England Secures 9th Consecutive 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

England scored 4 tries after halftime to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

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

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

The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin 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 pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

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

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, 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)