England Secures 9th Consecutive Win 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

The English squad scored 4 tries after halftime to beat a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

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

Before this meeting, England had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie 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.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

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

If successful, 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)