The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Victory Over 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 scored 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Before this meeting, England 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.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)