The English Team Earns 9th Straight Victory Against Tough 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 beat a resilient Fijian team in their latest fall test match.
This win lengthens the English team's undefeated streak to nine matches and supports their win over Australia the previous weekend.
The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to ignite an entertaining second half.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came around Fijian halfback Simi Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Challenge England
Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most recently winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat 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 equal best streak since 1999 – the game was always likely to be tight.
After smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a driving maul providing a swift reply.
Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was evident in defence through powerful first-half tackles in the center, with number fifteen 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 expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take the hosts ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a bunker review.
The English Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
England pulled away from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their replacements that included six Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the next try as Genge went over following a powerful run by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon versus the Italians in March.
However, after a clever line-out move was completed by the Fijian, Borthwick unloaded five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out replacement George's try.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to keep a narrow lead between the teams.
It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.
Arundell's pace to race on to a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.
It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Given Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.
If successful, the substitutes will probably play another key factor.
Team Sheets
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)
