The English Team Earns Ninth Straight Win Against Physical Fiji
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
The English squad scored four second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their latest fall test match.
The victory continues Steve Borthwick's side's undefeated streak to nine games and follows up their win over Australia the previous weekend.
The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to spark an exciting final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his blistering speed, touched down to take the English side clear.
These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.
The English team now face New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this fall.
Fiji Start Fast to Pressure The English
Before this match, England had claimed victory in eight of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat came two months prior 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 the late nineties – the game was always likely to be competitive.
Following slick phase play, number eight Chandler 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 adding a swift reply.
Nicknamed the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the vintage Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the opening half as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a kick across the field by Fin Smith to take England ahead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Impact Substitutes Delivers Again
The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their bench that contained six Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting lineup from the win over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Italians in March.
However, after a smart set piece was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the tryline to negate substitute the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the teams.
It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is full of stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand last autumn.
Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.
If successful, the substitutes will probably 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
Refereeing Team
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
