The English Team Earns Ninth Consecutive Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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 scored 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

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

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

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through powerful 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 standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz 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 awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message 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)