The English Team Earns Ninth Consecutive Win Against Tough 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 notched four second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an exciting second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead 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 broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

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 Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

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

Should they win, the bench 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)