The English Team Secures Ninth Straight 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

England scored four second-half tries to beat a physical Fijian team in their second autumn international.

The victory continues the English team's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.

The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.

Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

England captain Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.

Before this encounter, England had won 8 of their nine games with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be hard-fought.

After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a swift reply.

Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful opening period tackles in the center, with number fifteen Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.

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

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the strength of their bench that included six Lions tourists.

A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

However, after a clever set piece was completed by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions players Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, a try-scorer versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who received back-to-back man of the match honors.

The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.

Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.

If successful, the bench will likely play another key factor.

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)