England narrowly escaped a major upset, battling back against a spirited Fiji side to secure their second victory in the Autumn Nations Series with a final score of **38-18.** This match was a rollercoaster of emotions, showcasing England's resilience and Fiji's undeniable talent.
The hosts, England, saw tries from Luke Cowan-Dickie, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and Ellis Genge, before replacements Jamie George, Henry Arundell, and Maro Itoje added to the tally. However, it wasn't a walk in the park. Fiji, with their dazzling display, led by six points in the first half.
Fiji's Tevita Ikanivere (with two tries) and Caleb Muntz kept the scoreboard ticking, while Simione Kuruvoli had a try disallowed in the second half, which would have brought the score within one point with just 18 minutes remaining.
England's victory was hard-fought, with Fiji putting up a tremendous fight. The Fijians showed their prowess, scoring three tries themselves, with Ikanivere's two tries and Muntz's contribution.
The game saw two Fijian players, Selestino Ravutaumada and Josua Tuisova, receive yellow cards, a crucial moment that England capitalized on.
The match began with England's Luke Cowan-Dickie powering over in the sixth minute. Fin Smith converted, but Fiji responded immediately with Ikanivere's try.
Muntz's penalty put Fiji ahead, but Ravutaumada's yellow card shifted the momentum. Feyi-Waboso's try put England back in the lead before halftime.
The second half saw Genge's try, but Ikanivere's second try narrowed the gap. Tuisova's yellow card followed, and England scored through George. Arundell's pace sealed the victory, and Itoje added a final try.
Ben Earl, named Player of the Match, acknowledged the intensity, stating it was one of the toughest games he's played. Ollie Lawrence also shared his emotional journey back to the team.
But here's where it gets controversial... Fiji's disallowed try in the second half was a turning point. Do you think the officials made the right call?
England's next challenge is against New Zealand, while Fiji heads to France.
