England Claims Ninth Straight Victory Against 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

England racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

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

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score 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 apparent in defence through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen 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 passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

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

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

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

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, the bench 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)