The English Team Secures Ninth Straight Victory Over Physical Fijian Side
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
The English squad racked up four second-half tries to defeat a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.
The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine games and supports their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.
England got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.
Substitutes George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the hosts into a comfortable lead.
Those scores came either side of Fiji scrum-half Simi Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when attempting to score.
England captain Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.
Borthwick's side now face New Zealand next Saturday in their toughest test on paper this autumn.
The Fijians Start Fast to Challenge The English
Before this match, England had won eight of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately taking a close contest in the quarter-finals 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 joint longest streak since 1999 – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought.
Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was clear in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in particular picked out.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for Muntz to touch down.
Feyi-Waboso sharply finished a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been dangerously taken out in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a bunker review.
England's Star Bench Shines Once More
The English team broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the last twenty minutes through the power of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did grab the following touchdown as the prop went over following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in March.
However, after a smart set piece was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when stretching for the tryline to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored versus the Wallabies, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to maintain a narrow lead between the sides.
It topped off another all-round impressive display by Earl, who picked up back-to-back man of the match honors.
The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so impactful.
It is packed with top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were lost versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn.
Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, the English team will feel confident 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)
