The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Win 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

The English squad scored four second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.

This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this match, the English team had won 8 of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be tight.

Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the strength of their bench that contained multiple British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

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

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.

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

It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.

Given the Scottish side 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.

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)