England Secures 9th Straight Win Against Physical 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

The English squad racked up 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

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

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

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, 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 adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

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

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)