The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive 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

The English squad racked up 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win extends the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their win over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting second half.

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

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin 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.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

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

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

Should they win, 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)