England Secures Ninth Straight Victory 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 notched four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this match, the English team had won 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in March.

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

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

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

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

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

If successful, 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)