England Earns 9th Straight Win Over Physical 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
England scored four second-half tries to beat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.
The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.
England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then exchanged tries to begin an exciting second half.
Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
These tries came either side of Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.
The English team now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this fall.
Fiji Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Before this encounter, England had won eight of their nine games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament 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 game was always expected to be tight.
After slick phase play, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through monstrous opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.
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 Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that included six Lions tourists.
A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring.
However, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.
Flanker Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.
It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.
Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.
Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.
Should they win, the substitutes will probably 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)
