England Secures Ninth Straight Win 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

England racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia last Saturday.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

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

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker 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 lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

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

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

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

Should they win, the bench 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)