Partite Inghilterra 38 vs Figi 18 - 08/11/2025 - Quilter Nations Series

After dispatching Australia last weekend at home, England played their part in an absorbing first 40 minutes at Allianz Stadium which saw both sides showcase contrasting styles and moments of brilliance.

England struck first after sustained early pressure. From a lineout close to the Fiji line, scrum-half Alex Mitchell fed hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who powered through defenders to score under the posts. Fly-half Fin Smith added the conversion for 7-0.

Fiji responded swiftly. After forcing England into errors at the breakdown, they set a maul from a lineout and hooker Tevita Ikanivere peeled off to score. Fly-half Caleb Muntz missed the conversion, leaving England narrowly ahead at 7-5.

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The visitors then produced a moment of magic to take the lead. Starting near halfway, wing Selestino Ravutaumada beat his man and linked with flanker Vilive Miramira, whose offload found scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli. A deft chip ahead allowed Muntz to regather and finish a stunning try. The conversion drifted wide, but Fiji were now in front at 10-7.

England’s attack stuttered despite repeated entries into the Fiji 22, with turnovers and miscommunication halting momentum. Their frustration grew when Muntz slotted a penalty to stretch Fiji’s advantage to 7-13.

The game’s flashpoint came on 36 minutes when Ravutaumada clattered wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the air, earning a yellow card and triggering an off-field review. England capitalised immediately. Spotting space on the left, Smith delivered a pinpoint crossfield kick for Feyi-Waboso to score. Smith converted superbly from the touchline, restoring England’s lead at 14-13.

After a one-point lead at the interval, Steve Borthwick’s side were made to work hard for control, with Fiji threatening throughout a thrilling, end-to-end contest that saw six tries shared evenly between forwards and backs.

The visitors struck first after the restart through Tevita Ikanivere’s second try of the night, a sharp move off the front of a lineout that briefly cut England’s advantage to a single point. But the response was emphatic. England regrouped, reasserting dominance through their pack and the precision of their bench.

Ellis Genge, captaining from the front row, burrowed over from close range after a sweeping move that began inside England’s own half. Fin Smith added the conversion to stretch the lead to eight, and the hosts never looked back.

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With Fiji reduced to 14 after Josua Tuisova was shown a yellow card for persistent infringement, England turned the screw. Jamie George rolled over from the back of a maul for his side’s fourth try, before the returning Henry Arundell produced a trademark finish - accelerating onto a loose ball, kicking ahead, and winning the race to dot down in the corner.

Maro Itoje, introduced late on, added the final flourish, powering over from short range to complete a strong night for England’s forwards. Fin Smith’s reliable boot ensured the scoreboard reflected the balance of play.

For all Fiji’s flair, they were undone by set-piece pressure and England’s clinical edge when it mattered most. The visitors had threatened a comeback when Maqala and Kuruvoli combined for what looked a certain score, but a TMO review ruled the ball lost in contact. From there, England’s discipline and depth carried them home.

The result makes it nine consecutive victories for Borthwick’s men, who now face New Zealand and Argentina in their remaining Quilter Nations Series fixtures. If this was another step in England’s evolution under their head coach, it was also a reminder of the steel behind their smiles: a team learning how to win, even when the game becomes messy.

💬 REACTION: Ollie Lawrence (ENG)

"We went in there at half-time, we weren't satisfied. We knew that we probably didn't pin them deep at times and we probably got a bit sloppy. But I think the way that we managed to turn it around in the second half and show a bit more of what we're about, that showed good signs and things that we can build on for next week [against New Zealand].

"The biggest thing is making sure we had doubles [two players tackling], making sure we committed to our tackles and we had numbers on feet. Fiji are always going to produce magic because they've got such x-factor players. The way they play is entertaining to watch and it can work at times.

"I think all of us will be buzzing to play next week. The competition within the squad is so deep and I think that's what's pushing us on to get these results: we'll all be fighting for the jerseys next week, but whoever steps onto the field will go out there and hopefully we can take another step forward, get another victory here at Twickenham."