England Claims 9th Consecutive 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

The English squad notched four tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.

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

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

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

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare 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 Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display 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 influential.

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

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)