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 racked up four second-half tries to beat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

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

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

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting second half.

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

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the final try.

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

Prior to this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight 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 joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

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

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

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 Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

If successful, the bench will probably 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)