The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Victory Over Physical 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
The English squad scored four tries after halftime to beat a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.
The victory lengthens the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an thrilling second half.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Pressure England
Before this match, England had won 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.
Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.
However, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, Borthwick introduced several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.
Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.
It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.
Should they win, the bench will likely 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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
