The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Victory Against Tough Fijian Side

Quilter Nations 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 four tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining second half.

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

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

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

Prior to this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over 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 smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall performance by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

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)