England Earns Ninth Straight Win Over 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 scored 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an thrilling second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this match, England 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 two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

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

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side 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)