The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory Against 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 notched 4 tries after halftime to defeat a physical Fijian team in their second fall test match.

This win continues the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.

The English team now play New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this match, the English team had won 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the fixture was always expected to be tight.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in wins in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.

If successful, the substitutes will probably play another key factor.

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)