The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Victory 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 defeat a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run 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 tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an thrilling second half.

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

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, England had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition 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 expected to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the substitutes 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)