England Earns Ninth Consecutive Win Over Physical 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 scored four tries after halftime to overcome a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an exciting second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

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

Before this meeting, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the competition 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 expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies 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 line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, 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 impactful.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

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)