The English Team Earns Ninth Consecutive Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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 racked up four tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this match, England had won eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through 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 lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, 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)