England Claims Ninth Straight Victory Against 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 scored four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

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

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

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

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

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

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

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.

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

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in victories 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 making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)