The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Win Against Tough Fiji
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
England scored 4 second-half tries to beat a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.
The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine games and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.
England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.
Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.
The English team now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.
The Fijians Start Fast to Pressure The English
Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.
After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged 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 defense through powerful opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field 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 bunker review.
The English Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included multiple British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.
However, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.
Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.
It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.
The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.
If successful, the bench will probably again be crucial.
Team Sheets
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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
