The English Team Secures 9th Straight Victory Against 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 scored 4 second-half tries to defeat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

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

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting second half.

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

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

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Before this meeting, the English team had won 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

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

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message 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)