England Claims Ninth Straight Victory Against Physical 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

England racked up 4 second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

This win lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.

The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this match, England had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning 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 Borthwick.

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

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground 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 swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight 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 kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as Genge went over 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 set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

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

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

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message 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)