The English Team Claims 9th Consecutive Victory Over Physical Fijian Side
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 4 second-half tries to beat a physical Fiji side in their second autumn international.
The victory extends the English team's winning run to nine games and backs up their win over the Wallabies last Saturday.
The home side got on the board first through Luke Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further clear before Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then traded scores to begin an entertaining final forty minutes.
Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the English side clear.
These tries came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli spilling the ball when going for the tryline.
England captain Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the final try.
The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this fall.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Pressure England
Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their nine matches with the Fijian side – most recently taking 30-24 in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup.
That one defeat came two months prior the competition in France and was a significant shift under Borthwick.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive.
Following smooth attacking phases, back rower 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 driving maul adding a swift reply.
Known as the Flying Fijians, that was evident in defense through huge opening period midfield hits, with full-back Marcus Smith, deployed as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as offloads sliced through the English defense for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take the hosts into the lead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a yellow card following a video review.
England's Star Bench Shines Once More
The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the impact of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.
A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles against the Italians in March.
Nonetheless, after a clever line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions players Pollock and Curry.
With the game still up for grabs, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score.
Flanker Ben Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the sides.
It capped another outstanding overall display by the flanker, who received consecutive man of the match honors.
The substitute's speed to race on to a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential.
It is packed with stars and talent, which has aided in victories in the closing stages that were lost versus the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will fancy their chances of sending a message this weekend.
If successful, the bench will probably again be crucial.
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)
