The English Team Earns 9th Straight Victory Against Physical Fiji

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 scored four tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.

This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an entertaining final forty minutes.

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

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, England had won 8 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 two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair 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.

The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.

The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles versus Italy in March.

However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

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

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, 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.

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

Should they win, 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)