The English Team Claims Ninth 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 overcome a resilient Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting second half.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping 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 this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this meeting, England had won eight of their nine matches with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

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

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach 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, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

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

It is packed with top players and talent, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

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)