England Claims Ninth Straight Win Against Physical Fiji

Quilter Nations 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 racked up four tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

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

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger expertly collected 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 given a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through 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 squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement 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)