England Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Over 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 overcome a resilient Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

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

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, 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 defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

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

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

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

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

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

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)