England Earns 9th Consecutive Victory 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 scored four tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – 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 France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will likely play another key factor.

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)