England Secures 9th Consecutive Victory Over Tough 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

England notched four second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

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

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower 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 driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair 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 expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

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

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, 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)