England Earns 9th Straight Win Against Physical Fiji

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 notched 4 tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

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

Before this meeting, the English team had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss 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 game was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by 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 video review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.

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

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, 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)