The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Victory 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 notched four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

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

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

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

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

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

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)