🔗 Share this article England Claims Ninth Straight Win 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 racked up 4 tries after halftime to defeat a tough Fijian team in their latest autumn international. The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and supports their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend. England got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji responded with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz. Number ten Muntz failed to convert either try but slotted a penalty to take the visitors further ahead before Feyi-Waboso scored. Ellis Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting second half. Replacements Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who displayed his blistering speed, finished off tries to take the English side clear. Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli dropping the ball when attempting to score. England captain Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown. The English team now play the All Blacks this coming weekend in their biggest challenge on paper this autumn. The Fijians Start Fast to Pressure The English Before this encounter, the English team had won eight of their 9 matches with the Fijian side – most recently winning 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup. Their sole loss came two months prior the tournament in France and was a significant shift under the head coach. With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest streak since the late nineties – the fixture was always likely to be hard-fought. After slick phase play, number eight Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker barged over for the first try from close range, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a swift reply. Known as the flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through monstrous first-half tackles in the center, with full-back Smith, deployed as a second 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 cut England's defence open for the fly-half to score. Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Ravutaumada, who was awarded a sin-binning following a video review. The English Star Bench Delivers Again The English team broke clear from the Wallabies last Saturday in the last twenty minutes through the power of their replacements that contained six Lions tourists. A significantly altered starting lineup from the victory over the Australians did grab the next try as Genge crossed following a powerful run by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles against Italy in spring. However, after a smart line-out move was completed by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Curry. With the match still in the balance, Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbled of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out substitute the hooker's score. Flanker Earl, a try-scorer versus Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams. It topped off another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive man of the match honors. Arundell's pace to chase down a kick through demonstrated exactly why the English replacements is so influential. It is full of top players and quality, which has helped secure victories in the final quarter that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks last autumn. Given the Scottish side pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend. If successful, the substitutes 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)