England Earns 9th 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

England racked up four second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining second half.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

The English team now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to touch down.

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

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

However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

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

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.

If successful, the substitutes will likely 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)