The English Team Secures 9th Straight Victory Over Tough Fiji

Quilter Nations Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

England racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an thrilling second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, the English team had won 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will probably play another key factor.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)