The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Over Physical Fijian Side

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 four second-half tries to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

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

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

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

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

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

After 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 the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

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

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.

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)