England Earns 9th Straight Win Against Physical 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 notched 4 tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win continues the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

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

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed 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 sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is full of stars and talent, 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 feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, the bench 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)