The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory Against Physical Fijian Side

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 notched four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.

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

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

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an exciting second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest 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-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged 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 evident in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field 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 yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

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

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)