The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Against Physical Fiji

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 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling second half.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest 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 the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.

Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair 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.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message 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)