The English Team Claims Ninth Straight 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

The English squad racked up four second-half tries to overcome a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – 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 significant shift under Borthwick.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

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

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench 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)