The English Team Earns 9th Straight 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 scored 4 tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling second half.

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

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

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

The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

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

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

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

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in March.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

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

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will likely 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)