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 racked up four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an thrilling second half.

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

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this match, the English team had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin 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 video review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

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

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will probably again be crucial.

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)