🔗 Share this article The English Team Claims Ninth Consecutive Win Over Physical Fiji 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 England scored four tries after halftime to beat a physical Fiji side in their latest autumn international. 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 opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie before the visitors answered back with scores by Tevita Ikanivere and Muntz. Number ten Muntz missed both conversions but nailed a penalty goal to take the Fijians further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored. Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to spark an exciting second half. Substitutes Jamie George and Henry Arundell, who demonstrated his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts into a comfortable lead. Those scores came around Fiji scrum-half Kuruvoli fumbling the ball when going for the tryline. Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, secured the last touchdown. The English team now meet New Zealand this coming weekend in their biggest challenge theoretically this autumn. The Fijians Begin Strongly to Pressure The English Prior to this meeting, the English team had won eight of their 9 games with the Fijian side – most lately winning a close contest in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup. That one defeat came two months prior the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under the head coach. With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their equal best run since the late nineties – the game was always expected to be competitive. Following smooth attacking phases, back rower Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the first try 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 defense through huge opening period tackles in the center, with full-back Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial picked out. But it was the classic attacking Fijian flare that was the highlight in the opening half as offloads sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to score. The winger expertly collected a kick across the field 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 video review. The English Impact Substitutes Delivers Again England broke clear from Australia the previous weekend in the final quarter through the impact of their bench that contained six British and Irish Lions. A significantly altered starting XV from the win over the Australians did grab the next try as the prop went over following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after tearing his Achilles versus Italy in spring. Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by Ikanivere, Borthwick introduced five of his bench on the 54-minute mark – featuring Lions tourists Pollock and Tom Curry. With the game still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to cancel out replacement George's try. Flanker Earl, who scored against the Wallabies, produced a stunning try-saving tackle to maintain breathing room between the teams. 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 kick through demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential. It is full of stars and quality, which has aided in victories in the final quarter that were lost against the Wallabies and New Zealand the previous fall. Considering the Scottish side ran New Zealand close, the English team will feel confident of making a big statement this weekend. Should they win, the bench will probably play another key factor. 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)