're expecting those challenges to come at us this weekend."

On England's team selection:

"I haven't seen it. Whoever they pick, they have quality across the board.

"They will look at the some of the things we've done and see how they can try to exploit us. We had the chance to play them at Twickenham so we kind of know each other a little bit, how we play. They will come at us with certain challenges and we understand that."

On Kevin Sinfield showing the England team a video of Fiji's win at Twickenham in August:

"It's a different match. It's a World Cup, a knockout match now. It's win or go home. Having played them, there's an understanding of some of the things that they do. They have progressed since that match, playing well. It's good that we had that chance to play them but it's a totally different match."

On whether he ever had to kick Owen Farrell and George Ford off the training pitch when he was a player at Saracens:

"It was a very long time ago. I played with Andy [Farrell, Owen's father and Ireland head coach]. Both of them had a lot of quality at a young age, training with Mike [Ford, George's father], both their dads there. It's great to see them. It makes me feel old when I do see them. Congratulations to Owen for breaking the record [as England's all-time record point-scorer]. Fantastic player and a fantastic servant for his country."

On which selections give him the longest time to ponder:

"All of them (laughs). You want as many of the boys to play. The pack is pretty settled. We had a set-back during the week with Samuel Matavesi's father passing away."

On whether Samuel Matavesi has been able to train this week:

"He came back in this morning. He was adamant that he wanted to be here. He's a fantastic young man, very good on his details, so there are no worries there. It's just a matter of him grieving but I have no doubt that he will be ready to play."

On Albert Tuisue starting against England:

"Albert brings great versatility in the second-row and the back-row. He also brings us a bit of power through the second-row, an extra ball carrier which is going to be important this weekend, so it is good to have him back in the pack."

On whether Fiji have been at their most fluid in attack at Rugby World Cup 2023:

"I think we are still looking to free ourselves up. Obviously we weren't pleased that we lost last weekend and against Georgia we were stagnant in attack. We have worked at freeing ourselves up and enjoying the occasion.

"It's massive for our country. We came to this tournament to succeed, we got through the first part and we want to continue. We are a nation of 900,000 people that lives and breathes rugby, and I don't know how many Fijians worldwide. We had massive support from the French, from the people who come to the ground. We really want to enjoy the occasion and show our best rugby."

On not being part of the rugby establishment and perhaps carrying the flag for smaller nations:

"First and foremost I'm proud to be a Fijian but I am also proud of the so-called developing nations, pushing for the global game, how we can improve it and get more opportunities, how we break that barrier down.

"I think this World Cup has been a fantastic example of other teams coming in and playing fantastic rugby and putting on a spectacle for the world. We are proud of where we come from and we want to embrace that."

On being the underdogs against England, having been favourites against Georgia and Portugal:

"I don't tend to look at the odds. If we prepare well, we will perform well. Full credit to Georgia and Portugal with how they played."

Waisea Nayacalevu, captain

On what it means to him and to the country to be playing for a place in a Rugby World Cup semi-final:

"It means everything to us. I know it has been 16 years since we have been in the quarter-finals and I told the boys the chance is in front of us and this moment will never come back so we will grab it with both hands, take responsibility and do the best we can."

On what it feels like to have the neutrals supporting them in the stadiums:

"It boosts us in the game. We can feel it. We are grateful for that."

On not being part of the rugby establishment and perhaps carrying the flag for smaller nations:

"We have a lot of support too from our neighbouring countries so we are representing them all in the South Pacific."