England Claims 9th Straight Victory Over Physical Fiji
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 4 tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second autumn international.
This win continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an thrilling second half.
Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.
The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Start Fast to Pressure The English
Prior to this meeting, England had claimed victory in eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France 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 expected to be tight.
After slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.
Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through powerful opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair 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.
The winger sharply finished a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Star Bench Delivers Again
The English team pulled away from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.
However, after a clever line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback lost control of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute George's try.
Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.
It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.
The substitute's speed to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.
It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.
If successful, the substitutes will probably 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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
