The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Against Tough 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

England scored 4 second-half tries to beat a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this encounter, England had won 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 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 Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be competitive.

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

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry 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 negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)