The English Team Earns Ninth Consecutive Victory Against Physical 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

England racked up 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

This win continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take England 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 pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed 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 making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

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

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, 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)