England Claims 9th Straight Win Over 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 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win extends the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an entertaining second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.

The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

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

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, 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 quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

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 the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench 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 tendon against the Italians in spring.

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

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

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

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

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances 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)