The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Win Over 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 notched four tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this encounter, the English team had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

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

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

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances 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)