England Secures Ninth Consecutive 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
England notched 4 second-half tries to defeat a resilient Fiji side in their second autumn international.
This win extends Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their triumph over the Wallabies last Saturday.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.
Number ten the Fijian playmaker missed both conversions but kicked a penalty to take the visitors further clear before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.
Substitutes Jamie George and Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
These tries came around Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the final try.
The English team now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.
Fiji Begin Strongly to Pressure The English
Prior to this match, the English team had won 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most lately winning 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat came just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.
With Fiji on a five-match winning run – their equal best streak since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be tight.
Following slick phase play, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South made good ground before the hooker forced his way over for the first try from close range, with the Fijian's score off the back of a maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defense through powerful opening period midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.
But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a cross-field kick by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a sin-binning following a bunker review.
England's Star Bench Shines Once More
England pulled away from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter 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 Genge went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles versus the Italians in March.
However, after a smart set piece was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to negate replacement the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams.
It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.
Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with stars and talent, which has helped secure wins in the final quarter that were squandered against Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, Borthwick's side will fancy their chances of sending a message next week.
Should they win, the bench will likely again be crucial.
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)
