The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory Over Tough 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 tries after halftime to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently 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 Borthwick.

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

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

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

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances 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)