The English Team Secures 9th Straight Win Against Physical Fijian Side

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 scored four second-half tries to beat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

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

Prior to this match, England had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

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

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score 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 March.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)