The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Victory Against Tough Fiji
Autumn International 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 racked up 4 second-half tries to beat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international.
The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.
The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an exciting second half.
Replacements George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.
Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.
The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Pressure The English
Before this encounter, England had won eight of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be tight.
After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing 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, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished 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.
The English Star Bench Delivers Again
England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate substitute George's try.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the teams.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.
Should they win, the bench will probably again be crucial.
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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
