The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory 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

The English squad notched four tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

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

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

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

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances 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)