The English Team Claims 9th Straight Victory Against Physical 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 racked up four second-half tries to defeat a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Before this match, the English team had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following 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 the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

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

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)