The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Win 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 scored four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

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

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)