England Claims 9th Straight Victory Against Tough 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

The English squad scored 4 second-half tries to beat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.

The victory lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an thrilling second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.

The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Prior to this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

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 score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.

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

However, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

Flanker Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

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

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, 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)