England Earns 9th Consecutive Win Against 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

England scored four tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win extends the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their win over Australia 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.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

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

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

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.

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

Prior to this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment 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 kick across the field by 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 bunker review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

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

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)