England Claims Ninth Consecutive Victory 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 4 tries after halftime to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.
The victory lengthens the English team's winning run to nine matches and supports their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.
The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting final forty minutes.
Replacements Jamie George and Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the final try.
The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Challenge The English
Prior to this match, the English team had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be competitive.
Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.
The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by 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 video review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
The English team pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus Italy in March.
However, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli lost control of the ball when stretching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.
Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep breathing room between the sides.
It capped another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
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 talent, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.
If successful, the bench 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)