England Grind Out Victory Against Stubborn Fiji
England secured their ninth consecutive victory, but it was far from straightforward as they eventually overcame a determined Fiji side 38-18 at a packed Twickenham. The home team was pushed hard for large periods and only managed to pull clear in the final quarter, raising questions about their readiness to face New Zealand next weekend.
Arundell's Electrifying Impact
On his first England appearance in two years, and on his 23rd birthday, Henry Arundell delivered a moment of pure magic. Coming off the bench, the wing showcased his blistering pace to surge onto a clever kick from Marcus Smith and score a spectacular try, looking dangerous with every touch of the ball.
The victory was also a strong showing for several other England players. Luke Cowan-Dickie and Manny Feyi-Waboso both crossed for tries, with the latter capitalising on a Fiji yellow card. Ellis Genge led from the front and also powered over for a score, while Ollie Chessum was a prominent figure throughout the contest.
Fiji's Valiant Challenge
Fiji, narrowly denied a half-time lead, demonstrated why they are no longer considered mere pushovers. Their physicality disrupted England's plans for experimentation, and for a significant portion of the game, they were the equals of their more fancied opponents.
Fiji's captain, Tevita Ikanivere, was a standout, scoring two tries for the visitors. The first came from a well-executed rolling maul, and the second from a clever lineout move. Their opening try was a thing of beauty, originating from a chip ahead by scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli and finished by Caleb Muntz after Marcus Smith was penalised for a no-arms tackle.
The visitors were, however, left to rue missed opportunities. Muntz struggled with the boot, failing to land several conversions, and a magnificent 50-metre team try was heartbreakingly ruled out for a microscopic knock-on. A yellow card for the powerful Josua Tuisova further hampered their efforts to mount a sustained comeback.
Looking Ahead to the All Blacks
While England's ability to finish games strongly is a positive development, this performance highlighted areas for improvement. The search for the ideal backline combination continues, with head coach Steve Borthwick still weighing his options at fly-half between George Ford, Fin Smith, and Marcus Smith.
There is little doubt that George Ford will start at number 10 against New Zealand, but Marcus Smith made a compelling case with a determined defensive display and his creative assist for Arundell's try. England ultimately pulled away with late scores from Arundell and Maro Itoje, but they will need a significant step up in performance to overcome the ultimate autumn test against the All Blacks.
