England Earns 9th Straight Win Over Tough Fijian Side
Quilter Nations 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 racked up four tries after halftime to beat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.
This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side clear.
Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.
Borthwick's side now face the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Pressure The English
Before this encounter, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.
With Fiji on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be competitive.
After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a quick response.
Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Star Bench Shines Once More
England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A significantly altered starting lineup from the win over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.
However, after a clever set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate replacement George's try.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.
It topped off another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of stars and talent, which has aided in wins in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.
Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.
Should they win, the substitutes 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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
