England Claims Ninth Consecutive Win 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 second-half tries to beat a tough Fiji side in their second autumn international.
The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.
These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline.
Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.
The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Challenge England
Before this meeting, the English team had won eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently 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 the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be tight.
After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.
The English Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.
However, after a clever line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.
Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.
It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.
The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so impactful.
It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.
If successful, the bench will likely play another key factor.
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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
