The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive 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

England racked up 4 tries after halftime to beat a tough Fiji side in their second fall test match.

The victory lengthens the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

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

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

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

The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.

Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

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

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.

But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.

The winger expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in spring.

However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams.

It capped another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.

Given the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

If successful, the bench will probably 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)