The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Win Against Physical 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 racked up four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be tight.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler 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 swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against Italy in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, 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)