The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Win 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

England scored 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in eight 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 tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick 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 sin-binning following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

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

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams.

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through showcased 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 the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

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

Should they win, the bench 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)