England Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Over Tough Fiji

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

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies 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 against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

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

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

It is full of top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the bench will likely 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)