The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory Against 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

England racked up four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

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

Prior to this meeting, England had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement 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)