The English Team Earns 9th Straight Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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 racked up 4 second-half tries to beat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb 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 scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling second half.

Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.

These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, England had won 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

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

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

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

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

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

Should they win, the substitutes 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)