Players react on the field after the Autumn Nations Series international rugby union match between England and Fiji at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in south-west London on 8 November 2025 Photo: AFP / GLYN KIRK
England have avenged their 2023 rugby loss to Fiji, with a 38-18 win at Twickenham on Sunday morning (NZT).
Fiji defeated England 30-22 at Twickenham in August 2023, before the Rugby World Cup in France.
Leading 14-13 at halftime, the hosts only managed to stake their claim from the middle of the second half, but they scored six tries in the end and set themselves up for another tough clash against the All Blacks at the next weekend.
Fiji paid for two yellow-cards to Selesitioni Ravutaumada and Josua Tuisova at different parts of the game.
The Flying Fijians were in the game right from the start, but seemed to fall apart from the middle of the second half.
The English scored tries through Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, Jamie George, Henry Arundell and co-captain Maro Itoje.
Flyhalf Fin Smith kicked five conversions.
Fijian captain Tevita Ikanivere claimed a try double, with Caleb Muntz also getting one across the line, with Muntz also adding a penalty.
Halfback Simione Kuruvoli was denied a try, when he was ruled to have knocked the ball on, as he slid towards the tryline late in the second half.
The match was the Fijiians' first on their three-match tour, with France and Spain on the schedule as well.
England opened the scoring through Luke Cowan-Dickie. The conversion saw them lead 7-0.
Fiji replied with their own, with Ikanivere barging his way over from a lineout maul.
Muntz had an off day from the boot, missing all three conversion attempts.
He scored his try for Fiji to take the lead mid-way through the first half, after he collected a bounding ball from Kuruvoli's chip kick, as the Flying Fijians showed some magic, attacking the English defence, with former All Black Pita Gus Sowakula featuring.
Impressive winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso crossed for England's second try, for the hosts to lead 14-13 at the break.
Genge and Ikanivere then traded scores to spark an entertaining second half at Allianz Stadium.
Replacements George and Arundell, scored their tries before Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the final try.
Ben Earl was named man of the match after, paying tribute to the Fijians, who he said were great opposition.
"Give respect to Fiji, they brought a plan and troubled us in the first half," he said post-match.
England co-captain Ellis Genje said it was a tough game and paid credit to the Fijians.
"One of the hardest games to play," he said. "You can't defend so much - credit to them."
Fijian captain Tevita Ikanivere said they would keep building, already turning the attention to France next weekend.
"Not the result we wanted, quite disappointed with ourselves towards the end, with the yellow card and decisions we made," he said.
"Our execution is the most important thing and we will work on it for next week.
"We enjoying ourselves, we learning and building towards the World Cup in 2027."
The Fijians now head to France for their second clash of the tour.
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