England Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory Over Physical Fiji

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

The English squad scored four second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

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

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

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

Before this match, England 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.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

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

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

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

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

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)