The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Victory Over Tough Fijian Side

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 overcome a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.

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

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

Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.

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

The English team now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always likely to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half 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 Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that included multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.

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

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement next week.

If successful, the bench 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)