England Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Against 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

England scored four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.

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

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

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

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an exciting final forty minutes.

Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.

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

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

The English team now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.

The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians 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 suffering his Achilles against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It capped another all-round impressive display by the flanker, 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 impactful.

It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the substitutes will likely 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)