The English Team Secures 9th Straight Win Over Tough Fiji

Quilter Nations 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 4 second-half tries to defeat a physical Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

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

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

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Prior to this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half 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 illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the substitutes 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)