The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Win Over 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

The English squad scored 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

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

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including 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 goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

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

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

Should they win, the bench will likely 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)