Stunned by the Pacific Islanders on Fiji\u2019s last trip to Twickenham, England avoided the ignominy of a repeat defeat that would have dispirited their autumn. A few of those exiting Allianz Stadium at the end many have still felt a degree<\/a> of frustration, and perhaps familiarity, England\u2019s bench again to the fore<\/a> to put a hard-fought contest beyond doubt. Word, too, must be extended to Fiji, who have made such strides. If not yet consistently conquering the so-called Tier One nations then they are giving them more than just a fright on a regular basis \u2013 a kinder look from lady luck and this game might have turned out differently. <\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Luke Cowan-Dickie scores with the support of teammate Alex Coles (Getty)<\/p>\n To call this revenge for the 2023 World cup warm-up defeat would suggest that England were cold and calculated in a way they were not, though their excellent depth again told as they finished with a flourish. Watching on with intrigue, perhaps, after their own narrow escape against Scotland at Murrayfield might have been the All Blacks as they prepare to come to Twickenham in a week\u2019s time. While they will expect to face a different home team \u2013 one likely piloted by George Ford with Fin Smith<\/a> struggling to get the attack humming \u2013 certainly a slightly disjointed, disrupted performance from England would have pleased them. <\/p>\n The construction of Borthwick\u2019s midfield for New Zealand will be fascinating after a few too many cogs clunking; the pack, too, seemed to miss the quiet authority of Maro Itoje<\/a>, who helped himself to the last of England\u2019s six tries to again show how the bench has become this side\u2019s trump card.<\/p>\n Indeed, Borthwick\u2019s team had finished so strongly against Australia that it was little wonder they fired out of the blocks. Six minutes had not yet elapsed when Luke Cowan-Dickie converted from close-range following a sustained spell of phases to close an opening routine performed almost entirely in the Fijian 22. <\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t long, though, before the Pacific Islanders, clad in electric blue, sparked into life. It is their ability in unstructured situations that has long made them a real threat but in recent years they have developed significantly with their set-piece and kicking games. That was on show in Tevita Ikanivere\u2019s maul score, which came from a penalty drawn by a contestable kick. <\/p>\n Fly half Caleb Muntz had been outstanding in that Fiji win in 2023 before his World Cup dreams were dashed, cruelly, by injury on the eve of the tournament. Back patrolling the Twickenham turf, he soon picked up where he left out, arcing and orchestrating at the eye of a Fijian storm that blew England off course. A miss pass out to Selestino Ravutaumada gave the wing the limited space he needed to crack the hosts on the edge, and while scrum half Kuruvoli was clattered having chipped ahead, a supporting Muntz was on hand to collect the debris and finish.<\/p>\n open image in gallery<\/p>\n Fiji hooker Tevita Ikanivere scored twice (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Luke](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Luke-Cowan-Dickie-8b9iaf51.jpeg\")
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