The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Win Over 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 racked up 4 tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – 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 the head coach.

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

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

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 Muntz to score.

The winger 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 awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

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

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)