The English Team Secures 9th 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 4 second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

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

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team 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)