The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Win Against Physical Fijian Side

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 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.

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

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

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

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

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

The English team now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

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

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England 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 Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry 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 introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring 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 tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will probably 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)