England Claims Ninth Consecutive Win 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 four tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

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

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now play New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

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

After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead 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 the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.

It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, 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)