England Secures Ninth Consecutive 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 tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

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

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the final try.

The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning 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 Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the next try as Genge went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in March.

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

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)