England Secures 9th Straight Win Against 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 notched four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an entertaining 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 Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Prior to this encounter, England had won 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

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

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

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters 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 providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

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

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

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)