The English Team Earns 9th Consecutive Win Over Physical 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 scored 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.
This win extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining second half.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.
Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Pressure The English
Before this match, England had won 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.
After smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.
Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.
With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.
Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.
It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Given Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will feel confident of making a big statement next week.
Should they win, the substitutes will likely play another key factor.
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)
