The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive 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 notched 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory extends the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over Australia last Saturday.

England opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to ignite an exciting second half.

Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts clear.

Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, scored the final try.

The English team now face the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this match, the English team had won eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a major turning point under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.

After smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie forced his way over for the opening score from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul providing a quick response.

Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through huge opening period tackles in the center, 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 first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score.

The winger sharply finished 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 awarded a sin-binning following a video review.

England broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that contained six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Wallabies did score the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.

Nonetheless, after a clever set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.

Flanker Ben Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.

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

The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.

It is packed with top players and quality, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will fancy their chances of making a big statement this weekend.

Should they win, 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)