England Earns 9th Consecutive Win Over 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

The English squad racked up 4 second-half tries to beat a tough Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

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

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

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their nine games 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 France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

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

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

However, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

Should they win, 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)