The English Team Secures 9th Straight Win Against Tough 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 racked up 4 tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.
This win continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.
Replacements George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
These tries came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.
The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.
The Fijians Start Fast to Pressure The English
Prior to this meeting, England had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.
Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the opening half as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a video review.
The English Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained multiple Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute George's try.
Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep a narrow lead between the teams.
It topped off another all-round impressive performance by Earl, who received 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 impactful.
It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.
Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement next week.
Should they win, the substitutes 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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
