The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Victory Against Tough 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 four second-half tries to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest autumn international.

This win lengthens the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors responded with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to ignite an thrilling second half.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this fall.

Prior to this match, England had claimed victory in 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their joint longest run since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the first try from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.

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

The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin 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 video review.

The English team pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – 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 tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased 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 against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, the substitutes will likely play another key factor.

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)