England Claims 9th Consecutive Win Against Physical Fijian Side

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

The English squad racked up four second-half tries to overcome a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.

The victory lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their triumph over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to begin an exciting second half.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this meeting, the English team had won eight of their nine games with the Fijian side – most lately winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

Their sole loss came two months prior the competition in France and was a major turning point under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.

But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin 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 video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, the coach unloaded several of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still up for grabs, Fijian number nine Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.

Flanker Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.

It topped off another all-round impressive display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is full of stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

If successful, the bench will probably again be crucial.

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

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)