The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Win 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 beat a resilient Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

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

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.

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

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, the bench will probably 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)