England Claims Ninth Consecutive Win Against 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 racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, 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.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.

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

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

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

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.

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)