The English Team Earns 9th Straight Victory Against 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 notched 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an exciting second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this meeting, the English team had won eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin 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 yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the substitutes 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)