England Secures 9th Straight Win Against Tough 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 beat a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

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

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

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

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

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

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

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

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

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)