England Claims 9th Straight Win Against Tough 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

England notched four tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

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

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting second half.

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

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads 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 ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received 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 packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

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)