The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Victory Over 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 defeat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message 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)