The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive 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

England scored four second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

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

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

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

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

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

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished 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 sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

Should they win, the substitutes will likely 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)