The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Win Against Tough Fiji
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
England racked up four tries after halftime to beat a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.
The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, grabbed the final try.
Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Before this match, England had won 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 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 fixture was always expected to be tight.
Following slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker 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.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.
A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against the Italians in spring.
However, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.
Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the teams.
It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message next week.
If successful, the substitutes will probably again be crucial.
Line-ups
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)
