The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Win 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

England scored four tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Prior to this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight 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-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received back-to-back 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 full of top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

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

If successful, the substitutes will probably 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)