The English Team Claims Ninth Straight Win Against 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 four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their second fall test match.
The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and follows up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an exciting final forty minutes.
Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
These tries came around 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.
Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test on paper this autumn.
The Fijians Start Fast to Pressure England
Prior to this match, England had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be tight.
Following slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.
Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful first-half tackles in the center, 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 opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included multiple Lions tourists.
A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement the hooker's score.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.
It topped off another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who picked up consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.
It is full of top players and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.
If successful, the bench will probably again be crucial.
Line-ups
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)
