The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Win Over Physical 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

The English squad scored 4 second-half tries to defeat a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

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

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

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

These tries came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

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

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over 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 the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message 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)