The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Over 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 overcome a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia last Saturday.

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

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

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

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

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

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.

Feyi-Waboso 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 given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

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

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

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

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the bench 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)