The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Victory Over 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 notched 4 tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and supports their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

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

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an entertaining second half.

Replacements George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.

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

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

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Prior to this match, England had won 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage 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 cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in spring.

Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so impactful.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench 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)