The English Team Secures 9th Consecutive Victory Over Tough 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 scored 4 tries after halftime to overcome a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

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

These tries came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge first-half midfield hits, with full-back 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 passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

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

England pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben 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 Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

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

Should they win, the substitutes will likely 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)