Portugal Colonial - England captain George 'buzzing for special talent' Caluori

The 19-year-old, renowned for his prowess in the air has been selected on the bench by England coach Steve Borthwick after finishing the 2025/26 season as the leading try-scorer in Prem Rugby.

Among current players, perhaps only Australia's Israel Folau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii can rival Calouri's aerial ability and George is adamant the rising star will be backed to play his natural games against Fiji, even though England are on a run of five straight defeats.

"Air Caluori is a special, special talent and I'm buzzing for him," George said Friday. "He can be so influential on a game because there are very few people who have his athletic ability. I've genuinely never seen anything like it.

"He's able to do things that other people aren't physically able to do and it's a thing of beauty when he gets it right."

The hooker added: "We need to appreciate that he isn't the finished article, he's 19 years old and he's on his first cap. But we are fully behind him to go out there and express himself."

England go into the game on the back of a comprehensive 45-21 defeat by world champions South Africa in their Nations Championship opener at Johannesburg's Ellis Park last week.

Losing to Fiji, who are ranked ninth in the world, would ramp up the pressure on Borthwick but George insisted England had made progress against the Springboks.

"I'm aware of, and can resonate with, the fans' frustration around the performances and results we have had over this period of time," he said, adding: "But, also, we can't just throw all our energy into the negativity.

"We need to focus also on what we are doing well and how we are doing it...Yes, the first 15 minutes weren't good enough. Yes, the final 10 minutes weren't good enough. But I'd be excited about the middle bit against the best team in the world away from home at their spiritual home.

"I get it, I understand it, rugby is an 80-minute game, but I equally think there is a lot to come from the team.

"I think you are going to see a big improvement against Fiji and then an even bigger improvement against Argentina next Saturday."

L.Mesquita--PC