England Claims 9th Consecutive Victory 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 notched 4 second-half tries to overcome a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.
The victory extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.
The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but slotted a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.
Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the last touchdown.
The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Challenge The English
Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with Fiji – most recently taking a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a major turning point under Borthwick.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.
Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.
Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.
The winger sharply finished a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against Italy in spring.
However, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick unloaded several of his bench on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the sides.
It capped another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.
Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure wins 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 feel confident of making a big statement this weekend.
If successful, the substitutes will likely play another key factor.
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)
