The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Win Against Physical Fijian Side

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 scored four second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged 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 monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

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

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

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

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

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through 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 lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)