The English Team Secures Ninth Consecutive Victory Over Physical 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 scored four tries after halftime to beat a physical Fijian team in their latest fall test match.
This win extends the English team's winning run to nine games and follows up their triumph over Australia the previous weekend.
The home side opened the scoring through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with tries by Ikanivere and Muntz.
Number ten the Fijian playmaker failed to convert either try but nailed a penalty to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed.
Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling second half.
Substitutes George and Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down 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.
Skipper Maro Itoje, who also entered as a substitute, secured the last touchdown.
Borthwick's side now play New Zealand this coming weekend in their toughest test theoretically this autumn.
The Fijians Begin Strongly to Challenge The English
Before this encounter, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 matches with Fiji – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.
Their sole loss came just weeks before the competition in France and was a major turning point under the head coach.
With the Pacific Islanders on a five-match winning run – their joint longest streak since 1999 – the game was always expected to be tight.
Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Cunningham-South made good ground before Cowan-Dickie barged over for the opening score from short distance, with the Fijian's score off the back of a driving maul providing a quick response.
Nicknamed the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second playmaker, in particular targeted.
But it was the vintage attacking Fijian flare that was the standout moment in the first forty as passes out of the tackle cut England's defence open for Muntz to score.
Feyi-Waboso expertly collected 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 awarded a sin-binning following a video review.
England's Impact Substitutes Shines Once More
The English team broke clear from Australia last Saturday in the final quarter through the impact of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.
A much-changed starting XV from the victory over the Australians did score the following touchdown as Genge crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was making his international comeback after tearing his Achilles against Italy in March.
However, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced several of his substitutes on the 54th minute – including Lions players Henry Pollock and Tom Curry.
With the match still up for grabs, Fijian number nine the halfback fumbled of the ball when stretching for the goal line to cancel out replacement the hooker's score.
Breakdown specialist Earl, who scored versus Australia, produced a spectacular game-saving stop to maintain breathing room between the sides.
It capped another outstanding overall performance by Earl, who received back-to-back player-of-the-match awards.
The substitute's speed to chase down a kick through showcased exactly why England's bench is so influential.
It is packed with stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were squandered against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall.
Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.
Should they win, the bench will likely 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
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
