England Earns Ninth Straight Win Against Physical Fiji

Autumn International 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

The English squad notched four second-half tries to beat a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.

This win lengthens the English team's winning run to nine matches and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)