England Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Over Tough 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 tries after halftime to overcome a tough Fijian team in their latest fall test match.

The victory continues the English team's winning run to nine matches and backs up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Tevita Ikanivere and Caleb Muntz.

Fly-half the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.

Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, finished off tries to take the English side into a comfortable lead.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli spilling the ball when attempting to score.

Skipper Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, scored the final try.

The English team now meet New Zealand next Saturday in their biggest challenge on paper this fall.

Before this meeting, England had won 8 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 just weeks before the competition in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the game was always expected to be competitive.

After smooth attacking phases, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the first try from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defense through powerful first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, used as a second playmaker, in especial picked out.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as offloads cut England's defence open for the fly-half to touch down.

The winger expertly collected a cross-field kick by Fin Smith to take England into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

The English team pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the power of their bench that included six British and Irish Lions.

A significantly altered starting XV from the victory over the Wallabies did score the following touchdown as the prop went over following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.

However, after a smart set piece was completed by Ikanivere, the coach introduced five of his substitutes on the 54-minute mark – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.

With the game still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half the halfback fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate replacement George's try.

Breakdown specialist Ben Earl, who scored against Australia, produced a stunning game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.

It topped off another all-round impressive performance by the flanker, who picked up consecutive man of the match honors.

Arundell's pace to chase down a grubber kick showcased exactly why the English replacements is so influential.

It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure wins in the closing stages that were lost against Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of sending a message next week.

If successful, the bench will likely 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)